What is a CBD merchant account?

A CBD merchant account is a dedicated payment processing account specifically underwritten for businesses selling hemp-derived CBD products — including oils, tinctures, topicals, edibles, Delta-8 and related cannabinoids. Unlike standard merchant accounts, a CBD merchant account is set up with an acquiring bank that has explicitly approved hemp and cannabis-related business (CRB) processing through its compliance framework, meaning your account is stable, long-term and not subject to the sudden terminations that standard processors like Stripe, Square or PayPal apply to CBD brands.

How do I get a merchant account for my CBD business?

Apply through The CERF. Our process requires basic business documentation (articles of incorporation, bank statements, processing history if available), your website URL and product catalogue, and — for CBD brands — Certificate of Analysis (COA) documentation showing your products contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. Most CBD merchants receive approval within 24 to 48 hours. Merchants previously terminated by Stripe or Square are welcome to apply.

Does Shopify work for CBD merchant accounts?

Shopify allows CBD storefronts in certain jurisdictions but does not provide its own payment processing for CBD — Shopify Payments explicitly excludes CBD products. You need a dedicated CBD payment gateway connected to your Shopify store. The CERF provides CBD-compatible gateway integrations that connect directly to Shopify, WooCommerce and BigCommerce without requiring you to change your storefront platform.

Will my CBD merchant account get shut down?

Not with The CERF. We use dedicated CBD-friendly acquiring banks, not payment facilitators like Square that aggregate merchants under a single MID and terminate at first sign of elevated risk. Every CERF merchant receives a dedicated merchant ID (MID) underwritten specifically for their product vertical. Our multi-bank setup also means that if one acquiring partner adjusts its CBD policy, we can move your processing to an alternative bank without downtime.

Do you support Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC merchant accounts?

Yes. The CERF works with acquiring partners that specifically approve Delta-8, Delta-9 THC, THC-A and other hemp-derived cannabinoid products, provided they comply with applicable state law and carry COA documentation. We evaluate each application individually based on product type, jurisdiction and compliance posture. Contact us to discuss your specific product catalogue.

Can CBD merchants settle in cryptocurrency?

Yes. The CERF offers settlement in fiat currency and cryptocurrency including USDT, BTC and ETH — giving CBD merchants maximum flexibility in how they receive funds, particularly useful for international CBD brands and high-volume operations.

Payment Processing Solutions for High-Risk Businesses

High Risk Merchant Accounts & Payment Gateways for E-Commerce, Subscriptions and Offshore Businesses

Merchants Approved

Banking Partners

0 +

Processed Annually

$ 0 М+

Continents Served

Client Retention

0 %

Most businesses that contact us have already been through the same experience: approval from Stripe or Square, a few months of normal processing, then an account hold or termination notice with no clear explanation and no path to reinstatement. Standard payment facilitators underwrite the average merchant, not the high-risk one. Entire categories of legitimate business are excluded from their platforms by default.

The CERF was built specifically for these businesses. We provide high risk merchant accounts for e-commerce operators, subscription and continuity brands, nutraceutical and supplement companies, CBD and hemp merchants, research peptide suppliers, online gaming platforms, forex and CFD trading platforms and any business that operates in a market where chargebacks are structurally elevated or regulatory requirements are strict. Every merchant receives a dedicated acquiring relationship, a dedicated Merchant ID, and direct account management from a team that understands the specific processing challenges of your industry

What We Offer

High Risk Merchant Accounts

A high risk merchant account from The CERF is underwritten specifically for your industry and not bolted onto a consumer payments platform built for low-risk retail. We work with a network of 30+ acquiring banks across Europe, the UK, North America and Latin America, giving us the flexibility to match your business model with the right banking partner. Whether you process subscription payments with elevated chargebacks, operate in a regulated vertical like CBD or nutraceuticals, or run an offshore merchant account across multiple jurisdictions, we build a processing structure that is stable by design and sized to scale with your monthly volume

High Risk Payment Gateways

Our high risk payment gateway connects directly to your Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom checkout. No redirects, no third-party payment page branding. Every gateway integration includes tokenisation for recurring billing, real-time fraud scoring, 3D Secure authentication, and direct API access for advanced configurations. For merchants running subscription or continuity programs, our gateway supports automated retry logic, dunning management, and failed payment recovery - protecting your monthly recurring revenue without manual intervention. Your site is ready for live transactions within a few days of approval

Industries We Serve

Nutraceuticals & Supplements

Payment processing solutions for supplements, vitamins with dedicated nutraceutical merchant account infrastructure and multi-bank acquiring

CBD & Hemp

Payment processing for CBD oil, hemp products, dispensaries and cannabis-related businesses

Online Gaming

High risk merchant accounts for betting and gaming operators. We support online casinos, sportsbooks and skill-based gaming platforms.

Research Peptides

Processing solutions for laboratories and peptide suppliers with dedicated research peptide merchant account infrastructure and high-risk friendly acquiring.

SEO & Digital Marketing

Merchant accounts for SEO agencies and digital marketing businesses

Subscription Billing

High risk processing for subscription-based and recurring billing businesses.

Dating

Merchant accounts for dating sites and matchmaking platforms worldwide

Travel

Payment processing for travel agencies and booking platforms worldwide

High Ticket Coaching

Secure payment processing for coaching and online education businesses

What Classifies a Business as High Risk

Payment processors classify merchants as high risk based on a combination of industry type, business model, chargeback history, and geographic exposure. Businesses in verticals with structurally elevated dispute rates – subscription billing, nutraceuticals, online gaming, adult content, travel, forex, and CBD – are treated as high risk regardless of their individual track record. This means a brand-new, fully compliant business will still be declined by Stripe or PayPal based on industry category alone. Additional triggers include offshore business registration, high average

A high risk merchant account is not a penalty – it is a specialised payment structure designed for businesses that operate in complex processing environments. It involves a dedicated acquiring bank that has explicitly underwritten your industry, a rolling reserve (typically 5-10% held for 90-180 days as a chargeback buffer), processing rates that reflect the elevated risk profile, and access to chargeback management and fraud prevention tools built for high-volume dispute environments. The CERF structures every account with multi-bank redundancy, meaning your processing does not depend on a single acquiring relationship and a single policy change cannot take your revenue offline

Low and high volume merchant accounts

The CERF imposes no minimum or maximum monthly processing volume. We onboard early-stage businesses processing their first few thousand dollars per month alongside established operators processing six and seven figures monthly. Rolling reserve terms, processing rates, and settlement timing are structured individually for each merchant based on their volume tier, industry risk profile, and processing history and not applied as a blanket policy. If your previous high risk merchant account was closed or you are launching a new high-risk vertical from scratch, we welcome your application

Top-Tier Support for High Risk Businesses

Our dedicated account managers are available around the clock to support your business. From onboarding to ongoing processing, we provide personalized concierge service that larger processors simply cannot offer

Unmatched Flexibility with
Diversified Banking Partners

Diversified Banks

We partner with multiple acquiring banks domestically and offshore, including UK , LATAM and Europe, to settle your payments.

Flexible Settlement

You may choose to have your transactions settled in fiat as well as in cryptocurrency (USDT, BTC, ETH).

Expedited Funds

Receive your funds faster with our expedited settlement options.
We offer daily and weekly payouts to keep your cash flow healthy.

How to Get Your High Risk Merchant Account

Most merchants are approved and processing within 3–5 business days

Submit Your Application

Complete our online form with basic business information: company registration details, website URL, product or service description, and estimated monthly processing volume. No application fee. No setup fee

Underwriting in 24-48 Hours

Our team reviews your application and matches your business with the most suitable acquiring bank from our network of 30+ partners. For most industries, this takes 24 to 48 hours. We may request supporting documents: bank statements, processing history, and - for regulated verticals like CBD - compliance documentation

Go Live Within Days

Once approved, your payment gateway is configured and integrated with your platform. Most merchants are processing live transactions within 3 to 5 business days from initial application. Your dedicated account manager stays available throughout onboarding and after go-live

Apply below to speak with an agent

Frequently Asked Questions About High Risk Merchant Accounts

What is a high risk merchant account?

A high risk merchant account is a payment processing solution for businesses in industries with elevated chargeback rates or regulatory complexity, such as CBD, forex, gaming and adult content. The CERF specializes in providing stable high risk merchant accounts with fast approval

How fast is the approval process?

Most merchants receive approval within 24-48 hours. Our streamlined onboarding ensures you start processing payments quickly

What does the onboarding process look like?

It’s simple. Submit your application, our team reviews your business within 24 hours, we match you with the right banking partner, and you start processing payments, usually within 5 days.

Can I settle payments in cryptocurrency?

Yes. We offer settlement in fiat and cryptocurrency including USDT, ideal for businesses operating internationally.

The Cerf

telegram: @CCprocessing_manager

Terms and Conditions

info@thecerf.com

CERF SAS is a company registered in France under SIREN number 913 596 649, RCS Paris. Registered office: 219 Boulevard Pereire, 75017 Paris, France. CERF SAS operates as a payment solutions provider and works with a network of licensed Merchant Acquirers across the US, Canada, UK, Europe and LATAM. These acquirers are responsible for the processing of card transactions on behalf of merchants. Merchants will be required to enter into and maintain a separate processing agreement with an acquiring bank nominated by CERF. Under the terms of that agreement, transaction fees, reserve requirements and other charges will apply as agreed during onboarding. Rates referenced on this website are indicative and representative of typical fees charged by our acquiring partners; final pricing is confirmed at the time of merchant approval

CERF

Payment Processing Solutions for High-Risk Businesses

High Risk Merchant Accounts & Payment Gateways for E-Commerce, Subscriptions and Offshore Businesses