What We Will and Won't Board
GivePayments boards a wide range of high-risk and mid-risk businesses, requires sponsor pre-approval for certain restricted categories, and declines a defined set outright. Some exclusions are network or regulatory rules; firearms are our own company policy. We publish all three lists so you know where you stand before you apply.
- Three lists, published
- A clear no, up front
- No wasted applications
Why we publish this
We say no clearly so you don't waste an application
Most processors treat their real rules as a secret. You apply, hand over your documents, and only then find out you were never boardable, or you get approved and terminated three months in. We'd rather lose the application than waste your time. Here is exactly what we board, what needs an extra layer of approval, and what we won't take, with the reason in plain language.
These lists reflect underwriting reality. They don't override an individual decision, and edge cases get a real conversation, but if your model is on the “not accepted” list, that answer won't change at application.
Not accepted
We do not board these, full stop
Where the reason is a card-network or regulatory rule, we say so; where it's our own decision, we say that too.
| Category | Why | Where to go instead |
|---|---|---|
| CBD & hemp-direct sales | Prohibited on our boardable surface | — |
| Kratom | Not accepted | — |
| Adult content | Prohibited category | — |
| Cryptocurrency & virtual-currency sales | Prohibited category | — |
| Debt repayment & credit repair | Prohibited category | — |
| Timeshare exit services | Prohibited category | — |
| Ghost guns | Not accepted | — |
| Firearms & ammunition | Company policy, our decision, not a card-network ban | — |
| Brand- or reputation-risk businesses | Catch-all underwriting judgment | Talk to us if you think you're miscategorized |
Note
To be precise about firearms
Restricted
Boardable, but sponsor pre-approval required
These require sponsor concurrence, our sponsor bank pre-approves the merchant before we set up the account. That means extra documentation and a longer timeline, which we explain in how our underwriting works.
Negative-option & free-trial billing
Enhanced review on disclosure and cancellation.
Pure card-not-present nutraceuticals
No brick-and-mortar presence, concurrence required.
Marketplaces & PayFac models
Registration and concurrence required.
Commercial crowdfunding
Charity and memorial campaigns are not restricted.
Large/national airlines & major cruise lines
Advance-booking exposure.
Cannabis-adjacent services
Case-by-case, model-dependent.
High-risk, boardable
This is the bulk of what we do
Every vertical on our industries surface is boardable, underwritten properly and priced from the published ranges. That includes the full health & wellness, subscription, retail, services, travel, B2B, and nonprofit lineup, plus MLM & direct sales for corporate entities (case-by-case), and precious-metals & bullion dealers with AML review, handled under high-ticket retail.
If you're in one of these categories and you've been declined elsewhere, that's usually a sign the other processor didn't underwrite, not that you're unboardable.
FAQ
Acceptable use FAQ
What businesses does GivePayments NOT accept?
We don't board CBD and hemp-direct sales, kratom, adult content, cryptocurrency and virtual-currency sales, debt repayment and credit repair, timeshare exit services, ghost guns, or firearms and ammunition. The first group is prohibited by card-network or regulatory rules; firearms are a GivePayments company policy, not a network ban. Where a legitimate adjacent path exists, we point you to it.
Does GivePayments accept CBD, kratom, or firearms?
No to all three. CBD/hemp-direct and kratom stay off our boardable list. Firearms and ammunition are excluded by company policy, this is our decision, not a claim that the card networks prohibit it. We'd rather tell you no clearly than take an application we can't approve.
Does GivePayments accept MLM companies?
Yes, MLM and direct-sales companies are boardable on a case-by-case basis for corporate entities, not individual distributors. Because the model carries elevated regulatory and chargeback exposure, expect full underwriting and, in some cases, sponsor concurrence. See our MLM and direct sales page for specifics.
Why does GivePayments publish what it won't accept?
Because a clear no saves everyone time and builds trust. Most processors let you apply, collect your documents, and then decline, or worse, board you and terminate later. Publishing our lines means you know before you start whether we're the right processor, and it reflects how our underwriting actually decides.
Keep exploring
On the boardable list? Let's get you approved.
If you run a legitimate high-risk business, even one declined elsewhere, that's usually a sign the other processor didn't underwrite, not that you're unboardable.