Paint Protection Film on Square pay $29/month — $348/year. Over three years, that's $1,168. Nexa is $279 once. Break-even runs about 9.6 months. The median Paint Protection Film Installer earns $48,000/year, so Square's annual cost is roughly 0.7% of typical revenue — every year, forever.
That's $1,168 gone. And you don't own anything. Stop paying, lose access.
You're not the only one who's had enough.
Paint Protection Film face unique challenges: Pattern kits never fit perfectly on every trim level, so the choice between a software cut and a riskier freehand bulk install on a $90,000 car is a per-job judgment call with real money on the line. Film cures for days and customers must not wash the car during that window, and a customer who ignores the cure instructions and then reports edge lifting becomes a warranty fight. Quotes depend on coverage package (partial front, full front, full body) and on the specific vehicle's panels, so a flat phone quote rarely survives contact with the actual car. Bay time per car is long and exacting, so a single rushed install creating contamination or stretch marks means peeling expensive film and eating the material cost. On top of all that, Square charges $29/month ($348/year) — money that comes directly from your revenue. The median Paint Protection Film Installer earns $48,000/year. Software at $348/year is a meaningful percentage of that income, every year, forever. And you do not own anything.
Your Plotter and pattern software for pre-cut film kits is yours. You bought it once. Nexa works the same way — $279 once for invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, and full accounting. All connected. All offline-capable. You own it like you own your tools.
Square is just one piece. What else are you losing money on?
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Your exact Square cost, full stack total, and what switching saves. 10 seconds.
| Feature | Square | Nexa |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $29/mo forever | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Cost | $1,168 | $279 |
| Stop paying? | Lose everything | Keep everything forever |
Most paint protection film are fully switched before the weekend.
Go to Square Dashboard → Customers → Export. Also export transactions and item library.
15-minute setup. Import your customer list and service/product catalog.
Run both for 1-2 weeks. Test invoicing and booking through Nexa.
Cancel paid subscriptions. Keep free account for records access.
A film day is slow and surgical. The car comes in and the surface has to be flawless first, because anything trapped under film is permanent, so the prep is a full decontamination wash, clay, and a tack-cloth pass under the lights. Then comes the decision that shapes the whole job: pull a pre-cut pattern from the plotter for clean edges, or bulk-install and trim freehand on the car for an edge-wrapped, seamless look that hides better but risks a slip of the blade into the paint. The install itself is a wet, patient dance of slip solution, squeegee strokes pushing fluid and air to the edges, and a heat gun coaxing the film to stretch around curved bumpers and mirror caps without fingering or stress lines. Hours go into a single full front. After the install, the post-heat sets the edges, and then the careful speech to the customer: do not wash it for a week, the small haze and water under the film will clear as it cures, do not pick at the edges. That cure window is where trust is won or lost, because a customer who washes it early and sees lifting blames the work, not the instructions. The business side is package quoting and bay scheduling, both of which hinge on the exact vehicle in front of you.
Real paint protection film near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a paint protection film installer? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every paint protection film installer on Nexa →
For solo operators and small teams (1-5), yes. Nexa includes invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting. Square may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
It's $7.75/month over 3 years. Square is $29/month — that's $1,168 over 3 years. Which is more? And if you'd rather split it, Nexa is also available as 3 payments of $99.
Yes. Nexa 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.
30-day money-back guarantee. Full refund. If Nexa doesn't save you $500 in year one, you get every penny back.
Export your data from Square as CSV, import into Nexa in about 5 minutes.
The average solo operator there spends about $2,000/year on software — and Paint Protection Film Installer face their own version of that math. No state income tax. Tourism-driven economy provides ample demand but volatile month-to-month revenue. Orange County requires a Local Business Tax Receipt. Florida DBPR licenses required for specialty contractors. Tourism-related permits may apply.
Numbers reflect typical solo operators in the Orlando metro. Your situation will vary.
Specific gaps Paint Protection Film run into with Square, and what Nexa does instead.
$1,168 over 3 years. Or $279 once (or 3 × $99). Own your tools.
Get Nexa — $279 Once