Timeshare payment processing setup typically takes 1-3 weeks from application to processing first transactions, depending on complexity and integration requirements. Week 1—Application and Approval (Days 1-5):

Application submission (1-2 hours)—complete merchant application, provide business information (legal name, EIN, business address, ownership structure, years in operation), explain timeshare model (developer vs. resale, average transaction size, monthly volume projections, chargeback history if applicable), submit financial information (bank account details, financial statements if startup, processing statements if switching), authorize background checks;

Underwriting review (2-3 days)—background checks on business and principals, timeshare business model evaluation, chargeback history analysis (if applicable), risk assessment (timeshare is considered higher risk), additional information requests (if needed), reference checks (bank, vendors, trade references);

Approval decision (1-2 days)—conditional approval granted, pricing terms provided (interchange-plus recommended), reserves discussed if required (5-10% for new/high-risk), account setup begins, contracts sent for signature, equipment ordered if needed. Week 2—Integration and Setup (Days 6-12):

Technical setup—merchant account creation and configuration, payment gateway setup (virtual terminal, payment portal, API access), equipment shipment (terminals for sales centers, front desk, F&B), test account creation for sandbox testing, API credentials provided (if integration needed), PMS integration planning (if applicable);

Software integration (if required)—identify timeshare PMS (RDP, SPI, TrackHS, etc.), technical discovery call, API documentation review, integration development and configuration, field mapping (owner IDs, unit numbers, etc.), webhook setup for real-time posting;

Staff training—virtual terminal training for sales and accounting staff, payment portal administration, chargeback management procedures, compliance best practices, rescission period workflows, owner payment plan processing. Week 3—Testing and Go-Live (Days 13-21):

Testing phase—process test transactions in sandbox, verify all payment methods work (cards, ACH, international), test payment portal functionality, validate PMS integration (if applicable), test batch maintenance fee billing, verify receipt generation, confirm reporting accuracy;

Go-live preparation—switch from test to live processing mode, final configuration review, load owner payment methods (if migrating), schedule first maintenance fee billing (if applicable), customer service ready for payment questions;

Launch and monitoring—begin processing live transactions, process first sales center deposits, monitor closely for any issues, verify PMS posting (if integrated), reconcile first batch, ongoing support available. Timeline factors:

Faster setup (1-2 weeks)—standard timeshare model (established developer), simple payment needs (virtual terminal only), no PMS integration required, clean background and processing history, all documentation complete;

Longer setup (3-4 weeks)—new/startup timeshare operation, complex PMS integration (custom system), high-risk indicators requiring reserves, incomplete documentation, first-time merchant (no processing history), multiple locations/entities. Required documentation ready:

Business documents—timeshare developer license (if required in state), business formation documents (LLC/Corp articles), EIN letter from IRS, principals’ identification (driver’s license, SSN), proof of business address (lease, utility bill);

Operational documents—sample sales contracts, purchase agreements, right-to-rescind notices, maintenance fee billing samples, website/marketing materials, current owner count and projection;

Financial documents—3 months bank statements, processing statements if switching (3-6 months), financial statements if available, business plan if startup, explanation of chargeback history (if applicable). After setup: 24/7 technical support for payment processing, dedicated account management, chargeback management assistance, compliance guidance (rescission, disclosures), PMS integration support ongoing, monthly account reviews (if needed), quarterly business reviews (high volume accounts). Coastal Pay specializes in timeshare payment processing with expedited approval for qualified developers, experienced underwriting team understands timeshare model, competitive pricing despite higher-risk classification, flexible setup to accommodate complex needs, PMS integration expertise, comprehensive training and support, and post-launch account management. Apply today with business information, timeshare documentation, and financial details to begin approval process—most timeshare companies processing within 2-3 weeks.