Step-by-step setup, documents, provider selection and timelines.
Opening a merchant account or signing up with a payment facilitator is mostly paperwork and decisions made in the right order. These guides cover what you need before applying (business entity, EIN, bank account, website policies), how underwriting works, how to pick between an all-in-one provider and a separate gateway plus merchant account, and what the timeline looks like from application to your first payout.
If you are new to this, read the step-by-step guide first, then the document checklist. The pre-application checklist turns the advice into a to-do list you can work through before you apply. Timelines and requirements vary by provider and risk profile, so treat the ranges here as typical patterns, not promises.
Getting Started
Use a weighted scorecard to choose between facilitators, merchant accounts and POS payments, based on volume, ticket size, risk, integrations and contract terms.
Getting Started
A practical list of the documents and information U.S. underwriters ask for, how to prepare them, and how to avoid delays caused by mismatched details.
Getting Started
A clear, ordered walkthrough from choosing a business structure to accepting your first card payment, with what to prepare, test and monitor at each stage.
Getting Started
Typical timelines for facilitator signups, dedicated merchant accounts and first payouts in the U.S., plus what slows approval and how to speed it up.
Getting Started
Plain-English guide to PCI DSS for small U.S. merchants, including self-assessment questionnaires, how your checkout design changes your scope, and common fees.
