6 Best High-Risk Credit Card Processing & Low Rates in 2025

Running a high-risk business can be difficult, especially when trying to find a credit card processor that will work with your risk level. Getting approved is tough – even if you open a merchant account, it’ll come with restrictions on business activity, limit thresholds, high fees, and additional fees for security and chargeback protection.

As a high-risk business owner, picking the wrong credit card processor can impact your bottom line. It can make managing recurring/subscription billing harder due to outdated software, keep you locked in with lengthy contracts and high cancellation fees, and increase your susceptibility to fraudulent activity and chargebacks because of ineffective security features.

After researching dozens of credit card processing services for high-risk merchants, I found that Paysafe is the best due to its low fees and ability to recover up to 50% of failed transactions. It also offers advanced subscription management and extensive support for international transactions.

If you’ve been struggling to find a credit card processor due to your high-risk status, check out Paysafe. Or, if you’re still exploring your options, keep reading for more credit card processing services great for high-risk businesses or businesses in high-risk industries.

What We Look For in the Best High-Risk Credit Card Processors

When searching for the best credit card processors for high-risk businesses, I focused on specific features and benefits that overcome the challenges of being a high-risk business.

• Low rates. The payment processors that made my list offer low rates, including minimal monthly and transaction fees. Moreover, you won’t have to deal with unreasonable pricing and will see rates similar to those of low-risk businesses.
• Robust security. All listed services provide robust security measures, including fraud detection, prevention, and chargeback protection. One credit card processor on my list even offers data breach insurance up to $100,000.
• E-commerce integrations. Every high-risk processor that made the cut offers e-commerce integrations and secure payment gateways, allowing you to integrate with accounting and tax software to manage subscription services and take payments online.
• Variety of payment options. My recommendations offer diverse payment options like ACH, credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, eChecks, and more, ensuring you can cater to your customer’s payment needs.
• Responsive customer support. All these high-risk processors provide robust customer support, whether it’s through 24/7 tech assistance, live chat, personal account managers, or specialized chargeback and fraud teams.

1. Paysafe: Best for Large High-Risk Businesses With Recurring Payments

Due to its partnership with Vindicia, Paysafe is great for large, high-risk businesses using recurring payments. With Vindicia, you can easily set up recurring billing and optimize your subscription plans based on analytics. Better yet, you also get Vindicia Retain, which automatically fixes up to 50% of failed transactions using algorithms and automation to check your customer’s credit card information.

Paysafe allows you to process payments in over 40 currencies through its payment gateway. Plus, it accepts over 260 payment types, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, ACH transfers, and lesser-known methods like Interchecks, Mazooma, Play+, and VIP Preferred.

Paysafe offers a personalized approach to pricing with three pricing models, including tiered pricing, interchange-plus, and cash discount. On its interchange-plus plan, you can get reasonably low rates starting at 0.50% + $0.10 per transaction, making it a good choice for high-volume businesses. Just keep in mind that Paysafe isn’t the most transparent, but as long as you ask detailed questions, you’ll have no issues.

Features and Benefits

• Comprehensive dashboard. Paysafe’s dashboard allows you to track and monitor your payments, view your entire transaction history, process payments through a virtual terminal, generate reports, and process refunds from one centralized location.
• Personalized onboarding. A dedicated account manager will guide you through the setup process and offer tailored support based on your needs.
• Risk management team. Every merchant gets access to its risk management team, which flags and blocks suspicious payments, IP addresses, and regions to reduce the chances of fraud and chargebacks.
• Multichannel payments. Paysafe offers several payment channels, including mail order/telephone order (MOTO), pay-by-link, digital invoicing, recurring payments, and even QR code payments through its partnership with Applova.

Take a look at our Paysafe review to find out more.

2. Leaders Merchant Services: Low Rates and Negotiable Pricing

Leaders Merchant Services (LMS) is a standout choice for high-risk SMEs due to its industry-low rates and negotiable pricing structure. You’ll pay a monthly fee and low per-transaction fees, but LMS encourages you to negotiate your rates based on your business’s needs. LMS offers $9.00/month with ~0.15% + $0 for in-person transactions and ~2.9% + 30¢ for online/virtual terminal transactions, making it an excellent option for budget-focused SMEs.

LMS’ merchant cash advances are particularly beneficial for high-risk businesses, allowing you to acquire extra capital in times of need. Better yet, you can pay back your advance through a small commission on future sales, meaning you can receive immediate access to funding without the added stress of managing repayments.

With an industry-high approval rating of 98% and same-day setup, LMS is one of the most accessible payment processors. Once your application is approved, the onboarding process can be completed in less than 24 hours. You’ll be able to avoid losing out on potential sales by accepting payments almost immediately. That said, be aware that you’ll pay a $40 monthly fee if you’re not PCI-certified. Fortunately, LMS can help you with PCI compliance.

Features and Benefits

• Chargeback and fraud team. LMS’ fraud team assists you in navigating disputes and reducing fraudulent activity, enabling you to manage the complexities of high-risk transactions without losing your business’s credibility.
• “Meet-or-beat” policy. Confident in its ability to provide competitive rates, LMS will give you a $200 gift card if it can’t beat or at least meet your current processing rates.
• Instant Accept. An excellent tool that allows you to access a virtual terminal directly through QuickBooks, Instant Accept enables you to accept payments, view transaction information, and sync with QuickBooks in real time.
• Free POS equipment. If you commit to a long-term contract with LMS, you’ll get a free hardware solution. Options include a Clover terminal, First Data FD150, and Magtek Mini-MICR.

To learn more, read our full LMS review.

3. PaymentCloud: Specialized Payment Solution for High-Risk Merchants

PaymentCloud offers a specialized pricing plan tailored for high-risk businesses. This plan accommodates your business’s unique challenges, such as higher chargeback rates and increased fraud risk. It costs Around 3.95% + 15¢ per transaction and $14.00 per month. While these fees may be slightly higher than low-risk options, they reflect the additional resources required to manage associated risks effectively.

In addition to a custom plan, PaymentCloud maintains a 98% approval rate, demonstrating its commitment to supporting high-risk businesses. This means you’re more likely to secure the necessary services to keep your operations running smoothly.

PaymentCloud also offers a suite of advanced security measures, including IP tracking, automatic fraud alerts, and temporary payment halts. What’s more, PaymentCloud provides chargeback detection and analysis tools, enabling you to identify the root causes of disputes and address them proactively. PaymentCloud even claims it can help you win up to 70% of chargeback disputes.

Features and Benefits

• Dedicated account manager. During your application, PaymentCloud assigns a dedicated account manager to guide you. This personalized support ensures that your needs are addressed promptly, fostering a seamless experience from setup to ongoing account management.
• Integration with existing business tools. PaymentCloud offers compatibility with numerous platforms, including Hubspot, Slack, and popular e-commerce solutions like Shopify. You’ll be able to maintain your current workflows while enhancing your payment processing capabilities.
• Access to diverse funding options. Access to capital is vital for high-risk businesses, which may face challenges securing traditional financing. PaymentCloud offers a range of funding solutions, such as asset-based loans and business lines of credit, tailored to meet the specific needs of your business.
• Alternative payment methods. PaymentCloud supports cryptocurrency transactions, allowing you to accept popular digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This capability caters to a growing segment of consumers who prefer using cryptocurrencies, positioning your business at the forefront of payment innovation.

Read our expert PaymentCloud review for more details.

4. Stax: Best for High-Risk Businesses With Large Monthly Revenues

If your business generates over $8,000 monthly, Stax’s predictable, subscription-based pricing model can help you save up to 40% on processing fees. The per-transaction fees are 8¢ + interchange (in-person) for in-person transactions and 15¢ + interchange (online) for online payments. The monthly fee, which starts at $99.00, is a bit high. However, this is because Stax’s pricing structure has many features that benefit high-risk businesses with complex needs and substantial processing volumes.

Unlike the other payment processors on my list, Stax may not cater to all high-risk businesses. However, one thing I like about Stax is that it conducts an upfront underwriting process before issuing you a merchant account. This proactive approach helps identify potential risk factors early, saving you both time and money, while also minimizing the risk of account terminations in the future.

Stax offers extensive integration options, including seamless connections with QuickBooks and popular e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce and Magento. Through Zapier, it integrates with thousands of other software applications, enhancing your operational efficiency. Just note that some integrations may incur additional costs.

Features and Benefits

• Built-in invoicing. You can create and send invoices directly through the Stax platform. This functionality streamlines your billing process, ensuring timely payments and reducing administrative burdens.
• Comprehensive developer kit. Stax offers a developer kit to assist in building custom shopping carts on your website, along with pre-built e-commerce shopping carts. You can tailor your online payment solutions to meet specific requirements, enhancing the customer experience and potentially increasing conversion rates.
• Text2Pay feature. With Stax’s Text2Pay feature, you can collect payments via text messages, offering your customers a quick and convenient payment method. This remote payment option is particularly beneficial for high-risk businesses with a mobile or on-the-go customer base.
• POS Device Integration. Stax integrates with over 90% of third-party POS devices, allowing you to retain your existing equipment when switching to Stax. This way, you don’t need to reinvest in new hardware.

Check out our detailed Stax review for more details.

5. Sekure Payment Experts: Free PCI Plus Program for High-Risk SMEs

Sekure Payment Experts stands out for high-risk SMEs due to its PCI Plus program, free for qualified merchants and allows you to skip any self-assessment questionnaires, scans, or compliance fees. As part of this program, PCI Level-3 and Level-4 qualified businesses get breach forgiveness of up to $100,000, meaning you won’t have to pay anything unless your expenses exceed at least that amount.

Sekure allows you to choose between four payment plans: custom pricing, Interchange Plus with transaction fees of 2.99% + 19¢ (in-person & online), Simplified Pricing with flat-rate transaction fees of 3.5% + 19¢ (in-person & online), and The Edge Program with no transaction fees as you’ll pass 4% fees onto your customers. You’ll pay no monthly fees on its interchange plus and flat-rate plans but will pay $39.95/month on its zero-cost processing plan.

One thing I don’t like about Sekure is that its agents can be pretty assertive when persuading you to set up an account. The good news is that Sekure provides free equipment with no monthly or annual fees, regardless of your contract length. Even better, you can get more than one device for free, which isn’t typical among credit card processors.

Features and Benefits

• ETA-Certified Personal Payment Experts. You get specialized, industry-specific expertise from day one, helping you choose the best pricing plan, POS system, and software for your business’s needs.
• Industry-specific software. Sekure works with renowned vendors like RetailCloud, HotSauce, and more to offer targeted solutions. RetailCloud offers loyalty marketing and a customer relationship management (CRM) system, while HotSauce caters to bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.
• E-commerce solutions. While it doesn’t offer proprietary e-commerce solutions, Sekure partners with online selling platforms and shopping carts like Magento, BigCommerce, OpenCart, and ZenCart.
• Free same or next-day payouts. Every Sekure account gets access to free same or next-day payouts faster than most credit card processors. As a result, you can reliably cover expenses and ensure a healthy cash flow.

To learn more, read our in-depth Sekure Payment Experts review.

6. ProMerchant: Best for Highest-Risk Businesses

During my research, ProMerchant stood out for its specialized merchant accounts for high-risk businesses. It provides extra security features like fraud detection and mitigation tools at no extra cost. In addition to the usual features offered to low-risk businesses, ProMerchant reduces the likelihood of chargebacks and fraudulent activities often faced by the highest-risk businesses.

There are two distinct plans: an Interchange Plus Fixed Rate plan and a Zero Cost Processing plan. The Interchange Plus plan includes a fixed interchange fee of 3% + 10¢ (credit) and a low monthly fee of $7.95. The Zero Cost Processing plan is ideal for restaurants and retail-based businesses looking to transfer up to 4% of processing fees to their customers. With only a fixed monthly fee of $7.95, this is ideal for new businesses with low or no credit.

ProMerchant uses the Authorize.net payment gateway for e-commerce, which offers features such as digital invoicing, subscription management, and the ability to set up recurring payments. These features can help you manage a subscription-based business deemed high-risk while enhancing your business’s efficiency. The Authorize.net gateway isn’t free, so if you’re on a budget, you can use ProMerchant’s proprietary virtual terminal instead.

Features and Benefits

• Next-day funding is free of charge. ProMerchant provides the convenience of next-day funding without additional transaction or monthly fees, enabling swift access to your funds while allowing for effective cash flow management.
• 50+ point-of-sale (POS) systems and free equipment. ProMerchant offers an extensive range of hardware, including free credit card terminals, Bluetooth card readers, and cash drawers. Depending on your business’s needs, you can receive a complimentary Verifone, Payanywhere, PAX, or Ingenico terminal free of rental or maintenance fees.
• Payments Hub virtual terminal. If you accept payments via phone, email, SMS, or even mail, you can use the Payments Hub virtual terminal to manually key in transactions at no extra cost.
• Variety of payment options. ProMerchant tailors its services to high-risk merchants by allowing you to accept several payment methods, including debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, eChecks, ACH transfers, Visa Click to Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and more.

To find out more, check out our extensive ProMerchant review.

These Are the Best High-Risk Credit Card Processors

If you handle many international transactions and recurring payments, I highly recommend Paysafe. Thanks to its partnership with Vindicia and Vindicia Retain, you can quickly set up recurring payments and resolve up to 30% of failed transactions. Paysafe also accepts over 250 payment methods in 40+ currencies, allowing you to cater to a worldwide audience.

If you’re looking for industry-low rates and flexible contracts, go with Leaders Merchant Services. It offers cost-effective solutions adaptable to your business’s needs, including negotiable pricing, a personal account manager, and a fraud and chargeback team.

If you want a custom solution for your high-risk business, consider PaymentCloud. It’s one of few payment processors offering a specialized plan for high-risk businesses and a 98% approval rate.

FAQ

What is the best payment processor for high-risk businesses?

The best payment processor for high-risk businesses depends on specific needs and priorities. If you’re a multinational company that sees a lot of recurring payments, Paysafe is the best option due to its low fees and advanced subscription management tool. It also supports 40+ currencies and 260+ payment methods. Meanwhile, budget-conscious, high-risk SMEs will appreciate Leaders Merchant Services’ industry-low rates and negotiable pricing.

What is a high-risk credit card processor?

A high-risk credit card processor is a service that enables businesses in industries prone to chargebacks or fraud to accept credit card payments. If your business operates in sectors like online gambling, adult entertainment, or travel services, you may need such a processor due to the elevated financial risks involved.

Can I get instant approval for a high-risk merchant account?

Instant approval for high-risk merchant accounts is uncommon due to the need for thorough risk assessments. However, some providers offer expedited application processes to help you get approved more quickly, typically within 24 hours.

Does Stripe allow high-risk payments?

No, Stripe does not allow high-risk payments, as it doesn’t support businesses operating in high-risk industries, such as travel, adult entertainment, gambling, and pharmaceuticals. You’re better off with a payment processor like PaymentCloud that offers a 98% approval rate for high-risk businesses.

How much does a high-risk merchant account cost?

High-risk merchant accounts typically incur processing fees ranging from 3.5% to over 10% per transaction. Additionally, you may face setup fees, monthly maintenance charges, and reserves of 5% to 10% of your sales. That said, specific costs depend on your industry and your chosen payment processor.

Is Square a high-risk merchant account provider?

No, Square is not a high-risk merchant account provider. For starters, Square has higher-than-usual transaction fees and monthly costs. And even if you don’t mind the pricing, there’s a high chance your account will get terminated before you start processing fees. In such cases, you might need a specialized high-risk merchant account provider like PaymentCloud.