Shopify is one of the easiest ways to launch an online store, and Shopify Payments is the payment option it pushes first. For high-risk businesses, that is where the trouble often starts. Shopify Payments doesn’t accept many high-risk business types, and merchants who sign up anyway can find their payouts held or their account closed later.
This guide explains which businesses Shopify Payments doesn’t support, how to accept payments on Shopify with a third-party provider instead, what that costs, and what a high-risk Shopify merchant needs from a payment partner.
Key takeaways
- Shopify Payments has its own eligibility rules. Adult products, gambling, cannabis, tobacco, prescription drugs, cryptocurrencies and several other categories are not supported, and the exact list varies by country.
- Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy applies to the whole platform, separately from Shopify Payments. Some products can’t be sold on Shopify at all.
- If you can sell on Shopify but aren’t eligible for Shopify Payments, you can connect a third-party payment provider.
- Shopify charges an additional transaction fee on payments processed through third-party gateways. The rate depends on your Shopify plan.
- For high-risk merchants, what matters most is an acquirer that knows your industry and a provider whose gateway works with Shopify.
Why high-risk merchants struggle with Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in payment processing. To use it, your business has to meet its eligibility rules: be based in a supported country, sell products that aren’t prohibited, and comply with the Shopify Payments terms for your country and industry.
Shopify’s help centre lists categories that Shopify Payments doesn’t support, including:
- regulated or illegal products, such as cannabis, prescription drugs, tobacco and firearms;
- financial products, such as money transfers, cryptocurrencies and credit repair;
- adult products;
- pseudo-pharmaceuticals, meaning products with health claims not verified by a regulator;
- gambling, including lotteries and sweepstakes;
- counterfeit products.
Shopify says the list isn’t exhaustive and varies by region, so always check the Shopify Payments terms for your country. Shopify can also review accounts after approval, so a store that was accepted at signup can still be restricted later if its products or risk profile don’t fit.
Shopify Payments is built on Stripe in many countries, and Stripe has its own restricted business list, which is one reason high-risk merchants run into the same limits on both. Read more in our guides to using PayPal, Stripe or Square as a high-risk merchant and Stripe’s restricted businesses.
Two separate sets of rules: the platform and the payments
It helps to keep two things apart:
| Shopify platform (Acceptable Use Policy) | Shopify Payments (eligibility rules) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | What you can sell on Shopify at all | Whether you can use Shopify’s own payment processing |
| If you don’t qualify | You can’t run that business on Shopify | You can still use Shopify with a third-party payment provider |
So the first question is whether your products are allowed on Shopify at all. If they are, but Shopify Payments won’t take you, a third-party gateway is the route.
Using a third-party payment provider on Shopify
Shopify lets you add a third-party payment provider from the Payments page of your Shopify admin, either as your only card processor or alongside Shopify Payments. The provider has to offer a Shopify integration.
Keep in mind:
- Third-party transaction fees. Shopify charges an additional fee on transactions processed through third-party and alternative payment gateways, on top of your provider’s fees. The rate depends on your Shopify plan, so check Shopify’s current pricing.
- Your provider’s own approval. The provider and its acquirer underwrite your business separately. They will look at your products, website, policies and processing history.
- Checkout experience. Some integrations keep the customer on your checkout; others redirect to a hosted payment page. Ask how the integration works and test it before going live.
Payment aggregators vs a dedicated merchant account
Many mainstream options on Shopify are payment aggregators, also called payment facilitators. They put many merchants under one master account, which makes signup fast but gives the aggregator broad rights to hold funds or close accounts if your risk profile changes.
A dedicated high-risk merchant account is underwritten for your business specifically, with your own merchant ID. Onboarding takes longer and you may have a rolling reserve, but the terms are agreed up front, which makes sudden freezes less likely. See our guide to payment service providers for how these models differ.
What to do if Shopify Payments holds or closes your account
- Contact Shopify support and ask for the reason and what information they need.
- Send documents quickly: company details, supplier invoices, licences and proof of delivery.
- Check the Shopify Payments terms for your country to see whether your products are on the prohibited list. If they are, an appeal is unlikely to change the outcome.
- Prepare a third-party provider in parallel, so you can keep selling if Shopify Payments stays closed.
- Keep your records in order: transaction history, refund and chargeback data, and customer communication. A new provider will ask for them.
How to set up high-risk payment processing on Shopify
- Confirm your products are allowed on Shopify under its Acceptable Use Policy.
- Choose a high-risk payment gateway provider that works with your industry and offers a Shopify integration.
- Prepare your documents: see our requirements checklist.
- Make sure your store meets acquirer requirements: clear terms, refund policy, contact details and accurate product descriptions. Our guide to website requirements explains what reviewers check.
- Once approved, connect the provider in your Shopify admin and test the full payment and refund flow.
What a high-risk Shopify merchant should look for
- Experience with your industry, for example adult, nutraceuticals or vape.
- A working Shopify integration, tested on your theme and checkout.
- Transparent fees and reserve terms, including how they combine with Shopify’s third-party transaction fee.
- Fraud and chargeback tools, such as 3D Secure and alerts, to keep disputes below card scheme thresholds.
- Local payment methods for your main markets, if you sell across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Can high-risk businesses use Shopify Payments?
Many can’t. Shopify Payments doesn’t support categories such as adult products, gambling, cannabis, tobacco, prescription drugs and cryptocurrencies, and the list varies by country. Other high-risk businesses may be accepted but reviewed more closely.
Can I use a different payment processor on Shopify?
Yes. You can add a third-party payment provider from the Payments page of your Shopify admin, as long as the provider has a Shopify integration and your products are allowed on Shopify.
Does Shopify charge extra for third-party payment gateways?
Yes. Shopify charges an additional transaction fee on payments processed through third-party gateways, on top of your provider’s fees. The rate depends on your Shopify plan.
Why was my Shopify Payments account closed?
Usually because Shopify decided your products or risk profile don’t fit its Shopify Payments rules, for example a prohibited category, high dispute risk or unclear product information. Contact Shopify support for the reason and prepare an alternative provider.
What is the difference between Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy and Shopify Payments rules?
The Acceptable Use Policy decides what can be sold on Shopify at all. The Shopify Payments rules decide who can use Shopify’s own payment processing. A business can be allowed on Shopify but still need a third-party payment provider.
What do I need to get a high-risk merchant account for my Shopify store?
Company documents, ID for directors and owners, recent bank or processing statements, and a compliant store with clear terms, refund policy and contact details. Industry-specific documents, such as licences or lab tests, may also be needed.
Next step
If Shopify Payments won’t support your business, a dedicated high-risk merchant account with a Shopify-compatible gateway lets you keep selling. Fasto works with adult, subscription, nutraceutical, gaming, dating and hospitality merchants. Approval typically takes two to three weeks.
Get a free quote and tell us about your Shopify store.
