High Risk Payment Solutions: The Ultimate Guide For Approval

As technology advances, payment trends across the globe shifts. Today plastic money reigns. Many customers choose to make payment using debit or credit cards – both at online and physical stores. Therefore, each business should be ready regardless of whether it sells products online or locally.

Your clients expect an efficient and fast payment solution. Service providers should be in a position to process credit-card transactions as customers expect to make payments this way.

But what happens when your business is labelled as “high-risk?” Being declared high-risk for processing of credit cards doesn’t sound like a good thing. However, if your business falls under high-risk, you should not worry.
The truth of the matter is you can find merchants that deal with high-risk businesses. When you open a merchant account, you’ll be able to process high-risk credit

What are high-risk card payment solutions?

For your business to accept payments via credit cards, you should open a merchant account from an acquiring bank. The cost for opening the account differs depending on your business type, the way you carry out your transactions and the risk of loss. Naturally, fees for high-risk businesses are high.

Additionally, such a business will require a specialized payment service processor. In general, processors happen to avoid these high-risk merchants due to the supposed risks. One threat these merchants pose is high chargebacks.

These chargebacks depend on the country the merchant sells products to, average monthly sales and the kind of product/service. Nonetheless, there are certain steps you can follow for your merchant account to be approved.

Main guidelines for approval a high risk merchant account

Before opening a merchant account, a third-party payment processor must approve you. Perhaps you are wondering what documents or steps you should follow to get the approval.
High-risk merchant services
should fulfill additional requirements on their
payment service industry
type. These requirements are important for a business in need of setting up an account with a
high-risk merchant service provider.

If you have the same need, then here are the steps you should follow:

1. Getting approved For you to get approved by a payment processor, the decision goes through their bank. Some of these banks do not handle high-risk businesses. Your company is termed risky because of the questionable services and products. In addition, the company is said to be risky because of its poor credit/financials, deals with future deliveries and high chargeback risks. A payment processor might be working with a banking partner directly. In such a case, the processor will guide you on the necessary documents, do negotiations and how to comply.
2. Setting up gateway or payment equipment for your company. After approval, the high-risk processor will introduce you to the most suitable payment processing gateway or equipment. If you already have the payment equipment or gateway, you can still use it. Alternatively, you can get the latest one. You’ll select from point-of-sale, terminal, online solution or custom. Nevertheless, you should note that restrictions will apply based on the bank.
3. Managing your merchant account. If your account is approved and yet you don’t have the right tools to manage, it would be unfortunate. If you deal with processors without the know-how about high-risk accounts, your merchant might be shut down. Well, you can avoid this unfortunate incidence with the help of an advanced monitoring. You can combine the monitoring with a chargeback mitigation tool. Doing so will keep your account in operation even if regarded as high risk.

How to manage your high risk business payment solutions

If your business is high risk and has been approved for a merchant account, then you should know how to manage it. Generally, your charges will be high. This is because the bank that gave you the approval took a great risk.

Here are some of the differences in charges between a low risk and high risk business:

• Some processors will charge set-up fees. The fees range between hundred to thousand dollars – based on the kind of activities you engage in. Others might not charge set-up fees, even for a high risk merchant.
• Fees for processing credit card are high. As a low risk account pays 0.59% processing rate, high risk account will pay 2%.
• Risky online transactions for credit cards. That’s because the client doesn’t present the card physically. The risk increases even further because of the online scam.

This scenario puts your business in a fix. That’s because you want to increase online sales through credit card payments. Alternatively, if you don’t accept credit card payments, then you’ll reduce credibility and some visitors will not convert.

Why use high risk merchant account solutions?

For one, a high risk merchant service provider has partnerships with banks that deal with high risk companies. As a result, your chances of approval will increase.

But that isn’t the only benefit, there’s more. Extensive knowledge and experience with high risk requirements among credit card processors and banks. Therefore, your application process will not be guesswork.

Support for both domestic accounts and international payment solutions for high risk business. This will increase your chances of getting the most suitable account for your business.

Value-added account options such as chargeback mitigation, no hidden fees or contracts. Saves time because you’ll not make several applications to different banks. Likewise, your approval will take the shortest time possible. A high risk merchant service provider will help you with negotiations. Hence, your applications will be approved at ease. You’ll get a chance to accept payments through credit card even if your business has zero-credit, questionable financial/credit history or is a startup.

In fact, a merchant account provider is not limited to one industry resource or bank. Therefore, you are not limited to one or two high risk payment solutions.

The bottom line

Unlike high risk businesses, accounts for low risk businesses are easily approved with low fees and rates. But the ultimate decision is made by a bank. Different from merchant service providers, banks deny applications for no apparent reason.

Luckily, these payment solutions from high risk merchant providers will fight for your company until it is approved. You’ll reap many benefits when you work with an experienced, qualified high risk credit card processor.