Taking cards from day one in Washington, DC

If you are about to open, or just opened, a restaurant, shop, salon, or service business in Washington, DC, this page covers what to plan for in payments and point of sale, what to have ready for a merchant account, and the questions worth asking before you sign anything.

Start the conversation Book a call

What to get right

Match the setup to how your business actually runs

A restaurant in Washington, DC needs tip adjustment, split checks, and a way to keep tables turning, often with handheld or pay-at-table devices. A retail shop needs inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and a clean way to handle returns and exchanges. A salon or barbershop needs 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 or online. Decide what you need before you look at equipment, not after.

Know exactly what you are paying

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 what goes to the networks and what goes to your processor. If you want to eliminate processing cost, a cash discount program is another option to consider. If you already have a processing statement from a previous business or a recent opening, 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.

Connect payments to the rest of your tools

Your POS should talk to your online store, your customer list, and your accounting or inventory system, so you are not retyping sales at the end of the night. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee.

Keep your options open

A new business changes quickly in its first year. Look for terms that do not lock you in. 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, a business bank account in the business's name, and a government-issued photo ID for each owner. Licensing and registration requirements in Washington, DC depend on your business type, so check with the District's business licensing office early, especially if you serve food, alcohol, or offer licensed services like cosmetology.
  2. Talk through what you need. Tell us what kind of business you are opening, how customers will pay you (counter, table, appointment, online, on site), and what software you already use. If you have a previous processing statement, send it over. We will recommend equipment and a pricing approach that fits, and explain it plainly.
  3. Apply and get approved. You submit the application with your entity details, EIN, bank account information, and ID. Approval timing depends on your business type and how complete the application is, so having everything ready ahead of time is the simplest way to avoid delays.
  4. Set up and start taking payments. Most merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval. Plan to have your equipment set up, your menu or product list loaded, and a few test transactions run before opening day, so your first customers are not your test.

Questions to ask a processor

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

Any processor should be able to show you exactly how you will be charged before you sign. TouchSuite uses interchange-plus pricing, where 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. Whatever you choose, ask for it in writing and make sure you understand each line.

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

Ask this directly with any processor. TouchSuite accounts are month-to-month, cancel anytime, no fees.

What do I need to have ready to apply?

Generally: your registered business entity, an EIN, a business bank account, and a government-issued ID for the owners. Depending on your business, you may also be asked about your expected sales and how you will take payments. Local licensing in Washington, DC is separate from your merchant account, so confirm your requirements with the District directly.

Will the system handle tips, deposits, returns, or online orders the way my business needs?

This depends on your business type, so describe your day in detail. Restaurants should ask about tip adjustment and split checks, salons about deposits and stylist-level tips, retailers about inventory and returns, and service businesses about invoicing and mobile payments. Ask to see the feature working, not just listed.

Does the POS connect to my accounting, customer, and e-commerce tools, and is there an extra charge?

Integrations are where surprise costs often appear, so ask. With a TouchSuite merchant account, our ERP, CRM, and e-commerce integrations are included at no monthly fee.

How soon after approval can I start taking cards?

Most TouchSuite merchants are processing within 24 to 48 hours of approval. Build in time before your opening date for approval, setup, and testing.

Planning your opening in Washington, DC?

Tell us what kind of business you are opening and how your customers will pay. If you have a current processing statement, send it 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.

Book a call

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