Opening a business in Pennsylvania? Sort out payments before your first customer walks in.

Whether you are opening a restaurant in Pennsylvania, a shop, a salon, or a service business, you will need a way to take cards and a system to run your day. Here is what to plan for, what to have ready, and what to ask before you sign with any processor.

Talk to TouchSuite Book a call

What to get right

Equipment that fits how your business actually runs

A restaurant needs tip adjustment, split checks, and a POS that keeps tables turning without holding up the line. A retail shop needs inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and a clean way to handle returns and exchanges. A salon needs appointment booking, deposits for no-shows, and tips assigned to the right stylist. A service business that works on site needs mobile card acceptance and invoicing. Decide what you need on day one and what can wait, and choose hardware and software around that rather than the other way around. Qualifying merchants receive free terminals and POS hardware, with no upfront cost.

Pricing you can read line by line

Processing costs are easiest to manage when you can see exactly what you are paying for. With interchange-plus pricing, you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, so the statement makes sense. If you would rather eliminate processing cost, a cash discount program is available. If you are taking over an existing business or switching from another provider, 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.

Paperwork ready before you apply

A merchant account application goes faster when your business basics are in place. Plan to have your business entity formed and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State if you are an LLC or corporation, an EIN from the IRS, a business bank account in the business name, and a government-issued ID for each owner. If you will sell taxable goods or services, check with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue about sales tax registration, and check with your city, borough, or township about any local licenses or permits, since those vary by municipality.

Systems that connect without extra monthly fees

As you grow, you may want your POS to talk to your accounting, customer list, or online store. Our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee with a TouchSuite merchant account. And because terms are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees, you are not locked in while you figure out what works for your business.

How it works

  1. Talk through your business. Tell us what you are opening, where in Pennsylvania, and how you expect customers to pay: at a counter, at the table, by appointment, on the road, or online. We will help you sort out what equipment and software you actually need.
  2. Gather your documents. Have your entity registration, EIN, business bank account details, and owner ID ready. If you already process cards somewhere, include your most recent statement so we can review it line by line.
  3. Apply and get approved. We submit your merchant account application. Approval time depends on your business type and how complete the paperwork is, so having everything ready up front is the simplest way to avoid delays. Build some buffer into your opening plan rather than leaving this to the last week.
  4. Set up and start taking payments. Once approved, we get your terminal or POS configured with your menu, products, services, or staff. Most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval. Run a few test transactions before opening day so you and your staff are comfortable.

Questions to ask a processor

What pricing model do you use, and can I see an example statement?

Ask every processor this. We use interchange-plus pricing: you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin. Any processor should be able to walk you through how a statement is laid out before you sign, so you know what each line means.

Is there a contract, and what happens if I want to leave?

Read the terms carefully with any provider, including how long the agreement runs and what it costs to cancel. Our terms are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees.

What do I need to have ready to apply in Pennsylvania?

Generally your registered business entity, an EIN, a business bank account, and ID for the owners. State registration and sales tax requirements depend on your business structure and what you sell, so confirm with the Pennsylvania Department of State and Department of Revenue, and check with your local municipality about any licenses or permits it requires.

How long until I can take cards?

It depends mostly on how quickly the application is complete and approved. After approval, most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours. If you have a firm opening date, start the process well ahead of it.

Will the system handle the specifics of my business?

Be specific when you ask. Restaurants should ask about tips, split checks, and table management. Retailers should ask about inventory and returns. Salons should ask about appointments, deposits, and tip splitting. Service businesses should ask about mobile payments and invoicing. If a feature matters to you, ask to see it working.

Can you lower what I am paying now?

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. If you want to eliminate processing cost, ask about the cash discount program.

Planning a Pennsylvania opening? Let's get payments off your list.

Tell us what kind of business you are opening and how you expect to take payments. We will help you plan the equipment, walk you through the application, and answer your questions plainly. If you already process cards, send your latest statement and we will review it 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.