BigCommerce high-risk payment processing 101 –
BigCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform that allows for the integration of high-risk payment gateways and merchant accounts.
Most high-risk categories, including online smoke shops, CBD sites, tactical websites, and premium cigar businesses, can use BigCommerce – as long as they have the appropriate merchant account connected to the correct payment gateway.
Your exact product type will help us determine the best match for you in terms of a payment gateway and merchant account recommendation.
For example, if you are a pipe and glassware, CBD, or premium cigar business owner with the need for low-cost recurring billing and a customer “card on file” data storage program, you might be best suited served by a properly set up high-risk Authorize.Net account.
On the other hand, if you are an FFL dealer or run a tactical website with both a wholesale and B2C presence, you may want to access two merchant accounts from one payment gateway – in this case, you would be best suited with an NMI gateway connected to the appropriate high-risk merchant account on the back end.
High-risk merchants often have multiple product categories or possibly multiple web-stores operating at once. In this case, we can help you minimize your need for various payment gateways with minimal additional coordination.
Feel free to contact us for advice or help with no obligation or upfront cost. Getting you set up right the first time is crucial, and we are here to help.
How to set up a high-risk payment gateway on BigCommerce
Do you need a high-risk payment gateway for BigCommerce? If so, contact us using the form at the bottom of this page, and we will set one up for you right away. If you already have a high-risk payment gateway and simply need to know how to integrate it, please follow the simple steps below.
The process of connecting your payment gateway with your BigCommerce store is straightforward, but entering the wrong information or going in unprepared can lead to a lot of hassles down the road. So to guide you along the way, here are some simple steps to follow.
- Simply navigate to your Store Setup and click on Payments.
- Next, click the “+” button next to Other Online Payment Methods,
- Add the payment gateway we have recommended and set up for you.
- This will bring you to a form: input your payment gateway information and save once done.
- Immediately put your new gateway into test mode (accessible under payment methods on your payment page)
- Test your payment gateway
- Take your payment gateway out of test mode.
Please note that when you have placed your new gateway into test mode, it is critical to not only test your payment gateway but to take it OUT of test mode when you have finished testing and are satisfied with the result. Not taking your payment gateway out of test mode might result in lost revenue, as you won’t really be charging anything for your products. Follow this link for more detailed instructions on setting up a payment gateway on BigCommerce.
Merchant accounts, payment gateways, and your high-risk BigCommerce site
As mentioned above, you must have a high-risk merchant account that works in tandem with a payment gateway in order to properly charge for your high-risk products. Our recommended partners will handle all of this coordination for you, but it is still important for e-commerce business owners to understand the distinctions.
If you would like to learn more, the Common High-risk E-commerce Questions section of our home page details the distinction between a payment gateway, a merchant account, and a high-risk merchant account.
High-risk payment integrations for the BigCommerce shopping cart
BigCommerce as a website building platform is great for selling just about anything. It has all the bells and whistles you would expect from a major e-commerce platform, including design customization, specialized and third-party designed apps, conversion tools, analytic reports, and SEO optimization options.
Additionally, the native BigCommerce shopping cart integrates easily with our favorite high-risk payment gateways. (Again, when they are properly configured with a product-appropriate, high-risk merchant account on the back end.
The BigCommerce website even lists tactical items and smokeshop products like CBD as supported by their platform, which says a lot about their confidence in providing a reliable website building platform for those merchant types.
Remember, we can help you get up and running with NMI or Authorize.Net and recommend a high-risk merchant account that will allow your BigCommerce business to grow and thrive.
Which high-risk products can you sell on BigCommerce?
If you have a question about if you’ll be able to sell your exact products on BigCommerce, please contact us
We are happy to give you some free advice or put you in touch with a BigCommerce high-risk payment processing expert who can lay out all of your next steps by phone, email, or even text message. You can also review our common high-risk products page for a more complete list of acceptable high-risk products and services.
Pro tip: Selling a regulated product? Please seek qualified legal advice and review the terms of all your providers, including BigCommerce, before you launch your website
Can you sell CBD on BigCommerce?
Yes, you can sell non-psychoactive cannabidiol-based products like CBD, CBG, and CBN using BigCommerce.
However, you will need to connect your BigCommerce Internet store to a CBD-friendly payment gateway, and you’ll also need to make sure that you connect it to a CBD-friendly, high-risk merchant account on the back end. This last piece is essential.
BigCommerce CBD payments: set up a CBD payment gateway for BigCommerce
Our trusted, dedicated agents will work with you one-on-one to help you set up CBD-friendly payment processing that works perfectly with BigCommerce – even if it’s your first CBD merchant account or payment gateway account. Contact us to learn more.
Can you sell vape or e-liquid on BigCommerce?
Yes, BigCommerce allows you to sell vape and e-liquid products. Please read up on the PACT Act, though – and PLEASE consult an attorney before selling or shipping any vape-related products.
While BigCommerce does not prohibit the sale of ENDS or e-cigarettes, you still need to make sure you connect your BigCommerce e-commerce site with a high-risk-friendly payment gateway and merchant account combination. Luckily, both Authorize.Net and NMI are available through the BigCommerce add-on marketplace, and both work great for vape payment processing when set up correctly on the back end.
You cannot simply add any Authorize.Net or NMI account and sell vape on BigCommerce. Read more about ENDS payments here.
Can you sell bongs, smoking pipes, and glassware on BigCommerce?
Yes, there are no restrictions in BigCommerce’s terms and conditions that prohibit the sale of pipe and glassware through BigCommerce. Having said that, you still need to establish a high-risk-friendly payment gateway and connect it to a high-risk merchant account.
BigCommerce smokeshop payments: set up a pipe, glass, and bong payment gateway for BigCommerce
If you need any help setting up a pipe-and-glass-friendly payment gateway or merchant account, please reach out to us, and we’ll put you in touch with a trusted independent agent who can go over all the pricing, details, and next steps.
Are FFL-to-FFL or tactical websites allowed on BigCommerce?
Yes, based on the BigCommerce terms and conditions, there are no restrictions in place hindering FFL-to-FFL sales on BigCommerce. Additionally, representatives and supervisors at BigCommerce have reached out to us dozens of times over the years, asking for help with client’s FFL-to-FFL and tactical payment processing.
You need a tactical-friendly payment gateway and a properly set up FFL merchant account or a tactical merchant account in order to accept payments safely and successfully.
BigCommerce FFL payments: 2A payment gateways for BigCommerce FFLs
The good news is that you can have your pick between Authorize.Net or NMI in terms of payment gateways, as both are compatible with BigCommerce. We can help you get up and running quickly and easily. Contact us to get started.
Yes, you can sell premium cigars on BigCommerce if you use a high-risk-friendly payment gateway and integrate your payment gateway with a premium cigar merchant account. Luckily, both NMI or Authorize.Net integrates with BigCommerce, and both cater to online premium cigar sales when set up correctly.
We love working with BigCommerce cigar merchants; please let us know if we can assist you with premium cigar or loose tobacco payment processing for your website – even if it’s just for some friendly free advice. Reach out to us any time and let us know how we can help.
Is the sale of alcohol allowed on BigCommerce?
Yes, online alcohol sales are allowed on BigCommerce. There are a lot of steps involved before selling beer, wine, or spirits online, though. Please check out our Selling Alcohol Online 101 page for more information.
BigCommerce alcohol payments: Beer, wine, and spirits payment gateways for BigCommerce
Contact us for one-on-one help setting up BigCommerce payments for your online beer, wine, or spirits business