High Risk Merchant Account Solutions

Get reliable payment processing for your high-risk business with our 99% approval rates, competitive pricing, and personalized support — even if other providers have rejected you.

We specialize in helping businesses that offer high-risk products or services, including adult entertainment, CBD, gaming, subscription services, and many more challenging industries.

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Trusted by 10,000+ high-risk merchants

Apply for a high risk merchant account

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What Is a High Risk Merchant Account?

Understanding how payment processing works for businesses selling higher-risk products or services

A high risk merchant account is a specialized payment processing solution designed specifically for businesses that sell products or services in industries like adult entertainment, CBD, gaming, travel, or subscription-based models. These accounts allow you to accept credit cards and process electronic payments even when traditional payment processors would typically reject your business.

Your business might be considered high risk due to several factors: the industry you operate in (particularly adult entertainment), your business model, previous processing history, higher-than-average chargeback rates, financial stability concerns, or simply because you sell products or services that carry more regulatory scrutiny. High risk merchant accounts are tailored to address these challenges, though they typically come with different terms and pricing structures to offset the increased risk to payment processors.

How High Risk Merchant Accounts Work

  • Tailored underwriting process specifically for businesses selling adult entertainment, CBD, or other high-risk products or services
  • Transactions processed through secure payment gateways
  • Funds transferred to merchant bank account within 24-48 hours
  • Enhanced fraud protection and security measures

Why You Might Need a High Risk Merchant Account

  • Your business sells products or services in a high-risk industry (adult entertainment, CBD, gaming, travel, etc.)
  • Your business has higher chargeback rates than normal
  • You process subscriptions or recurring payments
  • You process international or cross border transactions

High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Merchant Accounts

Understanding the key differences and what they mean for your business

Whether you process products or services like adult entertainment, subscription billing, CBD, or gaming, understanding high-risk vs. low-risk accounts ensures you choose the right solution.

Comparison

High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Comparison

Approval Process
High-Risk
More thorough, 2-7 days
Low-Risk
Simplified, same-day
Processing Fees
High-Risk
Higher rates
Low-Risk
Lower rates
Chargeback Fees
High-Risk
$25-$100
Low-Risk
$15-$25
Reserve Requirements
High-Risk
Often required
Low-Risk
Rarely required
Settlement Time
High-Risk
24-72 hours
Low-Risk
24-48 hours
Industry Restrictions
High-Risk
Accommodates high-risk
Low-Risk
Restricted to low-risk
Contract Terms
High-Risk
Longer with fees
Low-Risk
More flexible
Volume Caps
High-Risk
May have limits
Low-Risk
Higher or no caps

High-Risk Industries We Support With Merchant Accounts

We offer specialized merchant accounts for businesses selling products or services in challenging industries like adult entertainment, CBD, gaming, travel, and many more that traditional processors often reject.

Travel

Specialized merchant accounts for airlines, travel agencies, and tour operators. Enjoy seamless payment processing solutions for the travel industry.

Telehealth

Telehealth providers can use our merchant accounts to provide simplified payment processing for their virtual care and online consultation and health service operations.

CBD

Merchant accounts for CBD, hemp, and Delta-8 businesses. Secure and efficient payment solutions for the ever evolving CBD market.

Kratom

Specialized merchant accounts designed for Kratom businesses. Robust payment processing solutions that meet industry standards, even with poor credit.

Nutraceuticals

Merchant account solutions for nutraceuticals and supplement companies. Fast and reliable payment processing in a competitive market.

MLM

Customized merchant accounts for MLM and network marketing businesses. Enjoy streamlined payment processing and efficient account management.

Subscription

Merchant account services for recurring billing and subscription models. Secure and efficient solutions for subscription-based businesses.

Ecommerce

Merchant accounts optimized for online stores. Comprehensive payment processing solutions to elevate your ecommerce business.

Marketing

Merchant accounts for marketing, SEO, and SEM agencies. Advanced payment processing solutions designed for fast-paced digital marketing environments.

Don't see your industry? View All Industries

Key Features & Benefits

Advanced chargeback protection for high risk merchant accounts and payment gateways

Advanced Chargeback Protection for High Risk Credit Card Processing & Payment Gateways

Protect your high risk payment gateway and merchant account from chargebacks before they happen. Whether you process products or services like adult entertainment, subscription billing for high-risk industries, CBD, or gaming, our advanced chargeback protection uses real-time monitoring, automated alerts, and dispute management tools to keep your chargeback ratios below 1%. Integrated with your payment gateway, our analytics identify patterns and root causes so you can address issues quickly and keep your high risk business running smoothly.
Multiple banking relationships for high risk payment gateways and merchant accounts

Multiple Banking Relationships for High-Risk Payment Gateways & Merchant Accounts

Ensure uninterrupted payment processing for your high risk payment gateway and merchant account across diverse industries. Our multi-bank strategy connects you to over 20 domestic and international banking partners, providing redundancy for products or services like adult entertainment, subscription billing for high-risk industries, CBD, and gaming. Avoid sudden terminations, regulation changes, or policy shifts, and maintain cash flow continuity for your high risk business.

Benefits of Our High Risk Merchant Account Solutions

See why businesses that sell high-risk products or services like adult entertainment, CBD, and gaming choose Adaptiv as their trusted payment processing partner.

99% Approval Rate

Our extensive network of banking partners allows us to approve nearly all merchants, even those previously rejected by other providers.

Competitive Rates

We provide industry-leading rates for high-risk merchants which enables you to achieve maximum profitability while keeping payment processing expenses as low as possible.

Fast Approvals

Get your high risk merchant account approved instantly or within 24-48 hours, allowing you to start processing payments quickly and efficiently.

Transparent Reporting

Access comprehensive reporting tools to track your transactions, monitor chargebacks, and analyze your business performance.

Advanced Fraud Protection

Our cutting-edge fraud prevention tools help minimize chargebacks and protect your high-risk business from fraudulent transactions.

24/7 Support

Our dedicated support team is available around the clock to help with any questions or issues you may encounter with your high risk merchant account.

Comprehensive High Risk Merchant Account Solutions

We offer tailored payment processing options specifically for businesses selling high-risk products or services such as adult entertainment, subscription billing, CBD, and other challenging industries.

High-Risk Payment Gateway

  • Secure transaction processing
  • Multi-currency support
  • Recurring billing capabilities
  • Advanced fraud detection
  • Easy integration with your platform

Virtual Terminal

  • Process MOTO transactions
  • User-friendly interface
  • Customer database management
  • Detailed transaction reporting
  • Secure payment information storage

Ecommerce Integration

  • Integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce
  • Easy setup and configuration
  • Streamlined payment flow
  • Extensive reporting capabilities
  • Seamless User Experience

Simple High Risk Merchant Account Application Process

Getting your high risk merchant account is straightforward with our simple three-step process, designed for businesses selling products or services in adult entertainment, CBD, subscription services, gaming, and other high-risk industries.

1

Apply Online

Complete our simple online application form with your business details. It takes less than 5 minutes to apply for a high risk merchant account.

2

Quick Approval

The underwriting team assesses your high risk merchant account application and makes an approval decision within 24-48 hours.

3

Start Processing

After approval we will set up your high risk payment gateway and you can instantly start accepting credit and debit card payments for your business.

What Our Customers Say

Discover why high-risk businesses trust Adaptiv for their payment processing needs

Michael R. from GreenWell CBD

Michael R.

GreenWell CBD

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.

Sarah T. from Elite Supplements

Sarah T.

Elite Supplements

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.

Robert K. from Feeling Lucky Inc.

Robert K.

Feeling Lucky Inc.

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, lower credit score wasn't an issue.

High Risk Merchant Account: Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about getting a merchant account for businesses selling high-risk products or services such as adult entertainment, CBD, subscription services, and other challenging industries.

What makes a business high-risk?

A business may be considered high-risk due to various factors, including industry type (such as CBD, travel, ecommerce), high chargeback rates, subscription-based billing models, international transactions, high average transaction amounts, or lack of processing history. These factors increase the financial risk for payment processors and banks.

How long does the approval process take for a high risk merchant account?

Traditional merchant accounts get instant approval but high risk merchant accounts somtimes need 24-48 hours for approval. The streamlined process we have in place will get you up and running as quickly as possible but the additional underwriting required for high risk accounts means we may need a bit more time to review your application.

What documents do I need to apply for a high risk merchant account?

The required documentation consists of business formation documents (articles of incorporation), business licenses, personal ID of the business owner, 3-6 months of bank statements, processing statements if you've accepted payments before, and your website or product details. Our application process and expert sales reps will guide you through submitting each required document.

How do high risk merchant account fees compare to regular merchant accounts?

high risk merchant accounts generally have higher fees than regular merchant accounts due to the increased financial risk. These may include higher processing rates, monthly fees, and chargeback fees. However, we work to offer competitive rates for high-risk businesses, and the actual fees will depend on your specific business model, processing volume, and risk level.

What is a rolling reserve, and will my account require one?

A rolling reserve is a risk management tool where a percentage of your transactions (typically 5-10%) is held by the processor for a certain period (usually 6 months) to cover potential chargebacks. The need for a reserve on your account depends on your business risk level, your processing history and other factors. Not all high-risk accounts require reserves, and terms can often be negotiated.

Can I get a high risk merchant account with bad credit?

Yes, it's possible to get approved for a high risk merchant account even with poor personal or business credit. While credit is one factor considered during the underwriting process, we evaluate applications holistically, considering your business model, time in business, processing history, and other factors. We regularly approve merchants who have bad credit.

What can I do to reduce my chargeback ratio?

To reduce chargebacks, implement clear billing descriptors so customers recognize charges on their statements, provide excellent customer service (even on weekends), use fraud prevention tools, clearly and plainly communicate shipping times and refund policies, require signature confirmation for high-value items, and consider using chargeback prevention alerts. Our team can offer additional guidance specific to your business.

Have more questions? Contact our support team for personalized assistance with your high risk merchant account.

Ready to Get Started with Your High Risk Merchant Account?

Apply today and join thousands of businesses selling products or services in adult entertainment, CBD, gaming, and other high-risk industries who trust Adaptiv for their payment processing needs.