CBD Merchant Account & Credit Card Processing.

CBD products are considered a high-risk industry because of regulatory uncertainty and shifting legality across states. Additionally, CBD companies often have high chargeback rates due to fraud, customer dissatisfaction, and confusion about the difference between CBD and marijuana. Adaptiv Payments is a payment processor that works with those in high-risk sectors, ensuring they have the payment solutions necessary to thrive.

Traditional processors often refuse to work with companies that sell CBD as it is considered high risk. To accept payments, you’ll need to work with an experienced merchant services vendor, such as Adaptiv Payments, that is familiar with the unique needs of the CBD industry.

Yes, as long as the products meet the federal hemp definition: no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC today, and from December 11, 2026, no more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container. However, many payment processors refuse to work with the CBD industry, making it crucial that you find specialized payment processing solutions and high-quality, essential services.

Not reliably. Square is ending CBD and hemp sales on October 15, 2026, Shopify Payments doesn't support CBD, and PayPal treats it as a regulated product. Stripe restricts CBD with negligible THC and prohibits CBD edibles. Many CBD brands get approved and then frozen once volume grows.

No. Square told sellers to remove all CBD, hemp and hemp-derived items by October 15, 2026. If you're moving off Square, we can set up a dedicated CBD merchant account before your deadline. What Square's change means for CBD sellers.

Your CBD merchant account connects through a payment gateway that works with most online stores, including Shopify, WooCommerce and custom checkouts, plus a virtual terminal for phone orders. On Shopify, CBD sellers need a third-party processor because Shopify Payments doesn't support CBD. We confirm your integration during setup.

There's no CBD-specific merchant category code. Most CBD merchants process under MCC 5499 (health food and vitamin stores), and some use 5999, the catch-all for miscellaneous retail. Your acquirer assigns the code during underwriting.

Yes. We approve CBD manufacturers, wholesalers and white-label brands, as well as online stores and retail shops.

To get started, submit an application on our secure online portal with your name, email, phone number, website, and monthly payment processing volume. You must also explain whether you currently take credit cards. One of our representatives will get back to you with information about our high-quality back office solutions for the cannabis industry.

To sign up for CBD merchant processing, you will need business and financial verification. These documents include:

• Business license
• Articles of incorporation
• Government-issued ID
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Three months of bank statements from a business bank account
• Business tax returns

Yes. Underwriters want a current third-party certificate of analysis for every product, showing cannabinoid content and passing tests for heavy metals, pesticides and microbes. Link them on your product pages too.

The acquiring bank behind your account reviews your certificates of analysis and THC thresholds, your labels and website claims, your billing descriptor, your expected monthly volume and average ticket size, and any past processing statements. A clean file with every document at once is the fastest way through.

Yes, if your products are lab tested and your website is compliant. New brands without processing history may start with lower monthly limits or a reserve that comes down as you build history.

Often, yes. Many CBD brands come to us after Square, Stripe or PayPal closed their account. We look at why it happened and what's changed. We also work with merchants on the MATCH list.

Yes. We approve pet CBD brands. Keep product claims to general wellness, and note that the federal THC cap coming on December 11, 2026 applies to pet products too.

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 removed “hemp” from the definition of marijuana. As long as your products meet the federal hemp definition, they can be approved: no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC today, and from December 11, 2026, no more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container. That covers most CBD isolate and broad-spectrum products, such as oils, gummies and sprays. Those who sell whole cannabis plants or THC products may not be eligible for CBD merchant processing.

FDA regulations prohibit medical claims for CBD products, as they may be considered misleading. To avoid regulatory challenges, avoid making any statements that the Food and Drug Administration has not approved.

Most of the new federal hemp definition takes effect. Hemp will be measured by total THC, including THCA, and finished products will be capped at 0.4 mg of total THC per container. CBD isolate and broad-spectrum products under the cap stay legal. Congress is still debating changes, so we watch the rules for you.

Only if the finished product has no more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container. Most full-spectrum products are above that, so many brands are moving to broad-spectrum and isolate formulas. The White House has asked Congress to protect access to full-spectrum CBD, so watch for changes.

There's no federal age limit for CBD, but Texas, Florida and Tennessee require buyers to be 21+ for many hemp products. A 21+ age gate at checkout keeps you covered wherever you ship.

CBD payment processing fees can range from 2.5% to 6% depending on the level of risk. There are also monthly merchant fees, which can be between $10 and $50 monthly. There are no setup fees. When you contact us, we’ll learn more about your business, explain restrictions like early termination fees, and give you a personalized quote.

No. There are no setup fees or application fees.

It depends on your history and how you sell. New brands and subscription-heavy stores may carry a rolling reserve. Merchants with clean processing history often start with a low reserve or none.

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 usually act well before that, so aim to stay under 1%.

Yes. We approve subscribe-and-save programs. For free trials, Visa requires a reminder at least 7 days before the first paid charge with an online way to cancel, and Mastercard starts the trial when the product arrives. Clear terms keep your chargebacks down.

Use a billing descriptor customers recognize, send order and shipping emails, make cancelling a subscription easy, and refund quickly when a customer asks. Chargeback alerts let you refund before a dispute becomes a chargeback.