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High Risk Merchant Account Approval for Your Business

How to Get Approved for a High-Risk Merchant Account

If your business falls into the high-risk category, getting high-risk merchant account approval can be challenging. Many banks and payment processors refuse to work with high-risk businesses due to higher chargeback rates, fraud risks, and industry regulations. However, Nationwide Payment Systems and our high-risk division, HighRiskZone.com, specialize in helping businesses secure high-risk merchant account approval. Whether you operate in CBD, adult Entertainment, Travel, firearms, subscription services, or any other high-risk industry, we can help you get approved and process payments securely and legally.

This guide will explain:
✔ What makes a business high-risk
✔ Why you need a high-risk merchant account
✔ The approval process for a high-risk merchant account
✔ Tips for getting approved quickly.

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What is a High-Risk Merchant Account?

A high-risk merchant account is a specialized payment processing solution for businesses that operate in industries prone to chargebacks, fraud, or regulatory challenges. Traditionally, banks and payment processors often reject high-risk businesses. However, specialized high-risk merchant providers, like Nationwide Payment Systems, offer customized solutions, making high-risk merchant account approval possible for businesses in these challenging industries.


What Makes a Business High-Risk?

A business may be considered high-risk based on:

🔴 Industry Type


Some industries have higher rates of fraud, chargebacks, or regulatory scrutiny, such as:
✔ CBD & Hemp Products
✔ Adult Entertainment
✔ Firearms & Ammunition Sales
✔ Travel & Ticketing Services
✔ Gambling & Online Casinos
✔ Credit Repair & Financial Services
✔ Subscription & Membership Services
✔ Nutraceuticals & Supplements

🔴 Chargeback & Fraud Risk


💳 Excessive chargebacks (over 1% of transactions disputed) put businesses in the high-risk category, which can complicate high-risk merchant account approval.

🔴 Regulatory & Compliance Issues


Industries with strict laws, licensing requirements, or age restrictions face additional scrutiny from payment processors, affecting high-risk merchant account approval.

💡 If your business falls into any of these categories, you definitely need a high-risk merchant account to process payments legally and securely, ensuring approval.


Why Do You Need a High-Risk Merchant Account?

Regular payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Square) may shut down high-risk accounts without warning, which is why high-risk merchant account approval is crucial.
High-risk merchant accounts protect your business from sudden account terminations.
They offer chargeback protection and fraud prevention tools.
They provide customized solutions for high-risk industries, making merchant account approval more accessible.

💡 Nationwide Payment Systems specializes in high-risk payment processing. Therefore, we ensure businesses get approved with the right bank and payment processor to keep transactions running smoothly and gain high-risk merchant account approval.


How to Get Approved for a High-Risk Merchant Account

1. Have Proper Business Documentation


Most high-risk processors require:
✔ Business License & EIN (Employer Identification Number)
✔ Valid Government ID for Business Owners
✔ Bank Statements (3-6 months)
✔ Processing History (if applicable)

💡 Pro Tip: Ensure your business is legally registered and in good standing before applying for high-risk merchant account approval.


2. Have a Clear Refund & Chargeback Policy


A transparent refund and chargeback policy reduces risk and improves your chances of high-risk merchant account approval.

✔ Clearly state return/refund policies on your website.
✔ Use checkout agreements where customers agree to your terms before purchase.
✔ Provide tracking and proof of delivery for physical goods.

💡 Nationwide Payment Systems can review your website to ensure your policies are compliant, aiding in high-risk merchant account approval.


3. Reduce Chargebacks & Implement Fraud Prevention

Use fraud detection tools (AVS, CVV verification, 3D Secure).
Respond quickly to customer disputes to avoid chargebacks.
🔹 Use chargeback alert services like Ethoca and Verifi to prevent disputes, helping to secure high-risk merchant account approval.

💡 We help high-risk merchants integrate fraud prevention tools to protect revenue, which is important for high-risk merchant account approval.


4. Show Stable Financials


Banks want to see that your business is financially stable to ensure high-risk merchant account approval.

✔ Maintain a healthy bank balance.
✔ Avoid excessive refunds and chargebacks.
✔ Demonstrate consistent sales volume.

💡 Tip: If you are a startup, be prepared to show a strong business plan to prove financial viability, which will help in high-risk merchant account approval.


5. Work with a Specialized High-Risk Payment Processor

Many traditional banks will not approve high-risk merchants, but specialized high-risk providers work with banks that accept high-risk industries, improving your chances of high-risk merchant account approval.

✔ Nationwide Payment Systems and HighRiskZone.com specialize in high-risk processing.
✔ We work with a network of banks that approve high-risk businesses.
✔ We offer secure, compliant payment processing solutions that help secure high-risk merchant account approval.

💡 Want fast approval? Therefore, contact us today, and we will match your business with the right high-risk merchant account provider, ensuring high-risk merchant account approval.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get approved for a high-risk merchant account?

Approval times vary, but most businesses get approved within 3-7 business days if they have the proper documentation ready. 

What are the fees for high-risk merchant accounts?

High-risk accounts have slightly higher fees than traditional accounts due to increased chargeback risk. Fees may include: 
✔ Processing fees (3-5%) 
✔ Chargeback fees 
✔ Rolling reserves (for some industries, typically 5-10% held for 6 months) 

💡 Nationwide Payment Systems negotiates competitive rates for high-risk businesses. 

Can I switch to a regular merchant account later?

Yes! If your business reduces chargebacks and maintains a clean processing history, we can help you transition to a lower-risk account with better rates over time. 

What if I have been declined for a merchant account?

If you have declined, do not worry! Many businesses are rejected by traditional processors but can still get approved with the right high-risk provider. 

💡 We specialize in helping businesses that have been previously declined find the right processing solution. 

What industries do you support for high-risk processing?

 We help businesses in industries including: 
✔ CBD & Hemp 
✔ Adult Entertainment 
✔ Firearms & Ammunition 
✔ Travel & Ticketing 
✔ Credit Repair & Financial Services 
✔ Nutraceuticals & Supplements 
✔ Subscription & Membership Services 

💡 If your business is high-risk, we can get you approved! 

If you do not see your business on the list just contact us to ask about your high-risk business type, if you have a legal business or question please contact us.  

 

 

The post High Risk Merchant Account Approval for Your Business appeared first on Customized Payment Processsing Solutions.

ALLEN KOPELMAN CEO, Nationwide Payment Systems | Host of the B2B Vault: The Biz to Biz Podcast

Allen Co-Founded Nationwide Payment Systems Inc. in 2001, with the plan to sell credit card processing services and equipment to merchants in the South Florida area and provide concierge style service for each client. Quickly the company grew to 1000 plus clients and we were had clients all over the United States.
The entrepreneurial bug started early in Allen’s life as comes from a family of business owners and learn about business from early age behind the cash registers at his father’s clothing stores in Miami. Later going to Culinary School in Atlanta and being a Chef, then Executive Chef for Metro Hotels in Dallas, Texas running food and beverage operations in Hotels. In 1992 a move back to Florida and opening a restaurant, catering company and consulting group.
After gaining a couple of years of experience selling merchant services, Allen Co-Founded Nationwide Payment Systems with David Burney. Together the company started and quickly grew, products were added, processing banks and the company became laser focused on technology that would help merchants. Along with that came a focus on hard to place businesses that many banks did not want to work with.

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Allen Kopelman

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