Restaurants Revitalization Fund: Common Questions & Answers

[Ani_]

Hi Food and Beverage Sellers! 

Square will start enabling applications for the Restaurants Revitalization Fund (RRF) today Monday, May 3rd at 12:00 PM EST. This plan includes a $28.6 billion fund for awards to eligible businesses, administered by the SBA. Square is working with the SBA to help business owners apply for an award if they are eligible. If you meet the program requirements, you can submit your application through your Square Dashboard or through the SBA Portal. If you are eligible to apply through Square, we will pre-fill your application with information you have on your Square account.

I encourage you all to take a look at the Live Q&A: Restaurant Revitalization Fund for Square Food and Beverage Sellers for common questions and answers. I’ve also included an overview of the Live Q&A below:

When can you apply:

• Applications start on Monday 5/3 at 12:00 p.m EST / 9:00 a.m. PST.
• The SBA has a registration window open on Friday 4/30, but if you plan to apply through Square you do not need to register with the SBA. 

Who can apply through Square:

• To determine if you are an eligible business type, you’ll need to visit SBA’s website (sba.gov/restaurants).
  
• If you processed with Square in 2019 and 2020 (Table 1 or 2 in the RRF application), you can apply through Square’s dashboard or the SBA. If you used multiple POS providers during that period or had supplemental income e.g. from online ordering apps, you can still apply with Square. You’ll be able to add supplementary income information — but the SBA may require you to provide additional documentation before you e-sign your application.
  
• If you began processing with Square in 2020 or 2021 (Table 3 in the RRF application), then you will need to apply through the SBA. You can get useful information from your Square account to include in your application — to learn how, please take a look at our Support Center.

Why you should or should not apply with Square

• If you apply through Square can save time completing and submitting your application with pre filled data from your Square account.
  
• Submitting through Square can help you get your application in front of the SBA quickly — before the RRF funds run out.
  
• Square will enable you to add supplemental revenue information in your application for either Table 1 or Table 2 applicant. However, if you are a Table 3 applicant, you will need to apply via SBA because Square will not let you upload supporting documentation for eligible expenses. 

How can you apply with Square:

• If you are eligible to apply through Square, you’ll need to log in to your dashboard when the application window opens, using the owner’s login. From there, you’ll find a specific RRF module from where you can start your application.
  
• Square will have pre-filled your application with the information we know about your business. That said, there is information we do not have access to. To complete your application as fast as possible we recommend to have the following information handy:
• The date (day, month, and year) you began operations.
• How many months you operate in every location. This is especially important if you operate a seasonal business. 
• Any additional income you may have earned in 2019 and 2020 that was not processed through Square. Ideally you are tracking this income by location. If this information is not available feel free to distribute this across locations ensuring the total revenue by location (through Square and other sources)stays under $5M.
• Your PPP loan information — especially if you did not process these loans with Square.
  
• After submitting your award application through your Square Dashboard, you’ll need to eSign your application. Here’s how it works:
• Open an email from Square with the title “Your RRF award application is not yet complete.” Follow the link in the email to visit the SBA portal.
• If you see a page with the title “Third Party Signup,” you are in the right spot. Enter the text you see in the grey pixelated image in the appropriate field and click Complete Sign Up.
• You’ll then receive an email from SBA with the title “SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund - Password Reset E-mail.” Click the link included in the email to reset your password.
• Once you complete your password reset, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Sign and Submit Application to sign your application via DocuSign.
• The SBA may also require additional documentation for your application if you indicated revenue outside of Square. From the SBA portal, you will be able to upload supporting documentation to the Additional Info Needed section if required by the SBA.

How can you get help if you have more questions?

• If you have more granular questions about the application process, eligibility, or awards, please reach out to the designated SBA helpline (844-279-8898) or the SBA district office. Applicants can call this number for multilingual application or program support.
• Reach out to your SBA District Office: Applicants can reach out to their local District Office for tailored regional SBA support.

Note: You will be able to apply through Square if we have available processing data for at least a portion of 2019 and 2020 available through your Square account. If you are able to apply through Square, you will see a module on your online Square Dashboard prompting you to begin the application. If you apply through Square you do not need to register through the SBA portal. If you began processing with Square in either 2020 or 2021, we recommend that you apply through the SBA Portal. Square will not be able to support these applications and you will not see a module on Dashboard to begin your application.

Update: The SBA has announced that they will officially stop accepting applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) on Monday, May 24, at 8 p.m. ET.

[Juicery]

So, for those who waited for guidance because of the table 2 mis-calculation glitch, does that mean they lost their place in line? Seems like a pretty high stakes glitch on Square's part to now put those people at the end of the line. The award Square calculated for us was three times what it should have been because of this glitch. I had to withdraw the application, lose my place in line, and reapply through the SBA because the Square portal wouldn't let me reapply. We lost precious hours and our place in line (our first submission was at 12:30 on Monday. Second submission had to get bank verification through SBA and couldn't be completed until 6 at night) having to redo the process. What is the remedy for this? 

[Waffelato]

Yep.  Same thing happened to me, but I didn't find out about the error until Friday morning when I received an email stating there was an error in the calculation.  Given I was signed and done but Monday at 12:20, having to resubmit Friday morning is harsh.

I've asked the same question without answer.  Will we all be put at the end of the line?

[Tionons]

We had an error that said we had to apply with SBA but SBA tells us that there is already a application in process. WHat do we do then 

[Ani_]

Hi @Tionons, 

Sorry to hear about the issue. Please reach out to our Support team so they can file a ticket with our engineers.

[jenningsxxx]

Quick question for those of you who applied for the RRF through square. Does the application go to IRS verification? I am asking  because  I submitted my application through the SBA Portal and it has been stuck in IRS Verification ever since. I am thinking about resubmitting through square. Any advise would be great. 

[Juicery]

Do not try to resubmit. You will lose your place in line and the SBA is no longer accepting applications for businesses with over $50,000 in 2019 revenue. Square won’t be able to resubmit unless you are under the $50K number. It’s normal to be stuck in IRS verification for awhile. When the withdrawal button appears that means it’s through the verification and will soon move to under review. Good luck. 

[Ally1411]

Do we need 2019 tax return attached to the application if we apply through square? I did apply through square but it didn’t allow me to upload documents. I only have sales through square and calculating the award using square’s sales.  Are sales on square enough as proof of revenue and bo need tax returns if applied through square?

[jk84mc]

I have not been able to locate an answer in the RRF threads I've found. The water heater in my Cafe awarded me with a $3200 surprise when it started leaking at the bottom suddenly.  Obviously rusted out after 20+ years; so I finally got it replaced after boiling water around here for 2 weeks.  (UGH).   

Would this be considered an allowable expense for my RRF funds.  I would think it should fall under either maintenance or operating expenses.  

[jk84mc]

Still searching for confirmation on this before I PAY the plumbing invoice.

[Greenbeat]

• if you are missing the email to esign your application 
• go to restaurants.sba.gov
• click the “forgot my username” button 
• enter the email that you have used when applying with square
• follow the subsequent instructions 
• a lot of people have recovered their user id with sba this was and have subconsciously signed their application 

[NatalyM]

Thank you so much!!!

[homerromer]

I was sent straight to the e-sign section after leaving Square and did not upload my Corp tax returns like I know is required.  Did I miss that somehow?  Is there a way to upload those docs now so it doesn't get held up in the evaluation process?

[Messofthings]

Please remind people that they should be in Google Chrome when they get the user name from Square and are asked to reset their password. I had a heck of a time trying to get my application signed and a helpful Square support person told me to use Chrome...I was using Safari. The minute I switched I was successful.

[KumaCsd]

Hi,

2nd time trying the application through Square. I am an LLC taxed as S Corp. Whenever I complete the application through Square and I select "LLC taxed as S Corp", then it leads me to the SBA e-sign page and my business classification then shows up as "LLC taxed as C Corp". Due to this (2nd time its happened, double and triple checked I am selecting 'S Corp' in Square app), I have not signed for fear of having an app with bad information. Planning on calling the RRF hotline and/or Square tomorrow to try to get this fixed but since both numbers are offline now but was wondering if anyone can please advise. Thank you. 

[blend382]

@KumaCsd The same thing happened to me.  Not sure what to do, but if you get any answers, please let us know.

[KumaCsd]

called the SBA. They said to contact square to see if they can make the change on their end, but if not, that you can use the messages tab in the SBA portal in the top right to write something like "I am an S-Corp not a C-Corp". She said the SBA has been instructed to be able to make changes/edits to app even after signature. To me, this is a pretty good solution, I am on the phone with Square now to see if they can change directly, if not I will follow the SBA advice about using the messages tab. Hope this helps. 

[KumaCsd]

update: Just got off phone with Square, they said that from their end everything in my app is accurate, specifically that S-corp is the selected Business type. His best guess was that it is most likely a glitch in the SBA portal which switches it (he mentioned glitches in SBA portal have been common with this RRF launch). So he also recommends using the messages tab to clarify. I am about to sign, attach the message, and hope for the best.

[Ally1411]

Everyone please share your status/update on this reddit thread so we can all know what’s going on 

https://www.reddit.com/r/RestaurantFundAward/comments/n4ftx1/rrestaurantfundaward_lounge/?utm_source...

[PPastry]

I posted a question last night. Since it is a status level thought I would repost here. I got small change deposit into my bank account from SBA. Is there something I need to do on my end. I thought I read something about this somewhere but I can’t remember. Is there any action needed on my part. My application shows in review. Thank you 

[cocomoesq123]

Hi I waited for over 25 hours and went straight to SBA . Filed the app and now we are in UNDER REVIEW:)  Square you were unprepared! We would be waiting in line until the funds were depleted.....Prove Me Wrong.........this was a farce and a complete joke. We deserved better than this.Also after receiving notification from SBA yesterday , the process can take up to 21 days. So keep that in mind!

[andy0814]

Hi @Ani_ @or any square admins can you help me on why I have not Receive email farm square regarding E signature after completing rff Application again. Can you please check on my status please