Are you looking to sell CBD products, either online or in your retail store?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is becoming more and more popular, so it’s important to find a payment processor that can handle your transactions. That’s why we put together this list of the 5 best CBD processors.
CBD Payment processors offer CBD businesses a reliable way to process credit and debit card payments. By working with an approved CBD payment processor, businesses can avoid the high fees associated with traditional banking relationships and merchant accounts.
- PaymentCloud
- EasyPay Direct
- Square
- PayKings
- eMerchant Broker
When I was working at a large payment processor, many of our customers wanted to know if we accepted CBD payments (we didn’t) and what processor could they use for these payments. I know it can be hard to find the right processor, so I made it easy for you by comparing their features and services. Now all you have to do is choose the one that’s right for you.
Continue reading to learn more about each of the 5 processors.
What are the Best CBD Payment Processors?
Here is my reviewed list of the best CBD payment processors.
PaymentCloud
PaymentCloud is a CBD payment processor that offers many features and benefits for businesses.
For starters, Payment Cloud allows CBD businesses to accept credit and debit card payments, as well as ACH transfers.
In addition, Payment Cloud also offers fraud protection and chargeback resolution services.
Perhaps most importantly, Payment Cloud is one of the few payment processors that is specifically tailored to the needs of the CBD industry. As such, Payment Cloud can offer CBD-specific merchant accounts and payment processing solutions that other processors simply cannot match.
If you’re looking for a CBD payment processor that can offer your business the features and benefits it needs to thrive, then Payment Cloud is worth considering.
CBD Merchant Services
Top Features
- No application set-up fees
- “Free” credit card terminal with each account
- High approval rates
- Retail card-present processing (magstripe, EMV, and QR code)
- Virtual Terminal
- Accepts ACH and eCheck payments
- Authorize.Net payment gateway available
- Personalized customer support
- Integrates with multiple eCommerce solutions (Shopify, WooCommerce, Weebly, SquareSpace, WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and Magento)
PaymentCloud Pros
PaymentCloud Cons
Pricing
PaymentCloud does not disclose its pricing online.
Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take
PaymentCloud is a great choice for CBD businesses looking for a merchant account. They have no setup or monthly fees, fast approvals for high-risk businesses, and competitive rates. The downsides are that their pricing is not disclosed on their website and they only allow topical CBD products.
Easy Pay Direct
Easy Pay Direct is a leader in the CBD payment processing industry, offering businesses a secure, reliable way to accept payments. Easy Pay Direct has been working with the CBD industry since 2010 and has a strong track record of providing CBD payment processing to CBD businesses.
CBD Merchant Services
Top Features
- No monthly minimum volume requirements
- Card-present and card-not-present solutions
- US and Canadian merchants
Product Pros
Product Cons
Pricing
Base rates for CBD Merchant Accounts (US):
- $29.99/month
- Transaction rates start at 2.50% + $0.25 per transaction (vary by volume)
Base rates for CBD or Marijuana Merchant Accounts (Canada only)
- $29.99/month
- Transaction rates start at 2.50% + $0.25 per transaction (vary by volume)
Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take
Easy Pay Direct is a CBD payment processor that offers a variety of features to its clients. For starters, Easy Pay Direct offers merchant account services, which allow CBD businesses to accept credit and debit card payments. In addition, Easy Pay Direct provides a payment gateway, which allows businesses to process online payments. Finally, Easy Pay Direct also offers a fraud prevention service, which helps businesses to prevent fraudulent chargebacks. Overall, Easy Pay Direct is a comprehensive CBD payment processor that offers a variety of features to its clients.
Square
Square is a popular payment processor that offers a variety of features for businesses of all sizes. One of the company’s most popular products is its Square Reader, which allows businesses to accept credit and debit card payments.
The company also offers a point-of-sale system, invoicing tools, and other business services.
In recent years, Square has become increasingly popular with CBD companies. This is because the company offers a simple and convenient way for businesses to accept credit card payments.
In addition, Square has several features that are specifically designed for CBD companies, such as the ability to track inventory and sales and manage customer accounts.
As a result, Square is an ideal payment processor for businesses operating in the CBD industry.
CBD Merchant Services
Top Features
- Online, in-app, and retail point-of-sale solutions
- Integrates with many popular platforms (WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, Limelight, SuitePOS, C-Trax, and PinWheel)
- Application reviews in 2-3 business days
- Both card-present and card-not-present solutions
- Accept ACH payments
- Requires certificate analysis confirming Delta-9-THC percentages for each item
Square Pros
Square Cons
Pricing
- Online: 3.8% + 30¢
- In Person: 3.5% + 10¢
- Keyed in and Card on File: 4.4% + 15¢
- Custom rates are available if CBD is only a small portion of overall sales or you process over $100k annually
Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take
Square is a good choice for businesses that sell both CBD and non-CBD products. They have no hidden fees, no long-term contracts, and they offer a month-to-month service with no early termination fee. The downside is that their per-transaction fees are higher than some of the other options.
PayKings
PayKings is a well-respected CBD payment processor that specializes in helping businesses accept credit card payments. The company offers a range of features designed to make it easy for a CBD business to get started with credit card payments, including support for major credit cards and a simple pricing structure.
In addition, PayKings offers several security features to protect businesses and their customers from fraud.
Overall, PayKings is a good option for businesses that want to accept credit card payments but may not have the expertise or resources to set up their system.
CBD Merchant Services
Top Features
- eCommerce and retail options
- Fraud and chargeback prevention
- ACH, eCheck, credit card, mobile payments
- EMV readers
- B2B Level II/III discounts
- 3D Secure checkout
- Multiple eCommerce gateways
- Vault (tokenization)
- Integrates with multiple shopping carts
- Dedicated account managers
- B2B vendors supported
- Recurring billing
PayKings Pros
PayKings Cons
Pricing
Although their prices aren’t indicated on their website, the rates are interchange + 1.0%.
Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take
PayKings is a CBD payment processor that allows businesses to safely and securely accept payments for CBD products. PayKings is compliant with all major credit card brands, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. PayKings also offers ACH processing, which is a faster and more efficient way to process payments. In addition, PayKings offers fraud protection and chargeback management services to help businesses protect themselves from fraudulent activity. Overall, PayKings is a reliable and reputable CBD payment processor that can help businesses streamline their payment processing operations.
eMerchant Broker
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CBD Merchant Services
Top Features
- All types of CBD products (supplements and vitamins, oil, pet products, vaping oil and pens, edibles, creams and topical treatments, and extracts)
- ACH and eCheck payments
- Remote Deposit Capture for checks
- PCI Compliant
eMerchant Broker Pros
eMerchant Broker Cons
Pricing
Rates as low as 2.99% for qualified merchants, with no application or setup fee (mid- and non-qualified merchants are higher)
Swiped Rate – 3.00% + $0.15
Keyed-in Rate – 4.00% + $0.25
Early Termination Fee – up to $5.95
Bottom Line: Ellen’s Take
eMerchant Broker is one of the most reliable CBD payment processors in the market. The company has been in business for over 10 years and has a great reputation. They offer a wide range of services, including merchant accounts, gateway services, and credit card processing. However, they do have tiered pricing, early termination fees, and some negative reviews. Overall, eMerchant Broker is a great choice for any business that wants to accept credit cards for their CBD products.
What is CBD?
CBD is a compound found in cannabis that has been shown to have many therapeutic benefits. Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive effects and is therefore legal in many countries, including almost all of the 50 states of the United States.
CBD is used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, pain, and inflammation. It is also being studied for its potential to treat other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Is CBD Legal?
Yes, CBD is legal in the United States as long as it is derived from hemp. Hemp is a type of cannabis plant that contains very low levels of THC, the compound that causes psychoactive effects.
CBD derived from hemp was made legal in all 50 states with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and classified it as an agricultural crop.
However, each state has different requirements for the sale or distribution of hemp-derived CBD products that contain less than 0.3% TCH.
Because of these legal issues, many banks and credit card processors have been slow to accept CBD merchants. But some processors offer CBD merchant processing.
What is a CBD Payment Processor?
Why do credit card companies rate the CBD industry as high-risk? There are two major factors: regulation and quality.
- Even though the Farm Bill of 2018 removed CBD derived from hemp from the list of controlled substances, it is still heavily regulated.
- The quality of CBD has not been standardized yet, leading to vast differences in product quality between different manufacturers. This leads to more returns and chargebacks.
CBD payment processors are merchant service providers that allow businesses to accept credit and debit card payments for CBD products. These processors have special agreements with banks and credit card companies that allow them to process these types of transactions.
These payment providers also provide POS systems that you can setup for your business.
High-risk merchant accounts offer specific financial services that can significantly benefit these businesses, including helpful tools for tracking data and managing customer payments. Merchant account providers also provide additional features such as dispute resolution and fraud protection, making them an invaluable asset for companies dealing with CBD products. For instance, Inclusive Pay CBD merchant accounts help businesses in the CBD industry mitigate the risks associated with their operations.
Recommended Reading
FAQ
Conclusion
CBD is legal in many countries, including almost all of the 50 states of the United States. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD was removed from the Controlled Substances Act, making it federally legal.
CBD is derived from hemp, which is a type of cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive effects and is therefore legal.
As a CBD business, you will need a merchant account provider that accepts CBD credit card processing and offers high-risk merchant accounts.
