Author · Director of Sales at Adaptiv Payments
Paul Smith
Paul Smith is a payments expert with over a decade of experience underwriting, procuring, and advancing the payments industry. Having been on-the-ground in the past getting high-risk merchants approved, he has invaluable payment industry knowledge.
Connect on LinkedInRecent writing(48)
Can You Sell Vitamins on Facebook Marketplace?
When selling vitamins online, it's important to understand that every platform has its own restrictions and policies. Meta's commerce rules mean that ingestible health-related products can trigger moderation, account restriction, or listing removal. The rules are not precise, leading to potential misinterpretations even when following the guidelines.
Read article
Embedded Finance in the Travel Industry
Embedded finance in the travel industry refers to financial services built into a website's structure, such as integrated checkouts and saved payment methods. These tools can also offer add-ons, like applying credits, purchasing insurance, or paying for additional experiences, without leaving the booking flow.
Read article
How to Sell Vitamins Online
While selling vitamins or supplements online can be an accessible entrance to ecommerce, there is far more to the process than uploading a product photo and turning on checkout.
Read article
Can You Sell Supplements on Shopify?
Yes, it is possible to sell supplements on Shopify. However, not all products will qualify for the platform. Your specific supplement products, health claims, and payment structure must meet Shopify's regulatory compliance rules.
Read article
Travel Industry Chargeback Protection
Chargeback statistics show that the travel industry maintains some of the highest chargeback rates across all sectors. Travel industry chargeback protection reduces these costly disputes, prevents illegitimate chargebacks, and ensures you recover lost revenue in a timely manner.
Read article
How to Reduce Chargebacks in Travel Payments
While there are fraudulent transactions in every industry, chargeback claims in the travel industry often come down to operational challenges and misunderstandings. Delayed fulfillment, especially if paired with weak booking validation and unclear policies, can cause confused customers who file disputes. Poor communication and slow refund handling can also cause chargeback disputes.
Read article
Payment Processing for Travel Industry Businesses
Payment processing for travel industry businesses is more complex than standard ecommerce because there are more moving parts that introduce risk at each step. High-value bookings are paired with long payment-to-fulfillment gaps, increasing the risk of chargebacks, payment declines, and fraud.
Read article
Chargeback Statistics
Global chargeback volume is expected to rise by 24% from 2025 to 2028, making chargeback prevention solutions a key concern for any merchant.
Read article
What Are High-Risk Businesses?
For businesses considered high risk, merchant account providers and payment processors will perform more thorough underwriting and monitor transactions more closely. They may also charge higher processing fees and require larger reserves.
Read article
Stripe Account Shutdown
While a Stripe shutdown, suspension, or payout hold may appear similar to merchants on their Stripe dashboard, these statuses mean different things. Account decisions are determined by the account's risk profile and Stripe's terms of service, meaning that getting your account reinstated may be difficult or impossible.
Read article
Square Account Shutdown
Square account shutdown can mean deactivation, suspension, or a hold period. Regardless of the reason, account closure can significantly impact small business operations and disrupt cash flow.
Read article
Does PayPal Accept Payments for Guns?
Trying to sell prohibited items on PayPal can result in fund holds, account restrictions, or account termination. This guide will describe the policy restrictions and offer alternatives so you can continue receiving payments.
Read article
How to Legally Sell Cannabis
Dispensary operators and cannabis merchants must know what licenses they need to operate in their state or city to ensure legal compliance and a smooth payment processing experience. This article covers a general overview of what to expect when opening a cannabis business, but you should consider consulting local legal services for specific advice about your area.
Read article
Does Stripe Accept CBD Payments?
Stripe may accept CBD payments depending on your merchant policies, product type, and jurisdiction. However, Stripe's policies reserve the right to restrict or terminate these accounts.
Read article
How to Start an Online Gun Store
This complete guide provides a payments-ready and policy-compliant launch checklist to help you enter the firearms industry and open a successful online store.
Read article
How to Get an FFL License
Getting an FFL license requires an application, compliance inspection, and interview on your premises. There are different FFL licenses, depending on your business model, making it crucial to select the right one for your needs. To keep your license, you must maintain Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) compliance and follow any local laws relevant to your operations.
Read article
How to Get a License to Sell CBD Products
To sell CBD you must ensure compliance with all local guidelines to avoid expensive legal fines, business closures, and reputational issues. Additionally, a license is necessary if you want to begin processing payments and develop your revenue.
Read article
How Visa RDR Protects You From Chargebacks
This guide explains how the Visa RDR program works, why it matters for high-risk merchants, and how Adaptiv Payments helps businesses navigate chargeback prevention tools like RDR to protect their revenue.
Read article
What to Do If Your eCommerce Merchant Account Gets Suspended
We discuss everything about what to do if your eCommerce merchant account gets suspended, as well as how Adaptiv’s services can help your business. Read on to find out how to deal with and even avoid suspensions in the future.
Read article
How to Get Approved for a Nutraceutical Merchant Account
In this guide, we discuss what we provide, explain why it's difficult for nutraceutical merchants to get an account, and detail what they can do to get approved.
Read article
Best Collection Agency Merchant Account Providers in 2026
In this guide, we'll walk you through the best collection agency merchant account providers and highlight some prominent features they offer to high-risk merchants.
Read article
The 7 Best Nutraceutical Merchant Account Providers in 2025
Our experts share the seven best nutraceutical merchant account providers for 2025, highlighting key features such as approval rates, chargeback mitigation, fee structure, compliance, integration capabilities, customer reviews, and more.
Read article
Best eCommerce Merchant Account Providers in 2025
Merchant service providers like Adaptiv Payments can help bypass those pesky transaction fees, perplexing mobile payments, and promote transparent pricing from one accessible place. While it might not be possible to completely avoid a lengthy underwriting process, our built-in tools can help put you in the right direction.
Read article
Best Online Dating Merchant Account Providers in 2026
Adaptiv Payments specialize in working with high-risk industries such as the online dating industry.
Read article
Visa Chargeback Monitoring Program Threshold Guide for 2026
As a leading processor for high-risk merchants, our Adaptiv Payments 2026 Visa Chargeback Monitoring Threshold Guide breaks down the intricacies of Visa's new program.
Read article
The 7 Best Telehealth Merchant Account Providers in 2026
Want to process online payments without worrying about compliance or shutdowns? Read Adaptiv’s guide on the best telehealth merchant account providers in 2026.
Read article
How the Visa VAMP Program Impacts Your Business
We detail everything you need to know about how the Visa VAMP program impacts your business, and what high-risk merchants can do to ensure the best outcomes going forward.
Read article
Before You Apply: A Complete Telehealth Merchant Account Opening Checklist
Telehealth is no longer a niche corner of healthcare, but a core means by which patients receive care. From virtual doctor visits to online therapy and digital prescriptions, telehealth businesses are processing more payments than ever.
Read article
Most Common Reasons Credit Repair Merchant Accounts Get Declined
If you're a credit repair business looking to secure a proper merchant account, chances are you understand how difficult the underwriting process can be. Payment processors (and their accompanying banks) tend to reject credit repair businesses applying for specialized merchant accounts because of the inherent high risk, both in processing and in action.
Read article
The 6 Best Credit Repair Merchant Account Providers in 2025
Here our experts break down the best credit repair merchant account providers in 2025, with honest pros and cons for each, so you can make an informed decision that supports your goals for your business.
Read article
Top Challenges in Tobacco Payment Processing and How to Solve Them
Running a tobacco business is already a difficult endeavor, but getting the ability to accept payments in all forms can feel like an uphill battle. Brands in the tobacco, cigar, e-cigarette, and rolling paper industries are often viewed as high-risk businesses by banks and payment processors. This limits their ability to accept a wide range of credit and debit cards.
Read article
Best Tobacco Merchant Account Providers in 2025
Tobacco merchants experience more difficulties than many other industries when it comes to payment processing. Card networks view tobacco businesses similarly to cannabis shops, with age restrictions, higher-than-average chargeback rates, and regulatory scrutiny that comes with selling a restricted product.
Read article
The 8 Best Travel Merchant Account Providers in 2025
Here’s a look at the eight best travel merchant account providers in 2025 and what makes each one worth considering. Choosing wisely could mean the difference between a smooth takeoff and a turbulent year for your business.
Read article
Getting Approved: Your Travel Merchant Account Compliance Checklist
Understand what acquiring banks and processors look for in terms of eligibility, how to protect your account (especially during peak season), and how Adaptiv Payments helps travel merchants navigate high-risk rules with confidence and consistency.
Read article
Peptide Merchant Account Guide: Secure High-Risk Payments
This guide is the complete rundown on peptide merchant accounts: what they're all about, why they're so tricky, and how to find a payment processor that actually works for your business.
Read article
How to Get Approved for an International Merchant Account
Between complex compliance rules, fraud risks, and picky acquirers, even established merchants can struggle to get approved for an international merchant account.
Read article
Best CBD Merchant Account Providers in 2026
Your business is as niche as your product. To succeed, you need a payment processing platform with unique features and few holdups. This is where finding a CBD payment processor, like us at Adaptiv Payments, is essential.
Read article
The Best International Merchant Account Providers in 2025
In this article, we highlight the best international merchant account providers to choose from in 2025. This includes Adaptiv Payments, a leader in international merchant accounts and payment processing solutions.
Read article
Understanding the Visa VAMP: Key Insights and Impacts for Merchants
Visa’s Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP), also known as the Visa Vamp, is a key tool for managing fraud and disputes. In 2025, big changes are coming for merchants and acquirers. Learn what these changes are and why you need to stay informed to stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Read article
MOTO Payments: Secure Phone & Mail Transactions
MOTO payments allow customers to pay over the phone or by mail without being physically present. Great for remote purchases, these transactions help businesses manage phone and catalog sales. This article explains how MOTO payments work, their benefits and the security measures.
Read article
Finding the Right Delta 8 Merchant Account for Your Business
Discover how to select the best Delta 8 merchant account for your business needs. Make informed decisions and optimize your payment processing today!
Read article
Understanding ISA Fees: What You Need to Know
Discover what is an ISA fee, how it works in income share agreements, and what costs to expect when funding education or career training programs.
Read article
Instant Check Verification: A Comprehensive Guide
Explore top platforms offering instant check verification online to enhance payment security and efficiency.
Read article
How to Avoid Paypal Fees
Explore a range of practical strategies and expert tips designed to help you minimize—and even eliminate—PayPal fees on your transactions.
Read article
Can I sell CBD on Shopify
Yes, you can sell CBD products on Shopify, but you must use a third-party payment gateway and comply with Shopify's hemp-selling requirements.
Read articleWhat Are The Dangers Of Using EChecks?
Worried about using eChecks? Learn about the dangers of eCheck fraud, security risks, and potential for scams. Stay safe with our essential guide to eCheck safety!
Read article
How To Get A Merchant Account With Bad Credit
Unlock the secrets to securing a bad credit merchant account. Discover proven strategies and expert tips to boost your business despite credit challenges.
Read article
How to Sell Kratom Online
This guide provides steps to sell Kratom online, covering market understanding, legal requirements, product selection, supply chain setup, e-commerce platform creation, marketing strategy, payment processing, shipping, customer support, and business optimization.
Read article