Adaptiv Payments' high-risk merchant accounts are tailored to the needs of companies that may require specialized services due to industry classification, unique business models, high-ticket transaction profiles, or minimal processing history.
We offer reliable payment processing with high approval rates and transparent pricing structures to businesses with a high-risk classification, including adult entertainment, CBD, and gaming. Our personalized support and industry expertise ensure you receive the processing services you need to thrive.
Apply in 60 seconds and receive a response within 24-48 hours. We'll explain the next steps, including expected timeframes for funding and settlement.
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Understanding how payment processing works for businesses selling higher-risk products or services
A merchant account is a key element of business operations, as it allows you to accept payments via credit card or process other electronic payments. However, not every business is eligible for a traditional merchant account because they are classified as high-risk.
High-risk classification is determined by factors like industry, MATCH list status, or business model. Recurring billing, subscription models, and high-volume fulfillment services are seen as inherently riskier than one-time purchases by a traditional supplier.
Businesses operating in certain industries must navigate complex regulations that standard merchant account providers may not be able to advise on. Some business types have a higher chargeback exposure than others, potentially resulting in financial losses for the account provider.
Additionally, companies who work with international customers or clients may be seen as having a higher transaction risk. Having a limited credit history may also lead to being classified as high-risk or being subject to higher payment processing fees.
A high-risk merchant account is offered by specialized providers like Adaptiv Payments that underwrite for these elevated risks. Our services include strong risk controls to reduce fraud and mitigate chargebacks, which are common reasons for account denials. We use different pricing structures and terms that reflect the increased risk.
A merchant account is one part of our broader high-risk payment processing solutions, which also cover payment gateways, virtual terminals, e-commerce integrations, and chargeback management.
Common reasons why a business may need a specialized merchant account can include:
Thanks to our years of experience serving high-risk merchants, we can help companies navigate strict regulations. We also provide advanced fraud prevention tools and chargeback management support that is tailored to specific risks like subscription models, free trials, and international sales.
Adaptiv Payments offers tailored solutions to businesses across a broad range of industries, including CBD, gaming, dating, and other high-risk merchants that may not be accepted by other providers.
We have cultivated strong relationships with a large network of banking partners, payment processors, and other financial institutions across dozens of countries. This creates more placement options for high-risk businesses that may have been rejected by other providers.
Some merchant account providers charge higher fees to every high-risk business regardless of their financial or transaction history. Instead, we tailor pricing to each client based on factors like business model, processing requirements, transaction volume, and account structure.
You can start an application in under 60 seconds. Most merchant accounts are approved within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the documentation required and if there are any special restrictions. We'll guide you through the full process and explain everything you need to get started.
We offer comprehensive reporting tools covering each aspect of your account. These include transaction tracking, chargeback alerts, fraud detection, and business performance analysis. Gain deeper insights into your business operations and identify opportunities for better financial health.
Enhanced fraud protection like 3D Secure and device fingerprint detection helps you identify and manage suspicious transactions. Our security measures let you monitor transactions in real time and set customizable fraud rules, which prevent false positives and decrease checkout friction.
We provide 24/7 technical support for all our high-risk merchant accounts, including international payment support, e-commerce integration guidance, processing questions, and more.
Our bank relationships keep you processing worry free.
Each high-risk business has different transaction profiles or regulatory needs. This is why we have partnered with over 20 partners, including acquiring banks, domestic and international financial institutions, and payment processors.
Our multi-bank approach considers each client's regulatory exposure and how policy shifts may impact operations, which can reduce processing or cash flow interruptions.
When you open a merchant account with Adaptiv Payments, you gain access to customizable payment processing features that can enhance customer satisfaction while reducing checkout friction.
Our high-risk payment gateways ensure secure transaction processing with built-in fraud detection like Card Verification Value (CVV) and Address Verification System (AVS) checks as necessary. Multi-currency support and recurring billing capabilities let you serve a wide range of customers, while easy integration with your platform ensures a seamless checkout experience.
Easily process MOTO transactions with a user-friendly interface. Our customer database management and secure payment information storage protect sensitive data from dangerous breaches. Detailed transaction reporting provides crucial data for accounting, chargeback mitigation, or other key tasks.
Our accounts provide simple setup and configuration for Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, and more. With a streamlined payment flow, you can deliver a seamless user experience. Extensive reporting capabilities keep all transactions in one workflow for better analysis.
As a high-risk business you need chargeback protection.
Chargeback mitigation helps protect your banking relationships while improving customer service. We offer chargeback alerts so you can immediately address issues before they escalate to the credit card provider. Your dashboard includes dispute-management capabilities, including reporting and analytics, so that you have all the information necessary to fight chargebacks.
Real-time transaction monitoring helps you identify suspicious transactions before they are processed. We use machine learning algorithms to identify emerging fraud trends, helping you address them before they turn into a serious risk. Additionally, we provide customizable fraud filters that you can tailor to needs such as transaction value, IP address, geolocation, and more.
Adaptiv Payments caters to a wide range of high-risk industries that may be rejected by traditional processors, including:
Applying for a high-risk merchant account takes only a few minutes. Most merchants will receive an approval decision within 24-48 hours, though there may be additional time for applicants with a more complex processing history.
Provide proof of business ownership, government ID, processing history, and other details. This typically takes less than five minutes.
Our underwriting team will assess your application and make an approval decision, then explain the next steps.
After you are approved, we will set up your high-risk merchant account and payment gateway, along with any e-commerce integrations required. We'll test, then activate the accounts so you're ready to start accepting credit and debit card payments.
Use this comparison to understand the differences between high-risk merchant accounts and traditional merchant accounts so that you find the right solution for your needs.
| High-Risk Merchant Accounts | Traditional Merchant Accounts | |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriting Requirements | May be more extensive, but prevents sudden account termination | Fewer underwriting requirements, but potential for account termination |
| Processing Rates | Slightly higher but tailored to specific risk | Flat rate regardless of industry |
| Monthly and Gateway Fees | Increased fees, but may be tailored or bundled | Flat rate regardless of industry, though may be higher for larger accounts |
| Chargeback Fees | Higher if the client has a high chargeback ratio | Lower, but risks account termination for high ratios |
| Contract Terms | Longer contract term, typically 1 to 3 years | May be month-to-month with no termination penalty |
| Settlement Arrangements | Longer settlement periods, but transactions are screened for fraud | Quick settlement period, but may increase risk of fraud or chargebacks |
| Processing Limits | Higher processing limits necessary for high-volume transactions | Lower processing limits and risk of account termination for high volumes |
| Rolling Reserves | Ranges from 90 days to 180 days depending on risk level | May not be required for all users |
| Supported Industries and Business Models | Accepts high-risk industries and subscription billing models | May have industry restrictions and not accept subscription billing/recurring billing |
Discover why high-risk businesses trust Adaptiv for their payment processing needs
“Our CBD business received approval from Adaptiv within 48 hours after three payment processors rejected us. Their rates are competitive, and their customer service is outstanding.”
“We've never been able to process payments but the setup process with Adaptiv turned out to be surprisingly easy. They have great reps (paul was very helpful) that guided us through every step, and we were processing payments within days.”
“Our online gaming business never had dependable payment processing companies until we found Adaptiv. They demonstrated expertise in our sector and got us up and running fast, poor credit score wasn't an issue.”
Learn more about high-risk merchant accounts, including industry classification, approval, required documents, pricing, rolling reserves, and credit. Explore how to select a provider and what new businesses need to know about merchant accounts.
Businesses may be classified as high risk due to factors such as:
Apply today and join thousands of high-risk businesses that trust Adaptiv Payments with their merchant account needs. Speak to our team about how we can help your business thrive with commonsense underwriting requirements and comprehensive support.