Charging Ahead Opening a merchant credit card account is easier than you think--once you understand the process.

Like any good business owner, when John Greenlee's customerstalk, he listens. "We were doing festivals, and customersasked if we took credit cards," says Greenlee, who sellsleather handbags and accessories at festivals, expos and homeshows. "I started keeping count, and at six different events,[a total of] 25 people asked. That's 25 customers I lostbecause they didn't have cash, and I'm leery aboutout-of-state checks."

The solution to his problem seemed simple--establish a merchantcredit card account. Companies offering merchant status seemedplentiful, and Greenlee found one whose program sounded good. Butwhen he read the contract, he found some glaring omissions thesales representative had neglected to mention: "I had to signa four-year contract," he says, "and if I didn't doat least $2,500 a month in [credit card] sales, I would have to payan additional charge."

So Greenlee approached Pittsburgh-based Mellon Bank, where hehad his personal and business accounts. The bank asked for proof ofhis fictitious business name filing, a copy of his product catalogand his return/refund policy; they also did a credit check. Allthis presented no problem for Greenlee. There was only one hurdlethe Glenside, Pennsylvania, entrepreneur could not overcome--therequest for two years of business tax returns.