Updated March 8, 2021

Best CBD Merchant Processing

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Are all CBD merchants considered high risk? What requirements does a CBD merchant processor have? Read our guide on CBD merchant processors to learn more.

Although CBD products have become popular, some payment processing companies are still wary of the industry. The complicated legal issues, risk of chargebacks, and industry uncertainty make many providers hesitant to get involved in the market.

Luckily, there are many merchant account providers willing to work with CBD sellers. Knowing what to look for and what each merchant offers can help you choose the right provider.

Why CBD Processing Is Difficult to Find

Even though CBD oil is legal in many states, merchant processing companies consider CBD sales high risk. Plus, some high-risk merchant processors may cancel your account if they find out that you sell CBD products.

For larger payment processing companies like Square or PayPal, selling CBD products is immediate grounds for account cancellation.

Best CBD Merchant Processors

We've compiled a list of the top high-risk merchant processors. Read on to learn what they offer.

PayKings

PayKings has relationships with more than 24 banking partners, many of which specialize in CBD payment processing. The company offers payment solutions for both e-commerce and retail stores.

Merchants can accept a variety of payment types including EMV, contactless, ACH, and major credit cards. PayKings has dedicated account managers who provide a free quote for your CBD payment processing before you sign up.

PayKings also offers:

  • Recurring billing
  • E-commerce support
  • POS systems and terminals
  • International accounts

PaymentCloud

PaymentCloud is a high-risk merchant account provider that partners with a large number of banks. The company doesn't charge an application fee and provides you with a dedicated sales representative to guide you through the approval process.

PaymentCloud offers a variety of POS systems, but they also reprogram existing equipment to work with its partner banks. They accept all major credit and debit cards for in-person, online, or over-the-phone transactions.

Other features include:

  • Mobile and virtual terminals

  • Integration with third-party shopping carts, terminals, and gateways

  • Compliance with the latest CBD sales legislation

Leap Payments

Leap Payments partners with several banks to give CBD suppliers a better chance of finding a merchant account. They also offer interchange-plus pricing and a rate lock guarantee for life.

Leap Payments sets you up with a dedicated sales representative to walk you through the process of bank applications and negotiations. Once approved, they'll set up your account by integrating it with your existing gateway or starting a new approved gateway.

Other features include:

  • Next day funding
  • Integration with your POS and terminals
  • Extensive chargeback mitigation and monitoring

Leap Payments offers both domestic and offshore accounts.

Easy Pay Direct

Easy Pay Direct offers continually evolving options for businesses processing CBD sales in the U.S. and Canada. However, they have a few more restrictions than other merchant account providers.

In order to process with Easy Pay Direct, you must be a stable CBD company with solid financial backing. Your store must also process less than $100,000 in credit card sales.

Easy Pay Direct charges an application fee and the approval process may take up to 14 business days.

They also charge a monthly fee plus flat rate pricing (percentage plus a fixed fee).

Other features include:

  • A gateway
  • U.S.-based merchant processing
  • Funds deposited within 24–48 hours
  • Discounts for larger sales volumes
  • Reserves only required in certain situations

eMerchant Broker (EMB)

eMerchant Broker specializes in high risk merchant accounts and claims to offer approval in as little as 24 hours. Merchants with a solid history of CBD sales and few chargebacks will have better odds of approval.

EMB's tiered pricing plans for high-risk merchants can get costly, but the rates may be negotiable. EMB also provides educational tools for all high-risk merchants, including CBD sellers.

eMerchant Broker also offers:

  • A variety of gateways
  • Quick application turnaround
  • Chargeback resolutions
  • Fraud protection

Other Merchant Accounts to Consider

Centurion Payment Services
Centurion provides low-risk and high-risk merchant accounts, including accounts for CBD retailers. The company also offers interchange-plus pricing, no annual fees, no startup fees, and doesn't require reserves.

Instabill
Instabill offers merchant accounts for e-commerce CBD sellers only. You must have minimum weekly sales of at least $1,500 and a short of selling CBD. Applications take an average of 15 days for approval. Instabill also requires a six-month rolling reserve from each merchant.

BankCard USA
Known as the "vape bank," BankCard offers same-day approvals for CBD sellers. The company also provides 24/7 customer service, chargeback and fraud protection, PCI compliance, invoice capabilities, and third-party integrations.

Keep reading to learn how to choose the best high-risk merchant account for your needs.

What to Look for in a High-Risk Merchant Account

Most standard merchant accounts, including PayPal, consider themselves "low risk." They prefer merchants with:

  • Less than $20,000 in monthly sales
  • Credit card transactions lower than $500 each
  • Low-risk product offerings

Even if you meet the financial requirements, selling CBD makes you a high-risk merchant. So what should you look for in a high-risk merchant account? Consider the following.

  • Short Contract Terms
    Many high-risk merchant accounts require sellers to commit to a long-term deal. This ties you into a specific merchant account even if the laws change and CBD becomes a less "risky" product to sell.

  • No Automatic Renewal
    High-risk merchant contracts often have a clause for automatic renewal. Without careful monitoring, you could wind up in another annual contract. Become familiar with your contract expiration dates, as well as the grace period required to cancel the contract.

  • Pricing
    Ideally, you want interchange-plus pricing for transparency and affordability. However, many high-risk merchant processors offer tiered pricing instead. Be sure to read the fine print to fully understand how the pricing works.

  • Affordable Chargeback Fees
    Some sellers are considered high-risk because of their risk of chargebacks. Processors often charge higher chargeback fees for these accounts. Look for a provider that offers support to decrease your risk of chargebacks.

Many fees can be negotiated or even waived. Don't hesitate to talk with your merchant processor about setting fees that better suit your business.

  • Low or No Cancellation Fees
    You may have to pay a fee if you cancel your contract before the expiration date.

  • Low Rolling Reserve Requirements
    Processors sometimes hold a percentage of your sales, called a reserve, each month. Find out how much the processor will keep, for how long, and how that will affect your business.

  • Payment Gateway
    If you want to accept credit cards online, you'll need a payment gateway to transmit payment information to the appropriate parties. Choose a company whose payment gateway can filter out addresses where CBD sales aren't legal yet.

  • Accessible Customer Support
    High-risk merchants need customer service they can reach easily. Know the customer service hours to see how they align with your needs. You can also research customer service reviews to ensure the company is reputable and can effectively solve problems.

Fees for CBD Merchant Processing

Each merchant account provider will have different setup and maintenance costs. Watch for these common fees:

  • Setup fees
    High-risk merchants often charge high fees to set up your account. Read the terms closely so you know what setup will cost. Remember, you can negotiate or even have fees waived.

  • Processing fees
    Merchant account providers may charge a flat-rate fee per month in addition to the cost of processing each transaction. Be sure to ask how the merchant account provider calculates fees (interchange-plus, tiered, or flat rate).

  • Miscellaneous fees
    Ask about any other fees charged by merchant account providers. A few examples include chargeback fees, PCI compliance fees, cancellation fees, and disputed transaction fees.

Bottom Line

Banks continually update their underwriting guidelines as regulations surrounding CBD change. Shop around to find a reputable merchant account provider that has a history in CBD merchant processing.

Finding a domestic account with affordable pricing and plenty of features will get easier as time goes on. For now, make sure to read the fine print to get services you understand and can afford.

Write to Kim P at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

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