List of high-risk products that require specialized payment processing
If you are in one of the “high-risk” or regulated industries highlighted on this page, you have likely struggled with even the most basic components of an e-commerce website – the ability to obtain a payment gateway and merchant account, accept payments, and market your products or service.
Website owners that offer legal products and services are often listed as “prohibited use,” “high-risk,” or “restricted” by the largest online payment gateways and merchant account providers – including Stripe and PayPal. Additionally, online businesses using payment processors that are “Powered by Stripe,” like Shopify Payments, WooCommerce Payments, and Wix Payments, generally are governed by Stripe’s prohibited use policy and are commonly forced to find alternative payments.
If this sounds like you, we can help. Learn more about Tasker Payment Gateways LLC on our About Us page or check out our 5-star reviews, A+ rating, and BBB accreditation on the Tasker Payment Gateways LLC Better Business Bureau page.
Sources:
PayPal Acceptable Use Policy:
https://www.paypal.com/ga/webapps/mpp/ua/acceptableuse-full
Stripe Restricted Businesses:
https://stripe.com/restricted-businesses
Expert payment gateway advice and high-risk merchant account recommendations
Our dedicated, independent one-on-one consultants and agents provide easy-to-implement alternative payment gateway solutions and personal support to American and Canadian businesses. They will help you generate the gateway credentials required and assist you in integrating your payment gateway into the e-commerce platform of your choice.
They will assign you a real human as a dedicated contact, help you with any paperwork or information the processors may require, and continue to assist you long after approval and setup.
We provide payment gateway advice and merchant account recommendations at no cost to you, the website owner. Read more about Tasker Payment Gateways LLC on our About Us page.
We have decades of experience in the high-risk business and have a firm grasp of which software providers, payment gateways, affiliate payout vendors, and, through our many vetted industry contacts, which merchant accounts and credit card processors are the best fit for you.
Give us details on your business via our contact us form, and let us provide some one-on-one information at no obligation. We are not attorneys and do not offer legal guidance, but we can help you accept credit cards for your lawful, high-risk business and provide friendly advice on a host of high-risk e-commerce topics.
High-risk payment processing recommendations for restricted products and services, including:
Affiliate, IBO, downline, MLM payouts – USA only
Auto-ship products, subscription programs, clubs
Auto bill programs: alarm companies, pest control, fitness clubs, online training programs
Automobile parts and accessories, new or used, online scrap yard, tires, and rims
Adult websites: continuity and straight sale
Adult toys and dolls located in the USA
Botanicals – legal, non-mood altering plant-based supplements, tinctures, oils, lotions, and powders
CBD oil, CBD products (dropshipping is OK as long as ship times are reasonable)
CBD associations and directories
CBG (cannabigerol) and CBN (cannabinol) Learn more about CBG and CBN payment processing on our CBD payment gateway page
Canadian head shops – e-commerce or retail
Credit monitoring subscription programs: continuity and straight-sale
Credit repair, credit coaching
Coaching: personal, business, internet marketing
Collection agencies, large agencies, or at-home offices
Dating sites (online dating, membership sites, coaching, or clubs)
Debt consolidation programs, student loan consolidation programs
Detox and cleanse products: continuity and straight sale
Document preparation and application assistance for immigration visas, student loans, etc.
Dropshippers, including Dropified websites
Electronic cigarettes /e-juice with nicotine in the US and Canada
Fantasy sports leagues with cash payouts (limited options, must be established and well-funded)
FFL to FFL gun sales, USA-based online FFLs, drop shipped firearms, ammunition
Fortune telling, psychic readings, clairvoyance, astrology
Fuel delivery: Discounts and Interchange programs
Gentlemen’s clubs, lady’s clubs
Health clubs, automated recurring billing by ACH, and credit card
Heating oil dealers: Discounts and Interchange programs
Homeopathic products
Internet marketing lead generation, traffic programs
Knives, swords – legal online sales to appropriate jurisdictions within the United States
Kratom – Kratom credit card processing is subject to restrictions. Prior, qualified legal advice is essential. The stable, US-based options that integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Squarespace, etc all require prior payment processing history.
Magazine Subscriptions, promotional marketing
MLM / multi-level marketing companies
MMJ support and MMJ supply merchants. MMJ packaging, stash boxes, grinders
Marijuana trade associations and directories
Muscle-building support supplements: straight sale or recurring – no “research chemicals” or prescription drugs – legal, regulated ingredients only
No2 nitric oxide supplements: straight sale or recurring
Nootropics, brain supplements. Supplements must be legal; volume requirements and restrictions may apply: straight sale or recurring
Nutra / Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, vitamins DR / direct response merchants (dropshipping is OK as long as ship times are reasonable)
Online loose tobacco and cigar sales, cigar of the month clubs
Pawnshops, online pawn e-commerce pawn, and second-hand sites
Pepper spray, legal online sales of pepper spray, capsaicin sprays, etc
Personal or business coaching seminars, online training, recurring billing
Prepaid phone cards, international calling cards, family-to-inmate calling programs
Prepaid debit card affiliate payout programs
Propane delivery: Discounts and Interchange programs for propane dealers
Pseudo pharmaceuticals: If 100% legal and claims are appropriate- for example, a weightlifting supplement manufactured with a GMP certificate or similar. (dropshipping is OK as long as ship times are reasonable)
Self-defense items like pepper spray, stun guns, batons, pocket knives, etc
SEO consulting, recurring billing, web and software design, web marketing
Sex toys and adult dolls
Skincare creams and serums
Software, SaaS: reputable trials, straight sales, and continuity
Surveillance, electronics, PI, and “spy” gear
Tactical and survival websites based in the States
Tax negotiating and property-tax assessment dispute services
Teeth whitening: continuity or straight sale
Tobacco, loose tobacco, or cigars sold online
Trial offers- for reputable software and some physical products
Travel packages, tours, agencies
Vape accessories, e-juice, mods, pens, electronic cigarettes, nicotine products, vitamin vaporizers
Weapons, both non-lethal and FFL – USA sites only
Web hosting, annual payments, monthly recurring
Weight loss products and supplements: straight sale or recurring (dropshipping is OK as long as ship times are reasonable)
Workout Supplements, excluding SARMs and peptides. Supplements must be legal where sold and with GMP certificate- recurring OK. (dropshipping is OK as long as ship times are reasonable)
Contact us anytime for specific advice on your business
Contact us anytime, even with general questions; we are always happy to help a fellow e-commerce warrior, regardless of whether or not they are a current client or prospect. The list above is not necessarily in any particular order because many of these industries can go by many different names.
This list may not remain perfectly accurate and may change at any time without notice; it is intended as general information only. The regulatory status of the items above may change at any time. You should consult a qualified attorney before pursuing any business endeavor, especially one that markets regulated or restricted products or services.
Need a high-risk payment gateway? We can help
Note: Before you engage in commerce, especially a business that sells a restricted or regulated product or service, you should absolutely sit down with a qualified attorney. Laws, rules, and regulations change constantly and vary from place to place.