MerchantGuard™High-Risk Merchant Accounts: 78% Approval Rate in 48 Hours
High-risk merchants face 67% rejection rates from traditional processors, paying 3-5% higher processing fees with 10% reserve holds. Specialized high-risk processors achieve 78% approval rates in 48 hours for CBD, supplements, firearms, and adult industries. Card networks designate specific MCC codes as high-risk, requiring industry-specialized underwriting and compliance documentation.
Join 2,400+ merchants who turned their high-risk classification into an advantage with better processors, lower fees, and comprehensive protection strategies.
Limited Availability: Only 15 high-risk application slots remaining this month. 143 merchants got matched with processors this week.
143 merchants got processor matches this week
High-Risk Merchants Who Got Approved
Jennifer K.
CBD E-Commerce, Colorado
"Rejected by Square and Stripe for CBD. MerchantGuard matched me with a processor in 48 hours at 3.8% + $0.30. Processing $85K/month now with zero account issues."
Michael R.
Firearms Retailer, Texas
"Denied by 4 processors for firearms. GuardScore showed me exactly what to fix. Got approved in 3 days with no reserve requirement. Now processing $240K/month smoothly."
Amanda L.
Supplement Brand, Florida
"Labeled high-risk for nutraceuticals. MerchantGuard's network got me approved in 2 days at 4.2% flat ratewith 5% reserve instead of the 10% others quoted. Processing $150K/month."
Common High-Risk Industries We Serve
If your business operates in any of these industries, you're likely classified as "high-risk" by traditional payment processors. We specialize in getting you approved with industry-friendly processors.
CBD/Hemp
Nutraceuticals
Supplements
Firearms
Adult Entertainment
Travel
Credit Repair
Debt Collection
Forex/Crypto
Subscription Services
Telemarketing
E-Cigarettes/Vaping
Online Gaming
Tech Support
Fantasy Sports
Dating Services
Replica Goods
Pawn Shops
Source: Card network high-risk MCC classifications from Visa Risk Management and Mastercard Compliance Guidelines
How We Help High-Risk Merchants Get Approved
Industry-Specialized Processors
We partner with processors who actually understand your business model and industry-specific risks. No generic rejections—matched with experts in CBD, firearms, adult, supplements, and more.
Free GuardScore Risk Assessment
Get your detailed risk profile assessment (11 questions) showing exactly what processors see when reviewing your application. Learn precisely what to fix to improve approval odds from 67% rejection to 78% approval.
Competitive High-Risk Rates
Our partners offer transparent pricing: 3.5-5% processing fees (vs 6-8% elsewhere), fair reserve terms (5-10% vs 20%), and no surprise rate hikes after 6 months. Compare offers side-by-side.
Minimize Reserves & Account Holds
Learn proven strategies to reduce rolling reserves from 10% to 5% or eliminate them entirely. Documentation techniques that demonstrate low-risk operations to underwriters and reduce hold periods from 180 to 90 days.
48-72 Hour Approval Process
Skip 2-week traditional underwriting. Our processors specialize in high-risk accounts and make decisions in 48-72 hours. Get processing statements, compliance documentation, and business licenses ready for fastest approval.
High-Risk Merchant Community
Join 2,400+ high-risk merchants sharing processor reviews, compliance strategies, chargeback prevention tactics, and backup processing plans. Access private forums with merchants in your exact industry facing identical challenges.
Complete High-Risk Merchant Resources
Best High-Risk Merchant Accounts 2025
Complete comparison of 12 high-risk processors: rates, approval requirements, industry specializations
Read GuideGuardScore Premium
Advanced risk monitoring, chargeback alerts, and backup processor recommendations for high-risk accounts
View PricingFor Payment Processors
Partner with MerchantGuard to receive pre-qualified high-risk merchant referrals with complete risk profiles
Partner With UsGet Your Free High-Risk Assessment
Discover your exact risk profile and get matched with processors who approve merchants in your industry. Takes 5 minutes—results show exactly what to fix to improve approval odds.
High-Risk Merchant Account Questions
What makes a merchant account high-risk?
Payment processors classify merchants as high-risk based on industry type (CBD, supplements, firearms, adult content), chargeback ratios above 1%, high average ticket values over $500, or cross-border transactions exceeding 50% of volume. Card networks like Visa and Mastercard maintain specific MCC codes designated as high-risk, including 5967 (Direct Marketing - Inbound Telemarketing), 7995 (Betting/Casino Gambling), and 5122 (Drugs/Proprietaries). Merchants in these categories face approval rates 67% lower than standard merchants but can achieve 78% approval with specialized high-risk processors.
What is the approval rate for high-risk merchant accounts?
Traditional processors reject 67% of high-risk merchant applications. However, specialized high-risk processors like Durango, PaymentCloud, and Easy Pay Direct achieve 78% approval rates for merchants in CBD, supplements, firearms, and other restricted industries. Approval timelines average 48-72 hours with proper documentation. Factors that improve approval odds include: maintaining chargeback ratios below 1.5%, providing 3+ months of processing history, demonstrating compliance programs, and working with an industry-specialized underwriter.
How much do high-risk merchant account fees cost?
High-risk merchant accounts typically charge 3.5-5% processing fees compared to 2.5-2.9% for standard merchants. Additional costs include: application fees ($0-500), monthly account fees ($20-100), chargeback fees ($25-100 per incident), and rolling reserves (5-10% of monthly volume held for 180 days). However, transparent high-risk processors offer competitive rates without hidden rate increases after 6 months. MerchantGuard partners with processors offering fair, disclosed pricing specifically for high-risk industries.
Which payment processors accept high-risk merchants?
Specialized high-risk payment processors include Durango Merchant Services, PaymentCloud, Easy Pay Direct, SMB Global, and Maverick BankCard. These processors understand industries like CBD, nutraceuticals, firearms, adult entertainment, subscription services, and credit repair. They offer 48-72 hour approval, fair rates for high-risk categories, and account managers experienced with compliance requirements. Square, Stripe, and PayPal typically decline high-risk merchants. MerchantGuard maintains partnerships with vetted high-risk processors and earns transparent referral commissions.
Can I get a merchant account after being classified high-risk?
Yes. Being classified high-risk does not prevent approval - it simply requires working with processors who specialize in your industry. Key strategies include: obtaining a free GuardScore assessment to identify specific risk factors, documenting compliance with card network regulations, implementing chargeback prevention tools (Ethoca, Verifi), maintaining detailed transaction records, and applying through processors familiar with your MCC code. 2,400+ high-risk merchants have successfully obtained processing through MerchantGuard's specialized partner network with 78% approval rates.
What industries are considered high-risk by payment processors?
High-risk industries include: CBD/hemp products (MCC 5499), nutraceuticals and supplements (MCC 5122), firearms and ammunition (MCC 5941), adult entertainment (MCC 5967), travel and timeshares (MCC 4722), credit repair services (MCC 7299), debt collection (MCC 7322), forex and cryptocurrency (MCC 6211), subscription box services, telemarketing (MCC 5966), e-cigarettes and vaping (MCC 5993), online gaming and fantasy sports (MCC 7995), tech support, dating services, and replica goods. Visa and Mastercard maintain official lists of restricted merchant categories. View the complete list at Visa's merchant risk management documentation and Mastercard's prohibited business list.
Ready to Find Your High-Risk Processor?
Stop getting rejected by processors who don't understand your business. We partner with specialized high-risk processors offering 78% approval rates in 48-72 hours for CBD, supplements, firearms, adult entertainment, and more.
Industry Experts
Understand your business model
78% approval
48-72 Hour Decisions
Fast underwriting process
2-3 day approval
Competitive Rates
Transparent pricing
3.5-5% processing
Account Protection
Minimize reserves & holds
5-10% reserves
Full Transparency: We earn a referral commission when you connect with our partners (typically $150-500 per approved merchant). This helps us keep MerchantGuard free for merchants under $10K/month. Learn more about our transparent partner model.
Content powered by merchant risk intelligence data and verified industry sources. See our AI transparency policy.
High-risk classifications sourced from Visa Risk Management, Mastercard Compliance, and anonymized merchant underwriting data. Last updated: October 26, 2025.
High-Risk Classification Doesn't Define Your Business
Join 2,400+ high-risk merchants who found specialized processors, lowered fees, and built sustainable payment operations with the right partners who understand your industry.