Credit card processing and merchant services in Columbus, OH
Columbus keeps adding residents, and Franklin County's combined sales tax rate is 8.00%, the first number your terminals and online checkout need.
Columbus keeps growing. Its population reached 938,396 in the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate, a 3.6% gain since 2020. The 2022 Economic Census counted $29.8 billion in retail sales in the city, $16.1 billion in health care and social assistance revenue and $7.7 billion in transportation and warehousing.
Sales tax setup is straightforward for most locations. The Ohio Department of Taxation's rate map for October 1, 2026 puts Franklin County at 8.00% all in, with state, county and transit taxes combined. Ohio sets the rate by county, so if you have a location outside Franklin County, use that county's rate from the same map, and recheck the department's rates each quarter.
For sales at the counter, Clearo's POS terminals come in countertop, wireless and portable models that take chip, tap and swipe. For freight, warehousing and other business-to-business work, the virtual terminal handles invoices, payment links and recurring billing; see our B2B and franchise page.
Ohio has no surcharge statute, so in Columbus the card networks' caps are the only ones: 3% for Visa and 4% for Mastercard, limited to your cost, with debit excluded. Sources are on the Ohio page.
Every account gets interchange-plus pricing, a dedicated rep and no long-term contract. Bring one statement to a free statement review and we'll break down your cost per transaction.
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in Columbus, Ohio?
8.00% for locations in Franklin County, per the Ohio Department of Taxation's sales and use tax rate map for October 1, 2026. That's the 5.75% state rate plus county and transit taxes. For a location in another county, use that county's rate from the same map, and check each quarter for changes.
Can Columbus businesses add a credit card surcharge?
Yes. Ohio has no surcharge statute, so a Columbus business follows the card networks: up to 3% on Visa or 4% on Mastercard, no more than its cost, credit cards only, and notice before the sale. Visa also requires 30 days' written notice to your acquirer before you start.
How can a Columbus logistics or B2B company take card payments?
A virtual terminal lets you key in card payments taken by phone, send email invoices and payment links, and set up recurring billing for repeat customers. If you also sell online, our online payments add hosted checkout or gateway integration with fraud screening.
Is debit cheaper than credit for a Columbus retailer?
Usually. On debit cards from banks with $10 billion or more in assets, federal Regulation II caps interchange at 21 cents plus 0.05% of the sale, plus 1 cent for fraud prevention: 24.5 cents on a $50 sale. Debit can't be surcharged, but at that cost it rarely needs to be.
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Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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