Opening a business in Everett? Get payments sorted before your first customer.

Whether you are opening a restaurant, a shop, a salon, or a service business in Everett, this page covers the equipment to plan for, what a merchant account application asks for, the usual order of steps, and the questions to ask any processor before you sign.

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What to get right

Match the setup to how your business actually runs

A restaurant needs tip adjustment, split checks, and a way to keep tables turning, often with tableside or handheld terminals. Retail needs inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and a clean process for returns and exchanges. Salons and spas need appointment booking, deposits or card-on-file for no-shows, and tips assigned to the right stylist. Service businesses that work on site need mobile payments, invoicing, and the ability to take a card over the phone. Decide what your day looks like first, then choose hardware and software that fit it.

Have your paperwork ready before you apply

A merchant account application usually asks for your legal business name and entity type, your EIN (or SSN for some sole proprietors), a business bank account for deposits, a government-issued ID for each owner, your business address, and an idea of your expected sales. You will also need your Washington state business license and any license the City of Everett requires for your type of business. Licensing requirements vary by business type, so check with the state and the city before you plan your opening date.

Understand what you will pay and why

Ask for pricing you can read. With interchange-plus pricing, you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, so you can see exactly what the processor is charging. If you would rather not carry processing cost at all, a cash discount program is an option. If you already process cards somewhere else, 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.

Connect payments to the rest of your business

Your POS should talk to your accounting, customer records, and online store so you are not re-entering sales by hand. Sales tax collection also needs to be set up correctly for your location, so confirm the right setting with the Washington Department of Revenue. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee.

How it works

  1. Talk through your business. Tell us what you are opening in Everett, how customers will pay, whether you take tips, appointments, online orders, or payments in the field, and when you plan to open. We will recommend terminals, POS software, and a pricing approach that fit.
  2. Submit your application. Gather your entity documents, EIN, bank account details, and owner ID, and complete the merchant account application. Apply a few weeks before opening if you can, so there is time for any follow-up questions and for your licenses to be in hand.
  3. Get your equipment set up. Qualifying merchants receive free terminals and POS hardware with no upfront cost. Plan time to load your menu, products, or services, set up staff logins and tip settings, and run a few test transactions before you open the doors.
  4. Start taking payments. Most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval. Our terms are month-to-month, so you can cancel anytime with no fees if the setup stops working for you.

Questions to ask a processor

How is your pricing structured, and can I see every fee in writing?

Any processor should be able to explain each line of your pricing before you sign. We use interchange-plus pricing, where you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, and we also offer a cash discount program if you want to eliminate processing cost.

Is there a long-term contract or a cancellation fee?

Ask this of every processor and get the answer in writing. Our terms are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees.

How long until I can take cards?

It depends on how complete your application is and whether the underwriter has questions. Most of our merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval, but apply well ahead of your opening date so licensing or paperwork delays do not hold you up.

Will the POS work with my accounting software and online store?

Ask which systems a processor integrates with 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.

Does the system handle what my type of business needs?

Be specific. Restaurants should ask about tip adjustment and split checks, retail about inventory and returns, salons about booking, deposits, and per-stylist tips, and service businesses about mobile payments and invoicing. Ask for a demonstration of the features you will use every day.

I already process cards elsewhere. Can you tell me if I am overpaying?

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 Everett?

Tell us what kind of business you are opening and when. We will walk you through what to have ready, recommend equipment that fits, and give you pricing you can read line by line.

An email or a phone number is enough.

Book a call

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