Opening a business in Phoenix? Here is how to get payments and POS sorted.

Whether you are opening a restaurant, a shop, a salon, or a service business in Phoenix, you need a way to take cards from the first day. This page covers the equipment and software to plan for, what to have ready for a merchant account application, a realistic order of steps, and the questions worth asking 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 handheld or pay-at-table devices, including on a patio. Retail needs inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and a clean way to handle returns and exchanges. A salon or spa needs appointment booking, deposits or cancellation holds, and tips on card payments. Service businesses that work at customers' homes or job sites need mobile payments, invoicing, and card-on-file billing. Decide which of these you need before you look at equipment, not after. If you will take payments outdoors in Phoenix, ask how devices hold up in direct sun and heat.

Know what you are paying, line by line

Processing pricing can be hard to read. With interchange-plus pricing, you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, so you can see what goes to the networks and what goes to the processor. If you already have a statement from a previous business or a location you are taking over, send it to us and we will show you, line by line, what you are paying and beat it, or tell you honestly that we cannot. A cash discount program is also available if you want to eliminate processing cost.

Connect payments to the rest of your tools

Your POS should not be an island. If you sell online, track customers, or run accounting and inventory software, the payment system should feed into them so you are not re-entering sales by hand. Our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee with a TouchSuite merchant account.

Keep your options open

When you are new, your volume, hours, and even your menu or product mix may change in the first months. Avoid getting locked into terms you cannot exit. TouchSuite accounts are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees, and qualifying merchants receive free terminals and POS hardware with no upfront cost.

How it works

  1. Get your business basics in place. Before you apply for a merchant account, have your business entity formed, your EIN from the IRS, a business bank account, and a government-issued ID for each owner. Licensing and sales tax registration requirements depend on your business type and location, so check with the State of Arizona and the City of Phoenix on what applies to you before opening.
  2. Talk through your setup with us. Tell us what you sell, how customers pay, whether you take tips or deposits, and what software you already use. We will recommend terminals, POS hardware, and integrations that fit, and explain the pricing options, including interchange-plus and the cash discount program, so you can choose.
  3. Apply for your merchant account. You submit an application with your business details, bank account information, and owner identification. Have a voided check or bank letter and your EIN confirmation handy to keep things moving. Apply a few weeks before your planned opening if you can, so there is time to resolve any questions without pressure.
  4. Install, test, and start taking payments. Most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval. Use that window to set up your menu or product catalog, tip and tax settings, staff logins, and receipts, and run a few test transactions before your first real customer walks in.

Questions to ask a processor

What pricing model will I be on, and can I see every line item?

Ask any processor to explain exactly how you will be charged and to show you a sample statement. With TouchSuite, interchange-plus pricing means you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin. A cash discount program is also available if you want to eliminate processing cost.

Am I signing a long-term contract, and what happens if I want to leave?

This is one of the most important questions for a new business, because your needs may change quickly. Get the answer in writing. TouchSuite accounts are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees.

Will the system handle the way my business takes payments?

Be specific. Restaurants should ask about tip adjustment, split checks, and table or patio devices. Retailers should ask about inventory, barcodes, and returns. Salons should ask about appointments, deposits, and tips. Service businesses should ask about mobile payments, invoices, and saving cards on file. If a processor cannot show you how it works, keep asking.

Does it connect to my accounting, CRM, or online store, and at what cost?

Integrations can add up if each one carries its own charge. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee.

How long until I can actually take cards?

Approval timing depends on how complete your application is, so have your entity documents, EIN, bank account, and ID ready. Once approved, most TouchSuite merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours.

What do I need to check locally in Phoenix?

Business licensing and sales tax registration depend on your business type and location. We cannot advise on those specifics, so check directly with the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona before you open.

Get your Phoenix business ready to take cards

Tell us what you are opening and how you plan to take payments, and we will help you put together a setup that fits. If you have a current processing statement, send it over and we will show you, line by line, what you are paying and beat it, or tell you honestly that we cannot.

An email or a phone number is enough.

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