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Get Started FreeHigh-Risk Industries · Vape & E-Cig
E-cigarette and vape merchants face unique challenges in the payment processing world. As a high-risk industry, many traditional banks and payment processors are hesitant to work with vape merchants. At PayKings, we specialize in vape & e-cig payment processing, providing merchant accounts tailored to the specific needs of vape shops and electronic cigarette sellers so you can process payments securely and efficiently.
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What vape underwriters ask for
Your terms, before you sign
20+
Banking partners, so your processor can quickly deal with any bank policy changes.
Next-day
Funding to keep cash flowing once your vape merchant account is live.
Upfront
Your rates, walked through before you sign — placed with the bank that fits your risk profile.
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Getting set up
Any business selling vape or e-cigarette products can apply: e-liquids, disposables, mods, hardware, retail storefronts, and online stores all run on the same account.
Underwriters will ask for your business policy, your business URL and email address, bankcard details, and compliance documentation that meets know-your-customer and regulatory requirements.
We place your business with a banking partner that accepts vape and e-cig payment processing. New merchants without a processing history go through the same process; a thin history is one reason the account is underwritten as high-risk, not a reason to turn it away.
Once your vape merchant account is live, next-day funding keeps cash moving.
What we underwrite
PayKings underwrites an electronic cigarette merchant account the same way we underwrite a vape merchant account. Whether you sell in a retail store or run an online e-cig storefront, our e-cig merchant services pair electronic cigarette credit card processing with the chargeback prevention and fraud protection tools high-risk merchants need.
With 20+ banking partners, we can match your business with an acquiring bank that accepts e-cig payment processing, helping you avoid the account closures and fund holds that come with processors unprepared for this industry.
High-risk designation
A high-risk merchant account is essential for vape businesses that need to work with credit card processors.
These specialized payment processing accounts are designed for merchants classified in high-risk categories, providing the necessary solutions for online credit card processing in the vape industry.
Being labeled as a high-risk merchant necessitates partnering with a payment processor experienced in high-risk accounts.
Avoid disruptions by choosing PayKings, a leader in high-risk merchant account solutions for the vape industry.
Securing the right vape payment processor is crucial for businesses in the vape industry to avoid account closures and fund holds.
Learn how PayKings can provide the stable, high-risk processing account your business needs for uninterrupted sales and growth.
Risk factors
Vape and e-cigarette merchant accounts are typically considered high-risk because of the industry they belong to. Payment processing companies worry about providing merchant services to industries with a high risk of fraud, high chargebacks, or other issues. The following factors are the reasons e-cigarette merchant accounts are known as high-risk.
Regulations and Worries About Future Legal Implications: Payment processing companies worry about future health risks and lawsuits from those who use these products. This means the e-cigarette industry is automatically considered high-risk.
High Risk of Chargebacks: Another factor that determines high-risk industries is their chargeback rate. Merchant services providers are wary of chargebacks because they are costly to process. A vape business often sees high chargeback rates, meaning that a retail vape merchant account may be considered high-risk.
New Merchants: As the e-cigarette industry is relatively high-risk, many cig and vape companies are started by new merchants without a payment history. This type of company is automatically categorized as high-risk regardless of industry. They’ll need high-risk payment processing to accept credit cards.
Being labeled as a high-risk merchant necessitates partnering with a payment processor experienced in high-risk accounts. Avoid disruptions by choosing PayKings, a leader in high-risk merchant account solutions for the vape industry.
We have the expertise to put together custom e-commerce payment solutions for your e-cigarette business.
Rates & reserves
Vape credit card processing costs more than standard retail processing because acquiring banks classify vape and e-cigarette sales as high-risk. Your exact rate depends on four factors:
Pricing may be structured as flat rate pricing or variable fees. Our pricing starts at interchange plus 0.80%, with every fee disclosed in the merchant service agreement before you sign.
We walk you through your rates before you sign, so the number on your first statement is the number you agreed to.
A rolling reserve is a portion of each settlement your acquiring bank holds and then releases on a set schedule, as protection against future chargebacks. Not every vape merchant account carries one; underwriting decides based on your chargeback history and processing record.
If your account includes a reserve, the percentage and release schedule belong in your agreement, and we review those terms with you before you sign. For a fuller explanation, read our guide to how a rolling reserve works.
Compare providers
The best e-cigarette merchant account provider is one that underwrites your industry on purpose, not by exception. Use this checklist when you compare:
| What to look for | What the PayKings vape merchant account provides |
|---|---|
| High-risk underwriting experience | Vape and e-cig is a core industry we underwrite, not an edge case. |
| Banking network | Applications matched to a banking partner that accepts vape, from a network of 20+ banking partners. |
| Chargeback and fraud tools | Chargeback prevention and fraud protection built into the account. |
| Funding speed | Next-day funding once your account is live. |
| Rate transparency | Rates and any reserve terms walked through before you sign. |
| Gateway and POS | A secure payment gateway for online vape sales and POS integrations for retail. |
PayKings delivers on each of these criteria, and the comparison below shows how we stack up against other processors.
The difference
Built for the businesses other processors turn away.
What's included
Gateways & compliance
Online payment gateways allow credit cards to be processed instantaneously. They are the virtual version of a payment terminal and act as the middleman between the merchant and the cardholder's financial institution.
A high-risk payment gateway is key to accepting credit card transactions in the vape industry. At PayKings, we have the experience and expertise to get your company set up with credit card processing, a merchant account, and secure payment gateways for vape shops.
This will ensure your customer data stays secure and payments are processed quickly.
Vape and e-cigarette products are age-restricted, so your checkout needs to confirm that every customer is of legal purchasing age. These steps help you meet federal, state, and local requirements:
Shipping vape products also carries its own regulatory obligations, so review carrier policies and destination rules before selling online.
A payment gateway configured for age-restricted products supports these compliance steps, and staying compliant protects your merchant account, because regulatory concerns are a key reason vape businesses are labeled high-risk in the first place.
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FAQ
Everything you need to know about high-risk payment processing
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