The Squire alternative built around the barber's paycheck
Royal Cuts AIQ gives your shop the booking, reminders, and client tools you expect from Squire — plus instant per-barber payouts, barber-priced card processing, and a branded website, without $99 AI add-ons or $250-per-shop tiers.
Squire pricing vs. Royal Cuts AIQ
Squire pricing from their public pricing page, 2026.
Why barbershops switch
Barbers get paid instantly
Every barber links their own bank account. Payouts land directly — no shop ledger, no waiting on the owner, no commission chase.
One price, no add-on creep
Squire tiers up to $250/mo per shop and charges extra for AI, marketing pages, and branded apps. Royal Cuts AIQ keeps it at $26–$99/mo.
You own the processing
We are the merchant services partner, not a reseller. That means barber-priced card rates and same-day funding options.
Website + SEO included
A branded site on your domain, tuned to rank for 'barber near me' — not a $25/mo landing page add-on.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Royal Cuts AIQ | Squire |
|---|---|---|
| Barber-only platform (not salon/spa) | ||
| 24/7 online booking + reminders | ||
| No-show protection & deposits | ||
| Instant per-barber payouts to their own bank | ||
| Low, barber-priced card processing | ||
| Clover POS devices (tap, chip, swipe) | ||
| No add-on fees for AI, marketing, or landing pages | ||
| Custom branded website + local SEO included | ||
| Google review automation | ||
| No long-term contracts | Varies | |
| Introductory $10/mo rate for busy barbers |
Comparison based on publicly available Squire feature and pricing information as of 2026. Squire features may vary by plan.
Squire vs. Royal Cuts AIQ FAQs
Is Royal Cuts AIQ a good Squire alternative?
Yes. Both are built specifically for barbershops, but Royal Cuts AIQ includes card processing, instant per-barber payouts, a branded website, and local SEO at $26–$99/mo — features Squire either charges add-ons for or does not offer.
How does pricing compare to Squire?
Squire runs $30/mo for a solo barber, $50/mo for a single-location shop, $150/mo for the Executive tier, and $250/mo per shop for Titan, with add-ons for AI ($99/mo) and branded landing pages ($25/mo). Royal Cuts AIQ is $26/mo per barber or $99/mo for an Owner's Package covering up to 4 barbers, with no add-on fees. Barbers doing 100+ cuts a month can start at $10/mo with code CUT100.
Can I switch from Squire?
Yes. We help migrate your client list, services, and schedule. Most shops are live within a few days.
Do barbers still get their own payouts?
Each barber is paid directly into their own bank account as appointments close, so there is no shared ledger to reconcile at the end of the week.