You want a reliable CBD payment processor and want to get approved easily and quickly. The CBD industry is thriving, but one roadblock keeps tripping up CBD companies: payment processing. Many CBD merchants discover too late that traditional banks and payment processors will not approve their accounts. Others experience account closures and fund holds that leave them unable to accept credit or debit cards. The good news is that with the right CBD merchant account services, you can accept CBD payments reliably, keep cash flow moving, and grow your business without fear of interruption.

This guide explains how CBD payment processing works and how VERIFIED Credit Card Processing structures compliant, stable merchant account and gateway setups for CBD businesses at every stage.

Depending on your business model, product type, and risk profile, VERIFIED Credit Card Processing commonly structures CBD merchant accounts using established high-risk providers such as PaymentCloud or Maverick Payments, paired with gateways like Authorize.Net or NMI. Provider selection depends on underwriting fit rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Important: VERIFIED Credit Card Processing is not a payment processor or gateway. We act as a high-risk CBD payment processing broker, helping CBD merchants secure approval by matching them with the right acquiring bank, merchant account, and gateway based on underwriting fit. This approach allows us to place CBD businesses with processors like PaymentCloud, Maverick Payments, or others that best align with their compliance profile.

Key Highlights for CBD Merchants

• CBD businesses require both a CBD merchant account and a payment gateway to process CBD payments securely.
• Many CBD companies work with high-risk merchant services providers such as PaymentCloud or Maverick Payments for reliable CBD payment processing.
• Gateways such as Authorize.Net and NMI must be paired with a CBD merchant account to handle CBD transactions.
• CBD payment processing fees typically run 4%–6% due to high-risk merchant account classification.
• Choosing a CBD payment processor with chargeback protection and compliance expertise is key to avoiding disruptions.

Who This Guide Is For

• CBD startups applying for their first merchant account
• CBD merchants migrating away from Stripe, Square, PayPal, or Shopify Payments
• Established CBD brands scaling volume, subscriptions, or retail locations

If you are looking for a CBD merchant account and payment gateway designed to stay open, VERIFIED helps merchants apply, get approved, and launch with a stable setup from day one.

Why CBD Payment Processing Is Different

Even though hemp-derived CBD is federally legal, many banks still treat CBD and cannabis businesses as high-risk. This classification impacts pricing, approval requirements, and ongoing monitoring.

• Regulatory complexity varies by state and CBD product type
• Higher scrutiny due to chargeback and refund exposure
• Account closures and frozen funds when merchants use unsupported processors
• Strict compliance requirements including COAs and accurate product labeling
• Shopify does not allow CBD payments in Shopify Payments (you can use a different CBD gateway though on Shopify)

CBD merchants are safest working with a payment processor experienced in high-risk industries and the needs of the CBD industry.

CBD Merchant Accounts and Payment Gateways Explained

CBD Merchant Account

A CBD merchant account is a high-risk merchant account specifically underwritten for CBD sales. It allows CBD businesses to accept credit and debit cards while meeting bank compliance requirements. Without this approval, most processors will eventually terminate CBD payments once discovered.

CBD Payment Gateway

A CBD payment gateway connects your website or point-of-sale system to the banking network. Gateways like Authorize.Net and NMI handle each credit card payment by routing data securely, supporting fraud screening, recurring billing, and multi-channel sales. To process CBD payments, these gateways must be connected to a CBD merchant account and payment provider that supports CBD processing.

Why You Need Both

Gateways are technology providers, not underwriters. A stable CBD setup requires both the merchant account and the payment gateway to be approved together. VERIFIED helps structure this as a complete payment processing solution so you can start processing quickly and avoid surprises.

Best CBD Payment Processors and Merchant Services

Top Picks

• PaymentCloud — Best for fast approvals and gateway flexibility
• Maverick Payments — Best for long-term stability with direct U.S. acquiring
• PayKings — Best for newer CBD businesses or merchants with prior declines
• eMerchant Broker (EMB) — Best for higher-volume CBD eCommerce and custom underwriting
• Authorize.Net / NMI — Best for subscriptions, fraud tools, and scalable gateway setups (when paired with an approved CBD merchant account)

1) PaymentCloud

Best for: Fast approvals and gateway flexibility for most CBD merchants.

PaymentCloud is commonly used in CBD payment processing and supports online and retail CBD merchants. It is often selected for CBD merchant processing when speed of approval and gateway flexibility are priorities.

2) Maverick Payments

Best for: Long-term stability with direct U.S. acquiring and clear underwriting expectations.

Maverick Payments provides direct U.S. acquiring and is frequently used for long-term CBD merchant account stability. It can be a strong fit for CBD businesses that want a dependable processing platform with clear underwriting expectations.

3) PayKings

Best for: Startups, limited processing history, or merchants previously denied elsewhere.

PayKings supports CBD and cannabis-adjacent businesses and is often considered by CBD companies that are newer, have limited processing history, or were denied by traditional payment processors.

4) eMerchant Broker (EMB)

Best for: Higher-volume CBD eCommerce operations needing custom underwriting.

EMB provides custom underwriting for high-risk merchants and can be suitable for higher-volume CBD eCommerce operations selling CBD products across multiple channels.

5) Authorize.Net and NMI

Best for: Subscriptions, advanced fraud tools, and scalable gateway setups (when paired with an approved CBD merchant account).

Authorize.Net and NMI are gateway platforms commonly used in CBD processing when paired with an approved merchant account. They support subscriptions, advanced fraud tools, and multi-MID setups that help CBD businesses scale payment options responsibly.

If you’re unsure which CBD payment processor or gateway fits your business, VERIFIED can review your setup and recommend the best approval path before you apply.

Processor / Gateway	Approval Model	Typical Fees	Gateway Support	Best Fit
PaymentCloud	CBD-focused underwriting	4%–7%	Authorize.Net, NMI	Fast approvals, most CBD merchants
Maverick Payments	Direct U.S. acquiring	4%–8%	Maverick, Authorize.Net, NMI	Long-term stability
PayKings	Flexible CBD programs	4%–10%	Multiple gateways	Startups or prior declines
EMB	Custom underwriting	Varies	Multiple gateways	High-volume eCommerce
Authorize.Net	Gateway only	Varies	Authorize.Net	Subscriptions and recurring billing
NMI	Gateway only	Varies	NMI	Advanced integrations

How VERIFIED Helps CBD Merchants Choose the Right Payment Processor

CBD payment processing is not one-size-fits-all. VERIFIED Credit Card Processing works as an independent broker to evaluate your products, volume, fulfillment model, compliance posture, and prior processing history, then routes your application to the CBD-friendly processor and gateway combination most likely to approve and remain stable.

• We compare multiple CBD-friendly processors instead of pushing a single provider
• We align underwriting expectations with your actual business model
• We coordinate merchant account and gateway approval together
• We remain involved after approval for escalations and compliance questions

CBD Payment Processing Pricing and Contract Expectations

CBD pricing is risk-based. Two merchants selling similar CBD products may receive different pricing depending on monthly volume, chargeback history, average ticket size, fulfillment timelines, and whether the model includes subscriptions. The goal is not just “the cheapest rate,” but a reliable payment setup that stays live.

• Interchange-plus pricing is often used for established CBD merchants with clean processing history.
• Blended or tiered pricing is common for newer or higher-risk CBD businesses.
• Before launching, review a written fee schedule including rates, monthly fees, gateway costs, PCI fees, and chargeback fees.
• Confirm contract length, renewal terms, and any early termination policies.

Common Reasons CBD Merchant Accounts Get Declined

• Missing or outdated COAs for CBD products
• Prohibited medical or health claims on product pages
• Weak refund, shipping, or subscription disclosures
• Mismatched business registration details vs website and checkout
• Unclear age and identity verification (when required)

VERIFIED helps merchants address these issues during onboarding to improve approval odds and reduce underwriting delays.

Support and Escalations: Who Helps When You Need It

In CBD payments, the difference between “fine” and “panic” is usually how quickly funding holds, reserve questions, or compliance reviews get handled. VERIFIED helps guide setup and coordinates escalations so merchants are not stuck guessing who to contact when a payment issue appears.

• Account setup and onboarding: documentation readiness, gateway configuration, and launch checks
• Day-to-day processing: transactions and settlement flow through your approved merchant account and gateway
• When an issue occurs: VERIFIED helps route and escalate to the right team for faster resolution

Chargeback Protection and Account Stability

Chargebacks are one of the fastest ways for a CBD merchant account to be shut down. VERIFIED offers access to Disputifier chargeback alerts, which can notify you of disputes early so you have a chance to resolve them before they become chargebacks.

This is especially important for high-risk merchants selling CBD products online, where “friendly fraud” and shipment-related disputes can spike quickly during promotions or seasonality.

Understanding Reserves in CBD Merchant Accounts

Some CBD accounts include a rolling reserve. A reserve means a small percentage of each credit card transaction is temporarily withheld for a set period (for example, 5%–10% for 90 days) to help offset refund and chargeback risk. While that may feel restrictive at first, it often enables approval that would otherwise be denied in a high-risk business category.

The upside is that reserves are commonly reduced or removed after a consistent processing history with low chargebacks and stable volume. Many processors also allow merchants to request earlier access to reserve funds when performance is strong.

Why VERIFIED Credit Card Processing

• Focused on high-risk and CBD payment processing
• Experience across online, retail, and subscription CBD models
• Guidance on underwriting, reserves, and chargebacks
• Structured setups designed for long-term stability

Conclusion

The best CBD payment processing solutions combine compliant merchant accounts, secure gateways, transparent expectations, and risk management. VERIFIED Credit Card Processing helps CBD merchants build payment setups designed to stay live, scale responsibly, and avoid sudden shutdowns that can stop a CBD business overnight.

FAQs About CBD Merchant Account Services