How to set up FFL payment processing using Wix – 

First things first: Are online FFL dealers able to accept credit cards on their Wix website?

The answer is yes, but there is an extra step involved. Additionally, everything must be done correctly or payment account shutdowns are inevitable.

FFL dealers that want to use Wix need a 2A friendly cart alternative, a 2A friendly payment gateway, and a merchant account that allows their exact line of products and marketing methods.

Contact us to learn more about a tested, reliable, easy to implement Wix payment processing system for FFLs that our trusted partners have used for years.

Wix and FFLs: step one is to “swap out the cart”

Wix is a well known, affordable website builder with a built-in shopping cart. However, FFL dealers can no longer directly integrate the normal Wix shopping cart with 2A processing. This is why there is so much confusion about Wix.

For FFLs,  Shopify and WooCommerce are not the same as Wix

With many platforms, like WooCommerce or Shopify, the process of setting up an online payment gateway simply involves avoiding the out of the box solutions like Shopify Payments or WooCommerce Payments.

Solutions like Squarespace and Wix require one additional step – replacing the standard shopping cart with a 3rd party shopping cart like Foxy, from the site builder’s app store. We wrote an extensive article about integrating high-risk payment processors with Squarespace and below we’ll go over some Wix tips to ensure that your 2A processing goes smoothly when you choose Wix as your FFL site builder.

Step two: a merchant account and a payment gateway

On our home page, we have an FAQ section that digs in a little deeper – but in broad terms, a payment gateway and a merchant account are separate, distinct services. They are often sold together, but when it comes to setting up payments for an FFL website, the distinction is very important.

Because of this, our trusted independent providers and agents will also recommend a 2A friendly merchant account to connect to your payment gateway. After all, a merchant account is where the payment gateway sends transactions. You can read more about this on our NMI page or our Authorize.Net page.

High-risk merchant accounts for FFL dealers

As an A+ rated, BBB accredited business, Tasker Payment Gateways LLC has been working with FFLs since 2002.

One mistake we see many new high-risk e-commerce businesses make is to sign up with a payment aggregator service like Paypal or Stripe.

Note: WooCommerce Payments, Wix Payments, and Shopify Payments all tend to mirror Stripe’s prohibited products and services.

The problem is that you, as a high-risk business, can create an account with these services, even though they don’t accept high-risk business types. Common payment gateway solutions aren’t suitable for selling high-risk items like e-commerce FFL to FFL transfers.

What most people don’t realize is that these payment providers don’t often have their underwriting or “due diligence” fully completed until after your approval. Instead, they lean on automated approvals with their loss prevention systems acting as a secondary screening that kicks in once live transactions are run.

Once the underwriting and subsequent risk reviews are finished, it usually doesn’t take long for services like Stripe or PayPal to discover that regulated products are being sold. Subsequently, they can freeze your account, not only tying up any money in it but also halting your ability to sell products.

Note: High-risk processors also combine upfront underwriting with after-the-fact risk management but lean more on the upfront piece. This makes them a far better fit for 2A businesses. 

We recommend that you go through a dedicated payment professional that will, at no additional cost to you, help with the process of opening up a high-risk merchant account. Our independent dedicated agents will work to make the process as fast and easy as possible.

Proper 2A merchant accounts and payment gateways are explicitly set up for the business that opens them. Our solutions have extensive experience and specialize in assisting businesses by pairing them with the right payment gateway – and recommending a merchant account that appreciates FFL dealers and what you do.

Choose the correct 2A friendly payment gateway

When correctly set up with high-risk processing, a properly configured Authorize.Net or NMI account makes Wix an excellent option for high-risk e-commerce ventures like online FFL businesses.

Previously, you could connect Authorize.Net directly with a Wix store. These days, however, you will need to use a different route.

Our recommended method is to use Foxy.io to integrate Authorize.Net with your Wix FFL site. Foxy makes it extremely user-friendly and straightforward to add Authorize.Net and process payments seamlessly on your Wix site.

We can help guide you step by step through the payment gateway setup process, ensuring that you’re connected and ready to sell. We do this at no cost or obligation to you. We are compensated by the FFL friendly providers in exchange for bringing them quality clients, not by you. Read our about us page to learn about what we do.

Wix can work well for 2A sites

Wix comes packed with many features that would benefit any business. Some features are relatively standard: mobile-friendly themes, blogs and media libraries, SEO options, and custom domains.

Wix offers an advanced coding function that allows you to build plugins or otherwise improve your FFL web-store overall. Another great function is the easy editing and adjustable themes; while it’s not the most customizable web platform out there, it does have a considerable amount of features.

Online FFL sales on Wix – do it right

Wix isn’t about a lot of bells and whistles; it’s more of a straightforward approach to getting your content or products online and making an attractive website that performs quickly. This is why most of the tools are what you’d expect from a free, or almost free, versatile platform. Choosing Wix also makes for a fast and smooth setup.

Wix FFL e-commerce tips

We have helped many online FFL businesses get their merchant accounts and payment gateways in order. However, before you start, it’s important to check the legal considerations of opening such a shop in your area and, of course, make sure you obey federal law.

We recommend seeking advice from a qualified attorney to ensure you follow all applicable laws and regulations.

Streamline the essential checks

You perform a valuable service. The federal background check system entirely depends on you and your fellow FFLs. But, having a standardized and affordable way to get your products to your customers is essential. Even before you ship your product, you need to check certain things.

First, perform the buyer’s background check. Second, verify the FFL dealer you’re sending the products to. After you complete these checks, you can ship your products to the buyer’s chosen FFL dealer. We recommend reading up on FFL and Wix message boards and contacting your providers’ support teams for ways to simplify and streamline these required steps.

Mitigate shipping fraud

Unfortunately some items, like non-FFL accessories and firearms themselves, have a higher rate of in-transit shipping theft. Therefore, we advise you to take special precautions when preparing and labeling these items. One way to reduce shipping fraud is to have minimal markings on the package, including branding.

Another method is to use boxes that are disproportionate in size. While your products might comfortably fit in a small box, it’s not something we advise that you do. You could also use a box from another company, and communicate that to the receiving FFL. After all, shipping fraud can be costly for any small business and a stolen firearm is a terrible event to be a part of.

Start on the right foot

If you need help starting your online FFL store on Wix, we can help you find and set up the merchant accounts and payment gateways you need. Contact us today by giving us a call or using our contact form. We’re here to help your business succeed!

Important note: We are not lawyers and nothing on this site is to be considered legal advice. Before engaging in any type of regulated e-commerce please consult a qualified attorney and read all provider’s terms and conditions carefully before entering into any agreement.