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How to become a credit card merchant
Get a business license if you don't have one.
Visit the website for your state's secretary of state and apply for a business license if you don't already have one. You'll need the license to apply for a merchant account and for several other steps down the line.
You'll have to wait until you actually have the license before moving forward with your credit card merchant application. Getting a business license may require a small fee, depending on your business type and state.