Setting up payments for your new San Francisco business

Whether you are opening a restaurant, a shop, a salon, or a service business in San Francisco, here is what to plan for when it comes to taking cards and running a point of sale, what paperwork to have ready, and the questions worth asking before you sign with any processor.

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What to get right

Match the setup to how your business actually runs

Restaurants and cafes need tip handling, split checks, and fast table turns, plus a way to take payment at the table or counter. Retail shops need inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and a clean process for returns and exchanges. Salons and spas need appointment booking, deposits for no-shows, and tips assigned to the right stylist. Service businesses often need invoicing, card-on-file, and the ability to take payment on a phone or tablet away from a counter. Decide what you need on day one and what can wait, so you are not paying for features you will not use.

Understand what you will pay before you sign

Ask how pricing is structured. With interchange-plus pricing, you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, which makes your statement easier to read and compare. If you would rather eliminate processing cost, a cash discount program is available; check current California and local rules on how such programs must be disclosed to customers before you choose one.

Connect payments to the rest of your tools

Your POS should talk to your accounting, customer records, and online store so you are not re-entering sales by hand. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee. If you plan to sell online or take orders for pickup, plan for that now rather than bolting it on later.

Keep your options open

A new business changes fast in its first year. Look for terms that let you adjust. 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, an EIN from the IRS (or your SSN if you are a sole proprietor), a business bank account, and a government-issued photo ID for each owner. San Francisco is a combined city and county, so business registration and any permits for your type of business are handled locally; check with the City and County of San Francisco for what applies to you and how long it takes, since requirements differ for food service, personal care, and retail.
  2. Talk through your setup with us. Tell us what kind of business you are opening, how you expect customers to pay, and what software you already use. If you have been processing elsewhere, 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.
  3. Apply and get approved. You submit the application with your business and banking details. Approval timing varies with how complete your paperwork is, so having your entity documents, EIN, bank information, and ID ready helps. Ideally, start this a few weeks before your opening date so you are not waiting on it during your final week of preparation.
  4. Set up equipment and start taking payments. Once approved, your terminals or POS are configured for your menu, products, or services, along with tips, taxes, and staff logins as needed. Most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval. Run a few test transactions and a practice end-of-day close before your first real customer.

Questions to ask a processor

How is your pricing structured, and will I be able to read my statement?

Ask any processor this directly. TouchSuite offers interchange-plus pricing, where you pay the card networks' actual cost plus a fixed margin, so each line on your statement can be traced. A cash discount program is also available if you want to eliminate processing cost.

What contract terms am I agreeing to?

Ask how long the agreement runs and what happens if you want to leave. TouchSuite accounts are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees. Whoever you talk to, get the terms in writing and read them before signing.

What do I need to have ready to apply?

Generally your business entity information, an EIN or SSN, a business bank account for deposits, and photo ID for the owners. Depending on your business type, you may also be asked about your expected sales and how you will take payments, such as in person, online, or by phone.

How soon can I start taking cards?

It depends on how quickly your application is approved, which depends largely on having complete paperwork. After approval, most TouchSuite merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours. Build some cushion into your opening timeline in case your local permits or bank account take longer than expected.

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

Ask which integrations are supported and whether any carry a separate monthly charge. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee.

I am already processing somewhere else. Is it worth switching?

Possibly, possibly not. 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 San Francisco?

Tell us what you are opening and when, and we will walk you through the payment and POS setup that fits, what to have ready for your application, and what the timeline looks like. If you already process cards, send your latest statement and we will give you a straight answer on whether we can do better.

An email or a phone number is enough.

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