Opening a new business? Get card processing set up before day one.
Approval, equipment and POS setup take time. Start 30 to 60 days before you open and you'll take your first card payment on opening day, not the week after. We handle the payments side with you, by phone or video, wherever you're opening.
- Free statement analysis
- Month-to-month options
- $0 upfront equipment with qualifying agreement
- Nationwide service, Houston-area HQ
Get a free rate quote
Tell us what you're opening and when. No cost, no obligation.
Your pre-opening payments checklist
Payments tend to get pushed to the last week before opening, behind the lease, the buildout and the permits. Then owners find out the merchant application needs documents they don't have handy, the terminal has to ship, and the POS menu or catalog takes longer to build than expected.
Work through this list over the 30 to 60 days before you open and payments won't be the thing holding up your first sale.
Before you open
- Open a business bank account for deposits
- Decide how you'll take payments: counter, tableside, mobile, online, invoices
- Estimate monthly card sales and your average sale
- Choose a pricing model: flat rate, interchange-plus or cash discount
- Pick a terminal or POS that fits how you'll serve customers
- Submit the merchant application
- Build your menu, catalog, taxes, tips and staff logins
- Post cash discount or dual pricing signage, if you choose it
- Run test sales and refunds
- Confirm your first deposit reaches the bank
What you need to get approved
A merchant account is approved by a processor's underwriting team, not by Cedarline. Having these ready makes the application quick:
- Legal business name, plus your DBA if you use one
- EIN, or SSN for some sole proprietors
- Business bank account details (voided check or bank letter)
- Owner's government ID and home address
- Business address and phone number
- What you'll sell, and how (in person, online, by phone)
- Expected monthly card volume and average sale
Good to know
Underwriting can ask for more depending on your industry, such as a business license, a lease, a website with a refund policy, or product details. No processing history is normal for a new business. Give an honest volume estimate: far too low can trigger holds when sales come in, and far too high can complicate approval. We'll help you think it through.
Timeline: apply 30 to 60 days before you open
A typical order of steps. Actual timing depends on underwriting and shipping, so earlier is better.
- 6 to 8 weeks out
Plan
- Talk through how you'll sell and what you'll need
- Open the business bank account
- Gather application documents
- 4 to 6 weeks out
Choose and apply
- Compare equipment and POS options
- See pricing models side by side, priced on your plans
- Submit the merchant application
- 2 to 4 weeks out
Equipment and setup
- Terminal or POS ships to you
- Menu or catalog, taxes, tips and users set up
- Signage ready for cash discount or dual pricing, if chosen
- Final week
Test
- Test chip, tap and keyed sales
- Test refunds and voids
- Check that a test deposit lands in your bank
Equipment and POS options
Choose based on how you'll serve customers. We'll recommend options and show the cost of each in writing.
Countertop terminal
A simple, reliable terminal for chip, tap and swipe at a register. Terminals
Wireless or cellular terminal
For tableside, curbside, deliveries, job sites and events.
Full POS system
Restaurant, retail or appointment POS with menus, inventory, tips and reports. POS systems
Mobile reader
A small reader paired with a phone or tablet for low-volume or on-the-go sales. Mobile payments
Online and invoices
Website checkout, payment links and a virtual terminal for deposits and pre-orders. Online payments
$0 upfront programs
On qualifying programs, equipment with no upfront cost, with terms disclosed before you sign. Equipment programs
Set up remotely, anywhere in the lower 48
You don't need to be near Houston to work with Cedarline. Here's how it works from anywhere.
Tell us your plans
Fill out the form or call. We'll ask what you're opening, when, and how you'll take payments.
Get options and a quote
Equipment or POS recommendations and pricing, all in writing, priced on your expected volume.
Apply and ship
Sign the application electronically. Once approved, your equipment ships to your business.
Set up and test
We walk through setup, training and test sales with you by phone or video before opening day.
Cedarline works with businesses in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. See the full list.
Frequently asked questions
We haven't signed a lease yet. Is it too early?
No. You can choose equipment, compare pricing and gather documents now, then submit the application once you have a business address and bank account. Starting the conversation early just gives you more options.
Do I need a processing history to be approved?
No. Every new business starts without one. Underwriters look at the owner, the type of business and the volume you expect. Some accounts start with limits that are reviewed once you have a few months of sales.
How long does approval take?
It depends on the processor and your business type. Many complete applications get a decision within a few business days, and some take longer if underwriting asks for more documents. That's why we suggest applying 30 to 60 days before you open.
Can you help if my business isn't in Texas?
Yes. Cedarline is headquartered in the Houston area and works with businesses in the lower 48 states and Washington, D.C. Equipment ships to you and setup is done by phone or video.
What does the setup help cost?
Nothing. Cedarline is paid by its partner processors when an account is opened. Every rate, fee and equipment term is shown to you in writing before you sign anything.
Do I have to commit to anything by filling out the form?
No. The form just starts a conversation. You'll get questions about your plans, then options and a quote. You decide whether to apply.
Guides by business type
Opening in the next few months?
Get a free rate quote and a setup plan built around your opening date.