High-Risk Payment Gateway: What Are Your Options?

If you sell in industries such as supplements, travel, subscription services, forex, gaming or adult content, you may often find that mainstream payment providers close your account without warning.

What makes an industry "high-risk"?

• High risk of chargebacks.
• Regulatory uncertainty.
• Advance payments with long delivery lead times.
• High rates of fraud within the industry.

Your options

• High-risk acquiring banks offering tailored agreements for specific industries.
• Merchant accounts through specialist payment providers.
• Rolling reserve: a portion of your revenue is held back for a period of time.
• Alternative methods such as bank transfers, open banking and — where legal — crypto.

How to improve your chances of approval

1. A clear website with terms and conditions, a returns policy and contact information.
2. Documentation of your business model and suppliers.
3. A history of low chargeback rates.
4. A company and bank account in the same jurisdiction.

Read more about accepting card and crypto payments and explore banking and payment solutions.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Stripe closing my account?

Typically because of your industry, a high chargeback rate or missing documentation.

Are the fees higher?

Yes, high-risk payment solutions usually come with higher fees and reserve requirements.

Can you help with the application?

Yes, we prepare the documentation and apply to suitable providers.

Get help from Adminbox

Would you like an assessment of your specific situation? Book a free meeting or contact us — we respond within 24 hours.