High-risk merchant accounts
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.
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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.
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.
Business bank account
Your own merchant account
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.
Adaptiv Payments caters to a wide range of high-risk industries that may be rejected by traditional processors, including:
Agencies, tours and future-delivery bookings
Virtual care, memberships and prescriptions
Hemp-derived CBD products
Kratom in states where it's legal
Supplements and wellness brands
Direct sales and network marketing
Recurring billing and continuity
High-risk online stores
SEO, SEM and agency retainers
Guns, ammo and accessories
Programs, masterminds and courses
Vape shops and online vape stores
Licensed gambling operators
Licensed online and land-based casinos
Video games, esports and in-game purchases
Credit repair and restoration
Collection agencies and debt buyers
Cross-border and multi-currency sales
Licensed sportsbooks
Fantasy contests and leagues
Software with trials and annual plans
Liquor stores, wineries and delivery
Skincare, cosmetics and salons
Consultants and professional services
Payments, lending and crypto businesses
$100k+ a month in card sales
Dating apps and matchmaking
Pawnbrokers and resale
Retail, online and mail-order pharmacies
Smoke and head shops
Supplement stores and brands
Remote tech support services
Timeshare sales and exit services
Cigars, cigarettes and lounges
Gyms, studios and memberships
Freight, shipping and delivery
Ancillary cannabis businesses
Billing companies and patient payments
Bullion and coin dealers
Tickets, events and festivals
Don't see your industry? We work with most legal high-risk businesses, so tell us what you sell when you apply.
Payment aggregators approve almost anyone at signup and review accounts later. For a high-risk business, that review is often when funds get frozen.
| Stripe, Square & PayPal | Adaptiv merchant account | |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriting | Instant signup, reviewed after you process | Reviewed up front, so there are no surprises later |
| High-risk industries | Restricted or prohibited lists | 40+ high-risk industries approved |
| Your account | Pooled under the aggregator | Your own merchant account and MID |
| Funds | Can be frozen during a review | Settled to your bank on a set schedule |
| Bank backup | One platform | A network of banking partners |
| Chargeback tools | Basic dispute handling | Alerts, RDR and 3D Secure set up for you |
| Support | A ticket queue | 24/7 support and a dedicated account manager |
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.
Chargeback alerts, Visa RDR and dispute management that resolve disputes before they count against your ratio.
Accept bank payments alongside cards for subscriptions, B2B invoices and high-ticket sales.
3D Secure, device fingerprinting and custom fraud rules that stop card testing without blocking good customers.
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.
Learn more about chargeback prevention and VAMP compliance.
Disputes refunded before they count
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.
Business formation documents
Articles of incorporation or organization
Business licenses
Where your industry or state requires them
Government-issued photo ID
For the business owner
Bank statements
Your last 3-6 months
Processing statements
If you've taken cards before
Your website
With pricing, terms and refund policy
Product details
What you sell and how you bill
Apply Online
Provide proof of business ownership, government ID, processing history, and other details. This typically takes less than five minutes.
Quick Approval
Our underwriting team will assess your application and make an approval decision, then explain the next steps.
Start Processing
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.
| Traditional Merchant Accounts | High-Risk Merchant Accounts | |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriting Requirements | Fewer underwriting requirements, but potential for account termination | May be more extensive, but prevents sudden account termination |
| Processing Rates | Flat rate regardless of industry | Slightly higher but tailored to specific risk |
| Monthly and Gateway Fees | Flat rate regardless of industry, though may be higher for larger accounts | Increased fees, but may be tailored or bundled |
| Chargeback Fees | Lower, but risks account termination for high ratios | Higher if the client has a high chargeback ratio |
| Contract Terms | May be month-to-month with no termination penalty | Longer contract term, typically 1 to 3 years |
| Settlement Arrangements | Quick settlement period, but may increase risk of fraud or chargebacks | Longer settlement periods, but transactions are screened for fraud |
| Processing Limits | Lower processing limits and risk of account termination for high volumes | Higher processing limits necessary for high-volume transactions |
| Rolling Reserves | May not be required for all users | Ranges from 90 days to 180 days depending on risk level |
| Supported Industries and Business Models | May have industry restrictions and not accept subscription billing/recurring billing | Accepts high-risk industries and subscription billing models |
Every high-risk merchant answers to the same card network rules. Banks look at your disputes, your fraud and how clearly you sell.
Visa's VAMP and Mastercard's ECM programs flag merchants whose fraud and disputes run too high.
Some industries, like online gambling, dating and card-not-present pharmacies, must be registered with Visa or Mastercard before processing.
Mastercard's list of terminated merchants. Being on it makes approval harder, but not impossible.
A share of sales held for a set period, based on your risk. Clean history can reduce or remove it.
Your business name and phone number on statements, so customers recognize the charge.
Clear pricing, trial terms and refund policies keep disputes down and banks comfortable.
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.”
A merchant account from a provider that underwrites businesses banks see as higher risk, because of their industry, billing model, chargebacks or processing history. See what makes a business high-risk for the details.
Businesses may be classified as high risk due to factors such as:
When comparing high-risk merchant account providers, focus on these specific features:
The merchant account is where card payments settle before they reach your bank. The gateway is the technology that sends each transaction for approval. You need both, and we provide both. See merchant account vs. payment gateway.
Yes. Many high-risk businesses add ACH processing for subscriptions, invoices and high-ticket sales, alongside cards.
Yes. We support multi-currency processing for businesses that sell across borders. See our international merchant account page.
High-risk merchant accounts may need 24 to 48 hours for approval. This may be longer or shorter depending on application details and available documentation.
Not a real one. Every high-risk merchant account goes through underwriting, where the bank reviews your business, documents and processing history. What you can get fast is a decision: most applicants hear back within 24 to 48 hours. Providers that approve high-risk businesses instantly usually review them later, which is when accounts get frozen.
Documents that may be required include:
We may request additional documentation, and not every business will require all documents.
Yes, Adaptiv Payments works with businesses that have poor personal or business credit. We consider your credit profile alongside other factors, such as business model, financial details, processing history, and other application information.
Yes, we can onboard startups, small businesses, and new companies with no prior processing history. We offer custom solutions designed to help new businesses get started processing payments, including reasonable reserve structures and scalable rates to ensure your processing grows along with your revenue. You will need to provide formation documents like an EIN and articles of incorporation as part of a standard underwriting review.
Often, yes. MATCH is Mastercard's list of merchants whose accounts were terminated, and it makes approval harder but not impossible. We look at why you were listed and what's changed. See our guide to MATCH list merchant accounts.
Yes. Many of our merchants come to us after an aggregator froze or closed their account during a review. We'll set you up with your own merchant account, underwritten for your industry up front, so the same review doesn't shut you down later. We also work with merchants on the MATCH list.
The most common reasons are missing documents, a website without clear pricing, terms or a refund policy, high past chargebacks, and products the bank doesn't approve. Fixing those before you apply, or applying with a provider whose banks approve your industry, is the fastest way through.
Yes. Visa and Mastercard require registration for certain high-risk categories before processing, such as online gambling, dating services, card-not-present pharmacies, crypto and some skill games. We handle the registration as part of setup.
High-risk merchant accounts may have higher transaction fees, including processing rates, monthly fees, and gateway fees, due to the higher risk exposure. There may also be an additional setup fee because our team provides personalized technical support.
While traditional merchant accounts don't generally require rolling reserves, a high-risk merchant account may require 90 to 180 days of rolling reserves. The contract terms are also longer, from 1 to 3 years, while traditional merchant accounts may be on a month-to-month basis.
We offer highly competitive pricing that is tailored to each client's needs, considering their business model, processing volume, and overall risk profile.
A rolling reserve means that the processor holds a percentage of your transactions in an account. The percentage depends on your risk level but may range between 5% and 10%. The reserve period may be 90 days or 180 days, based on your level of risk.
The specific reserve structure depends on the merchant account and the underwriting terms. Not every account requires reserves, and the terms may be negotiable. We evaluate each merchant individually and will discuss your reserve requirements with you.
Yes, for separate business lines, like an online store and a wholesale business, each with its own merchant ID and the right category code. Multiple accounts can't be used to spread out chargebacks. See our high volume merchant account page.
To reduce your chargeback ratio, focus on these improvements:
We can offer additional guidance depending on your specific business model and challenges.
Visa's VAMP program flags merchants at a 1.5% fraud-and-dispute ratio with at least 1,500 disputes and fraud reports in a month, and Mastercard starts at 1.5% and 100 chargebacks. Banks act well before that, so aim to stay under 1%.
More tools that come with a high-risk merchant account.
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.