Taking cards at your new Atlanta business, sorted out before opening day

Whether you are opening a restaurant, a shop, a salon, or a service business in Atlanta, here is what to plan for in equipment and software, what to have ready for a merchant account, how long things usually take, and what to ask any processor before you sign.

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What to get right

Equipment and software that fit how you actually sell

Start with how customers will pay you, then choose the setup. A restaurant usually needs tableside or counter terminals, tip prompts, split checks, and a way to keep tables turning on a busy night. A retail shop needs barcode scanning, inventory counts that update with each sale, and a clean process for returns and exchanges. A salon or spa needs appointment booking, deposits or card-on-file for no-shows, and tips that can be assigned to the right stylist. A service business that works on site often needs mobile card readers, invoicing, and the ability to take a payment over the phone or online. Write down your must-haves before you talk to anyone, so the conversation stays on your needs. Qualifying TouchSuite merchants receive free terminals and POS hardware with no upfront cost.

Pricing you can read and check

Card processing pricing can be hard to follow, so ask for a structure you can verify on your statement each month. TouchSuite uses interchange-plus pricing: you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin. If you would rather not carry processing cost at all, a cash discount program is available. If you have processed cards before, at a previous business or a pop-up, send us your most recent processing statement and we will show you, line by line, what you are paying and beat it, or tell you honestly that we cannot.

Your POS connected to the rest of the business

Many new Atlanta owners sell in more than one place: in person, online, and sometimes at markets or events. Your POS should connect to your online store, your customer records, and your accounting or inventory tools so you are not entering the same sale twice. TouchSuite's ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee with a TouchSuite merchant account.

Terms that leave you room to adjust

Your first year will teach you things you could not have planned for. You may change hours, add a second location, or shift how much you sell online. Look for an agreement that does not lock you in while you figure that out. TouchSuite accounts are month-to-month, cancel anytime, with no fees.

How it works

  1. Set up the business basics. Before applying for a merchant account, have your business entity formed (many Georgia owners register an LLC or corporation through the Georgia Secretary of State), an EIN from the IRS, and a business bank account in the business's name. Licensing and permits vary by business type and by whether you are inside Atanta city limits or in a surrounding county, so check with the City of Atlanta or your county office for what applies to you. Restaurants and salons often have additional health or professional licensing requirements, so confirm those early.
  2. Talk through your setup with us. Tell us what you sell, how customers pay, and whether you need tips, appointments, inventory, online sales, or mobile payments. We will recommend terminals and POS software that fit, explain pricing in plain terms, and answer questions before you commit to anything.
  3. Apply for your merchant account. The application typically asks for your legal business name and entity type, EIN, business bank account details for deposits, a government-issued ID for the owner, your business address, and a description of what you sell and how. Having these ready usually keeps review moving without back-and-forth.
  4. Get your equipment and start taking payments. Once you are approved, most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours. Plan to receive and test your equipment before opening day: run a few test sales, try a tip and a refund, and make sure your staff knows the basics. Leaving a buffer of a week or two before your opening date gives you room if anything in the earlier steps takes longer than expected.

Questions to ask a processor

What pricing model do you use, and how will it appear on my statement?

Ask any processor this directly and ask to see a sample statement. With TouchSuite, it is interchange-plus: you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, and that is how it is laid out. If you want to eliminate processing cost, we can also walk you through our cash discount program.

Am I locked into a contract, and what happens if I want to leave?

Read the agreement for term length and any fees for closing the account. TouchSuite accounts are month-to-month, cancel anytime, with no fees.

How long until I can actually take cards?

It depends on how complete your application is and how quickly your business documents are in place. Once you are approved, most TouchSuite merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours. Start the process a few weeks before you open so equipment can be set up and tested.

Will the POS work with my online store, booking, or accounting tools?

Ask which systems connect and whether integrations cost extra each month. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee. Bring a list of the tools you plan to use so we can confirm fit.

Does the system handle the specifics of my kind of business?

Test the features you will rely on every day. For a restaurant, that might be tip adjustments and splitting checks. For retail, inventory tracking and returns. For a salon, deposits, card-on-file, and tips by staff member. For a service business, invoicing and payments taken away from the counter. A good processor will show you these working rather than just saying yes.

Do I need to have processed cards before to switch or compare pricing?

No. If you are brand new, we will explain the pricing and set you up from the start. If you have processed before, send us your most recent processing statement and we will show you, line by line, what you are paying and beat it, or tell you honestly that we cannot.

Planning to open in Atlanta? Let's get your payments ready.

Tell us about your business and your opening date. We will help you choose equipment and software that fit, explain pricing plainly, and give you a realistic timeline so you can take cards from your first day.

An email or a phone number is enough.

TouchSuite · 800-793-3250 · Month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees.