5 Best Payment Gateways For High-Risk Businesses - Business Expert
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Running a high-risk business means facing hurdles that most merchants never encounter, especially when it comes to payment processing. Traditional providers often won’t touch industries prone to chargebacks or regulatory scrutiny, leaving you with limited and unreliable options.

That’s where specialist solutions come in. The best payment gateways for high-risk businesses are purpose-built to handle complexity, offering robust fraud protection, secure transactions, and easy integration with your tech stack.

Whether you’re scaling a fast-moving dropshipping operation or navigating the regulations of the vaping industry, I’ve analysed the top providers to help you choose the gateway that won’t hold your business back.

5 Best Payment Gateways For
High-Risk Businesses

What is the Best Payment Gateway for High-Risk Businesses

Nomupay is the best payment gateway for high-risk businesses due to its specialised approach and strong industry expertise. It offers advanced fraud prevention, supports multiple payment methods, and integrates easily with Shopify.

Its transparent pricing ensures businesses know exactly what they’re paying for, making it a trusted choice for high-turnover companies in sectors like crypto, gambling, and dropshipping.

Other strong options include Worldpay, known for its global reach and secure processing capabilities, and Checkout.com, which offers fast processing and scalability with seamless Shopify integration.

Cashflows stands out for its risk assessment tools and multi-currency support, while Trustpayments excels in chargeback prevention and payment optimisation. However, Nomupay’s tailored approach to high-risk businesses and commitment to simplifying payment processing give it a competitive edge.

Payment Gateways for High-Risk Businesses

Nomupay (formerly Total Processing)

Nomupay is a top-notch payment gateway that caters to the specific needs of high-risk businesses. Formerly Total Processing, they have an unmatched level of expertise in this sector.

With a straightforward approach and a commitment to simplifying payment processing, Nomupay has gained the trust of many e-commerce owners in similar situations.

Key Features

  • Risk Mitigation: Nomupay employs advanced fraud prevention measures to protect your business from chargebacks and fraudulent transactions.
  • Multiple Payment Methods: It supports various payment methods, including credit cards, e-wallets, and more, ensuring convenience for your customers.
  • Integration: Easy integration with Shopify, allowing you to set up and start processing payments quickly.
  • Transparent Pricing: Clear and transparent pricing structures, so you know what you’re paying without hidden fees.

Who Should Use Nomupay

  • Businesses with a turnover of 500k pa
  • Any kind of high-risk sector
  • The registered entity (and at least one director in the same region) must be UK / EU / UAE. 
  • Crypto / Adult / Drop-Shipping / Money Remittance / Gaming / Gambling – generally require at least 6 months of processing history.

Worldpay

Worldpay is a reliable and well-established payment gateway known for its global reach and secure transactions. It provides a robust solution for high-risk businesses that can easily handle high transaction volumes.

Key Features

  • Global Reach: Worldpay offers international payment processing, making it an excellent choice for businesses with a global customer base.
  • Security: Enhanced security features protect your business from payment-related risks, including encryption and fraud detection.
  • Reporting: Comprehensive reporting and analytics tools help you gain insights into your transactions and customer behaviour.
  • Customisation: Tailor your payment solutions to match your business needs and customer preferences

Checkout.com

Checkout.com is a modern and innovative payment gateway designed to meet the demands of high-risk businesses. Its user-friendly interface and robust features can be a game-changer for your e-commerce store.

Key Features

  • Fast Processing: Enjoy quick and efficient payment processing, reducing customer checkout friction.
  • Scalability: Checkout.com grows with your business, accommodating increased transaction volumes without compromising speed or security.
  • Responsive Support: Access to a dedicated support team that understands high-risk businesses’ unique challenges.
  • API Integration: Seamless integration with Shopify through APIs for a hassle-free setup.

Cashflows

Cashflows is a payment gateway that specialises in providing solutions for high-risk businesses. Its focus on reliability and security offers a dependable option for business owners needing a robust payment processing solution.

Key Features

  • Risk Assessment: Cashflows conducts thorough risk assessments to minimise fraudulent transactions and chargebacks—customisation: Tailor payment solutions to suit your business, including subscription billing and recurring payments.
  • Multi-Currency Support: Easily handle international transactions with support for multiple currencies.
  • Secure Transactions: State-of-the-art security measures protect your business and customer data.

Trustpayments

Trustpayments is a trusted payment gateway that understands high-risk businesses’ unique challenges. It provides a comprehensive solution that covers all payment processing aspects, ensuring business owners peace of mind.

Key Features

  • Industry Expertise: Trustpayments brings industry-specific knowledge, helping you navigate the complexities of high-risk e-commerce.
  • Chargeback Prevention: Robust chargeback prevention tools and strategies to safeguard your revenue.
  • PCI Compliance: Trustpayments is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, guaranteeing the highest level of security for your transactions.
  • Payment Optimization: Optimization features to increase authorisation rates and reduce cart abandonment.

What Makes A Business High Risk?

A high-risk business is one that payment gateways consider more likely to experience issues such as chargebacks, fraud, or regulatory scrutiny. 

Payment gateways assess risk based on chargeback rates, industry reputation, legal requirements, and financial stability. 

A chargeback occurs when a customer disputes a payment and requests a refund from their card issuer, which can lead to financial losses for the gateway. High chargeback rates, typically above 1%, increase the likelihood of being categorised as high-risk.

Common reasons a business may be considered high-risk include:

  • Chargeback frequency – If a business consistently receives chargebacks, it signals potential issues with product quality, service delivery, or customer disputes.
  • Industry reputation – Businesses operating in industries known for higher fraud or customer dissatisfaction are seen as riskier.
  • Regulatory complexity – Industries with strict regulations or legal uncertainties increase the risk of non-compliance and fines.
  • Financial instability – Payment providers may see new businesses or those with inconsistent revenue as unreliable.

Common High-Risk Industries

Certain industries are more likely to be classified as high-risk due to their nature, customer base, or regulatory environment. These include:

  • Adult content – High chargeback rates and regulatory oversight make this sector challenging for payment processing.
  • Gambling and betting – Financial regulations and the potential for money laundering raise concerns for payment gateways.
  • CBD and cannabis products – Legal status varies across jurisdictions, creating compliance challenges.
  • Travel agencies – Long gaps between payment and service delivery increase the risk of cancellations and disputes.
  • Dropshipping – Delayed fulfilment times and inconsistent product quality lead to customer dissatisfaction and chargebacks.
  • Vape and e-cigarette businesses – Age restrictions and regulatory uncertainty contribute to higher risk levels.

Businesses in high-risk industries often face higher processing fees, reserve requirements (where part of the revenue is held by the gateway to cover potential chargebacks), and stricter contract terms.

Key Features to Look For In A High-Risk Payment Gateway

Choosing the right high-risk payment gateway is essential for businesses that face higher-than-average chargeback rates or operate in regulated industries. Not all payment gateways are willing to work with high-risk businesses, so selecting one that offers security, flexibility, and cost efficiency is essential. Here are the key features to look for when evaluating a high-risk payment gateway:

1. High Approval Rates for High-Risk Businesses
Many mainstream payment gateways, such as PayPal and Stripe, refuse to work with high-risk industries due to the increased likelihood of chargebacks and fraud. A high-risk payment gateway should have a high approval rate for businesses in industries like gambling, adult content, CBD, and dropshipping. Specialist providers are more familiar with these industries’ regulatory and financial challenges, making them better equipped to approve and support these businesses.

2. Chargeback Protection and Fraud Prevention
High-risk businesses are more vulnerable to chargebacks and fraudulent transactions, which can lead to financial penalties and account freezes. Look for gateways that offer chargeback protection services, such as real-time fraud detection, 3D Secure authentication, and chargeback alerts. Some gateways even provide automatic dispute resolution to help businesses recover funds lost to chargebacks.

3. Competitive Processing Fees
While high-risk businesses typically face higher fees due to increased risk, it is important to find a gateway with transparent pricing and reasonable rates. Look for competitive transaction fees, minimal monthly fees, and affordable chargeback fees. Avoid providers that impose hidden costs or excessive early termination fees.

4. Multi-Currency and Global Support
High-risk businesses often serve international markets, so the payment gateway should support multiple currencies and payment methods. Look for gateways that offer dynamic currency conversion and seamless processing of cross-border payments. Support for major credit cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods will help maximise customer reach.

5. Integration with Major E-Commerce Platforms
Easy integration with popular platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento is essential for smooth operation. A high-risk payment gateway should offer simple plug-ins or APIs that allow businesses to start processing payments without complex coding or custom development.

6. Customisable Payment Solutions
High-risk businesses often have unique operational needs. Look for gateways that allow you to customise payment flows, checkout pages, and customer communication. This helps create a seamless and professional payment experience while ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

7. Strong Security and Compliance
Due to increased fraud and data breach exposure, payment security is critical for high-risk businesses. The gateway should be PCI-DSS compliant (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and offer encryption, tokenisation, and secure payment processing to protect customer data.

How to Choose the Right Gateway for Your High-Risk Business

Selecting the right payment gateway is critical for high-risk businesses, as the wrong choice can lead to rejected payments, high fees, and account freezes. High-risk companies face unique challenges, such as higher chargeback rates, regulatory scrutiny, and limited options from mainstream providers. 

Here’s how to evaluate and choose the best gateway for your business:

1. Industry-Specific Requirements
Different high-risk industries have specific payment processing needs and regulatory challenges. For example, vape and CBD businesses face strict age verification and product compliance requirements, while travel agencies must handle refunds and cancellations efficiently. Choose a gateway that specialises in your industry and understands the associated risks. Some providers have experience with niche sectors and offer tailored solutions like age verification, geographic restrictions, or multi-currency support.

2. Cost vs. Approval Rates
High-risk payment gateways typically charge higher fees due to the increased financial risk. However, the balance between cost and approval rates is key. A gateway with slightly higher fees but a higher approval rate may generate more revenue by reducing payment failures. Consider the full fee structure, including:

  • Setup fees
  • Monthly fees
  • Transaction fees (percentage + fixed cost)
  • Chargeback fees
  • Refund fees
  • Early termination fees

Ensure that the fee structure is transparent and scalable as your business grows.

3. Customer Support and Dispute Resolution
High-risk businesses are more likely to face chargebacks and disputes, so responsive customer support is essential. Look for a gateway that offers 24/7 support and direct access to a dedicated account manager. Some high-risk gateways offer automated dispute resolution and chargeback alerts to help businesses respond quickly and minimise losses. Strong customer support can prevent issues from escalating and protect your merchant account from being frozen.

4. Compliance with Industry Regulations
High-risk industries often face complex legal and regulatory requirements. A suitable payment gateway should be PCI-DSS compliant (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and offer tools for ensuring regulatory compliance. For example:

  • Age verification for vape and CBD sales
  • Geographic restrictions for gambling transactions
  • KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks for financial services
    A compliant gateway helps prevent fines, legal issues, and potential service disruptions.

5. Flexibility and Scalability
Your payment needs may change as your business grows. Choose a gateway that supports multiple payment methods (credit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers) and currencies. A scalable solution with flexible contract terms will allow you to expand into new markets and handle higher transaction volumes without switching providers.

6. Reputation and Provider Experience
Experienced high-risk payment processors understand the challenges businesses face in regulated or controversial industries. Research the provider’s track record, customer reviews, and industry expertise. A trusted gateway with a history of working with high-risk merchants will likely offer reliable service and consistent approvals.

FAQs

What is a high-risk payment gateway?

Does Stripe allow high-risk payments?

Does PayPal accept high-risk businesses?

Does Square accept high-risk merchants?

Why do some payment gateways refuse to work with high-risk businesses?

How can I reduce chargebacks with a high-risk payment gateway?

Do high-risk payment gateways have longer payout times?

What’s the best payment gateway for high-risk businesses on Shopify?

Are dropshipping businesses considered high-risk?

Can vape and e-cigarette businesses use PayPal or Stripe?

Do high-risk payment gateways support international payments?

Can I get approved for a high-risk payment gateway with bad credit?

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