Square vs Helix
The Real Comparison for Dog Groomers

Square
$29/mo ($348/yr)
VS
Helix
$279 once — own forever
or 3 payments of $99
Break even: 9.6 months. Save $889 over 3 years.
"I compared Square and Helix side by side. The math wasn't even close. $1,168 over 3 years vs $279 once. Switched and never looked back."
— Dog groomer, Helix customer

The verdict for dog groomers: Square is solid software, but at $29/month it costs $1,168 over 3 years. Helix does most of what Square does for $279 once. For solo dog groomers and small teams, Helix is the better deal.

Choose Helix if:

  • You're done paying monthly forever
  • You're a solo operator or small team (1-5)
  • You need scheduler, Connect CRM, Invoicing in one purchase in one tool
  • You're tired of price increases
  • You want to own your tools like you own your equipment

Choose Square if:

  • You have a large team (10+) needing enterprise features
  • You're deeply invested in Square's specific workflow
  • You need a feature Helix doesn't have yet

What Square Actually Costs Dog Groomers

The 3-Year Damage

Year 1$348
Year 2 (+11.4% inflation)$388
Year 3$432
Total lost to Square$1,168

Helix: $279. Once. You keep $889. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.

Your Square subscription has cost you $0.00 since you opened this page.

Feature-by-Feature

FeatureSquareHelix
Invoicing✓✓
Scheduling✗✓
CRM✗✓
Time Tracking✗✓
Full Accounting✗✓ (SIMPL)
Task Management✗✓
Price$29/mo$279 once
or 3 × $99
3-Year Total$1,168$279
You own it?No — stop paying, lose accessYes — forever
"The feature comparison convinced me. Helix does 90% of what Square does — for 10% of the 3-year cost. And I actually own it."
— Dog groomer

Calculate Your Full Stack

Square plus whatever else you're paying for:

Email yourself this comparison?

Switching from Square

1
Export your data — Go to Square Dashboard → Customers → Export. Also export transactions and item library.
2
Set up Helix — 15-minute setup. Import your customer list and service/product catalog.
3
Parallel run — Run both for 1-2 weeks. Test invoicing and booking through Helix.
4
Cancel Square — Cancel paid subscriptions. Keep free account for records access.
✓ 30-day money-back guarantee. Zero risk.
Dog Groomers are switching from Square every week.

The math doesn't lie.

What This Means for Dog Groomers

You groom 5 dogs today. Your 9am is a matted goldendoodle that was supposed to come in 8 weeks ago — this will take 3 hours, not 2. Your noon appointment's owner wants a 'puppy cut' but the last groomer left no notes about what that means for this breed. Your 3pm no-shows — that's a $75 slot gone. You're using Vagaro for booking, a paper card file for grooming notes, and Venmo for payment. Gingr wants $80/month and you're one groomer with 4-5 dogs a day.

Dog Groomers deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Managing breed-specific grooming notes and client preferences. No-shows when each grooming appointment is 1-3 hours. Gingr costs $80+/month and is designed for multi-groomer shops. Tracking product costs per groom — shampoo, blade wear, etc.. Square charges $29/month on top of these daily realities. The median dog groomer earns $35,000/year — $348/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.

Helix is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for dog groomers. You own it like you own your Clippers and blade sets (Andis, Wahl).

FAQ

Is Helix really a Square replacement?

For solo dog groomers and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. Square may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.

What does Square do that Helix doesn't?

Square has features like No monthly fee on Free plan and Instant setup that some businesses rely on. For most solo dog groomers, these aren't dealbreakers.

How fast does Helix pay for itself?

At $29/month, Helix pays for itself in 9.6 months. After that: $348 saved every year.

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. Helix is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.

"$1,168 over 3 years to Square. Or $279 once for Helix. I own my tools now. No more renting software."
— Dog groomer, Helix owner

$1,168 Over 3 Years. Or $279 Once (or 3 × $99).

Own your tools. Stop renting your software.

Get Helix — $279 Once
or 3 payments of $99
✓ 30-day money-back — save $500 or full refund

More Comparisons for Dog Groomers

Gingr Alternative for Dog GroomersVagaro Alternative for Dog GroomersAcuity Scheduling Alternative for Dog GroomersAll Software for Dog GroomersSaaS Graveyard
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