Best Payment Providers for High-Risk Businesses15 providers compared
Payment processors that accept high-risk industries including adult, gaming, CBD, and other challenging verticals.
Overview
High-risk businesses often struggle to find payment processing. Traditional providers reject these industries due to higher chargeback rates and regulatory complexity. Specialized high-risk processors understand your business.
What to Consider
- 1Industry-specific experience and acceptance
- 2Chargeback management and prevention tools
- 3Rolling reserve requirements
- 4Contract terms and termination clauses
- 5Fraud prevention for your specific vertical
- 6Compliance with industry regulations
Top 15 Payment Providers for High-Risk
Frequently Asked Questions
What industries are considered high-risk?
High-risk industries include adult entertainment, online gambling/gaming, CBD/cannabis, travel, nutraceuticals, firearms, debt collection, and businesses with high chargeback rates or regulatory scrutiny.
Why do high-risk merchants pay higher fees?
Higher fees compensate for increased chargeback risk, regulatory compliance costs, and the possibility of account termination. Rates typically range from 3-10% compared to 2-3% for standard merchants.
What is a rolling reserve?
A rolling reserve is when the processor holds back a percentage of your transactions (typically 5-10%) for a period (usually 6 months) to cover potential chargebacks. This is standard practice for high-risk accounts.
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