With digital payments on the rise, more and more businesses are seeking high-risk payment processors to remain competitive. But, to be more exact, only 19% of consumers still prefer to make payments using cash instead of other forms of payment.
Undoubtedly, most payment service providers operate in a wide variety of industries, but there are always some businesses about which they are a little more circumspect. Often, these businesses pose a high risk since they are inherently more prone to fraud and chargebacks.
High-risk Merchant Accounts: What Are They?
When a business qualifies as a “high-risk business,” it might be necessary to have access to a high-risk merchant account to accept debit card payments and credit card payments. A high-risk business (and other characteristics) is more likely to experience chargebacks or fraud for various reasons.
Nevertheless, there doesn’t exist any central authority or framework in the payments industry which determines the risks inherent in businesses in any given industry. Rather than this, all banks and payment processors maintain their standards, which they adhere to.
Some payment solution providers may declare upfront that they do not offer payment solutions for specific industries.
What Are The Benefits Of A High-Risk Merchant Account?
Having a business that is susceptible to fraud, refund scams, chargebacks, and forgery results in a high-risk business. For example, a high-risk business includes private security contractors, gambling websites, forex exchanges, airline charters, phonograph contract distributors, automatic brokers, and phonograph contract creators. However, for these businesses, there are some benefits to using a high-risk merchant account, such as the following:
Global Coverage
Having access to a high-risk merchant account means that you are capable of trading globally. This way, your company can operate in any country and accept various currencies.
Your customers can pay in their home currency for your products and services. This way, your products and services are more accessible to local and foreign customers. This service is unavailable from all merchant account providers, so pick your provider wisely.
What Factors Determine Whether A Merchant Is High-Risk?
A business from a specific industry may automatically receive an indicator that it is a high-risk business since it carries inherent risks that tend to be higher. The following are some examples of industries with a high level of risk:
- Vaping, CBD (Cannabidiol), and e-cigarettes
- Stun guns and tasers
- Credit Repair
- Multi Level Marketing (MLM)
- Supplements and nutraceuticals
How To Choose A Genuine High-Risk Merchant Account?
The lack of trustworthiness associated with high-risk payment processing may make it challenging for merchants to find a trustworthy processor since it comes with its challenges. However, high-risk industries can handle them by processors that specialize in them.
Among the many ways professional accountants differ from amateurs is that they can provide you with quality services while earning a good income for your business. Awareness of the top factors that identify a genuine high merchant risk processor is essential.
Secure Merchant Accounts
High-risk merchant account services must offer a secure environment so customers can choose the best.
Nothing is more important than ensuring that your funds are safe and your company’s financial health is in good hands. A third-party secure payment gateway is added for each financial transaction to be secure. Please complete your research before choosing an online credit card processor to ensure that it hasn’t previously had any issues with its security.
The best providers of high-risk merchant accounts will offer top-of-the-line security measures and have a proven record of providing customers with a secure and safe environment.
Added Features
Choosing your credit card processing service should always allow you to select your required services. Choosing a great company will enable them to meet the specific needs of your business model in addition to offering you other affordable features you had yet to discover existed.
The company may also offer gift cards or fraud protection as additional features. In addition to the core merchant account features, a good merchant account provider can provide you with various add-ons. It makes the account provider more genuine.
Customer Service
Business success depends on good customer service. The financial institutions you deal with will likely provide the same customer service level as your business. It provides a stamp of genuine quality.
As part of the onboarding process, you should guide yourself through selecting the best high-risk merchant account to suit your needs. Ideally, they should be able to stick with you throughout the process of putting together your bank package. Then, when you have everything in one place, you will be approved once you have everything together.
A Genuine Processor Should Provide Custom Solutions
Choosing a merchant account provider that understands the unique needs of your business is crucial. Additionally, it would be best to reflect this in your high-risk merchant account. Make sure it fits your online sales process. The chargeback rate may be higher for companies like subscription boxes and lower for smaller retailers like jewelry stores. It is essential to set up the payment process based on your needs. Moreover, you will want your website to be equipped with the best payment gateway so that you can streamline the checkout process.
There are better ways to accomplish reliable credit card processing than a one-size-fits-all approach, which is why you should be able to customize a solution that suits your specific needs for reliable credit card processing. As you become more familiar with the fees you might have to pay, this becomes even more important.
Grow In A Comfortable Environment
The account creation agency that works with high-risk merchants knows you’re always trying to expand and grow your business. As the needs and requirements of your business change and grow, so will your needs and requirements. Therefore, you mustn’t sign a long-term, ironclad contract that does not allow for any revisions and alterations to add to it.
The relationship must be flexible to keep both parties growing and improving. A Genuine payment processor will also ensure the same. If your business is serious about growing revenue, then you need to use a payment gateway service that allows you to do that. The higher your monthly volume, the greater your authority will be as your volume grows.
Takeaway
An ideal service is available to you, and you must do some research to find it. The above five characteristics will be present in the one that best matches your business, and you must take the time to find that one genuine high-risk payment processor.