Square steps into the mainstream, inks payment deal with Starbucks as coffee giant invests $25m

Jack Dorsey’s mobile payment startup Square has just taken a significant step towards the mainstream after it announced a tie-in with retail giant Starbucks. The company, which is now processing more than $5 billion per year, will handle all credit cards transactions with the coffee giant.

The payment partnership will come into effect at 7,000 outlets across the US this fall, and Starbucks customers will be able to use Pay with Square to pay for their purchases on their iPhone or Android device.

This announcement is huge in every sense of the word, not only because Square is about to amp up its visibility in a major way, but also because the coffee giant is investing in the payments firm. That’s right, Starbucks will plough $25 million into Square’s Series D financing round — which values it at $3.75 billion — and (yes, there’s more) Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz will join Square’s Board of Directors.

The partnership is for the US-only and the terms include:

• Customers will be able to use Pay with Square, Square’s payer application, from participating company operated U.S. Starbucks stores later this fall, and find nearby Starbucks locations within Square Directory;

• Square will process Starbucks U.S. credit and debit card transactions, which will significantly expand Square’s scale and accelerate the benefits to businesses on the Square platform, especially small businesses, while reducing Starbucks’ payment processing costs;

The companies are also linking up to allow Starbucks customers to access the Square Directory from the coffee chain’s own digital platforms. That will allow them to find a range of businesses and, the companies say, it will eventually extend to Starbuck’s mobile payment app.

Commenting on the agreement Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo, said:

As the largest retail mobile payment platform in the U.S., we’re excited and proud to accept payments with Square. The evolving social and digital media platforms and highly innovative and relevant payment capabilities are causing seismic changes in consumer behavior and creating equally disruptive opportunities for business. Both Starbucks and Square take a similar approach when building products and running our businesses, and together we can bring the best possible payment experience to Starbucks customers.

A statement provided by Dorsey himself read:

We’re proud that Starbucks chose Square, as we share the value of always putting customers first. More than 2 million individuals and businesses can already use Square. This partnership will accelerate our ability to provide them with the tools they need to grow their business and thrive in today’s economy.

Starbucks just signed up for Square. #Onward squareup.com/letters/onward

— Jack Dorsey (@jack) August 8, 2012

Dorsey also tweeted that more will be revealed tomorrow, so we expect the finer details of the agreement and perhaps more information on Square’s latest round to be forthcoming.

Square is also enjoying increase visibility through other big names, and it was recently highlighted in Apple’s latest iPad commercial.

Square’s emergence has kicked off the mobile payments sector and incurred the wrath of industry giant PayPal, which called its young rival “superficial” last year.

Image via Flickr / cdharrison