Online sex sells more than ever! If you have an adult-oriented website or just thinking of creating one, you will also need to look for reliable payment processors for porn.
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It is a well-known fact that anything related to the adult entertainment industry falls into a high-risk business. But unfortunately, not all high-risk payment processors work with porn websites.
That´s because Visa and MasterCard place heavy restrictions and fees on anyone processing credit cards for adult-oriented services.
In addition to that, porn sites are strongly associated with fraud, illegal activities, chargebacks, and a large number of account cancellations.
Therefore, only a handful of reliable payment processors will actually process payments for websites selling porn. And even these more risk-hungry enterprises still have some relatively rigid rules about what is and isn’t acceptable for their clients to sell.
Read also: Easy way to set up own website for adult content creators
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How to choose Payment Processor for adult oriented online business?
If you want to sell something on the internet, you need a way to process credit cards, right?! For most entrepreneurs, that means finding a third-party payment service provider to take money online on their behalf. Mainstream companies have tons of options, such as Stripe, PayPal, Amazon Payments, and more.
Adult oriented business owners must look elsewhere. Whether you deal in pornography, operating an adult dating portal, or advertise adult escort services, you are not only classified as “high risk,” but you also have to deal with the prejudice and unjustified stigma surrounding the adult industry.
Opening an adult merchant account is a tough challenge itself, although there are some basic things to look for when choosing Payment Processor for adult-oriented online business:
- Contract policy.
You don’t want to lock yourself in any long-term contracts or obligations. Ideally, you want the payment processor, which you can use on an as-needed basis. Service termination fees might be harsh, so try to avoid them.
2. Customer support.
There are many problems that store owners tend to face when accepting credit card payments online. You don’t want to be left on your own when something unexpected happens. So, look for a payment service processor that offers 24/7 support.
3. Fees.
Read the contract before you sign, especially small print. Make sure you precisely understand the fee structure that you’re signing on to. Ask questions about any part of the contract that is confusing or unclear to you, and make sure you get clear answers.
4. Terms of service.
Check how the payment processor deals with adult businesses before you sign the contract since each payment processor set up their own rules. Even if the processor deals with porn, there are always things that aren’t tolerated.
According to complain sites, many porno entrepreneurs don’t even realize they’re in violation until they receive the account suspense or termination notice from their payment processor. So, if you’re unsure, it’s best to send an email inquiry before you start using the service.
5. Expertise.
Last but not least, it is wise to check how long the company has been on the market and how long it is specialized to work with adult-oriented industries. Knowledge of all the ins and outs of niche industries is crucial.
Read also: High-Risk Industries for Payment Processing: Ultimate list
Trusted Adult Payment Processors for Your Porn Site
There is a list of the top 10 most reputable Payment Processors that work with porn sites and any other adult oriented businesses without further ado.
CCBill
CCBill is one of the most reputable and much-recommended payment processors for adult-oriented businesses. It features a vast number of attributes that should make your adult business a little easier. I will name just a few:
- Recurring billing.
- Membership option.
- The ability to set up an affiliate system.
- Built-in fraud prevention.
Besides, CCBill works with pornographs from 45 countries, including the United States, Canada, and most European nations.
CCBill is probably the only Payment Processors for porn sites that disclose its processing rates.
Pros:
- Foreseeable flat-rate pricing
- No early termination fees.
- Offers a free gateway.
- Multi-currency options
- Good for international merchants
Cons:
- High fees
- Hefty Rolling reserve.
- Minimum contract required
Epoch
Also, Epoch is one of the pioneers providing payment solutions for adult-oriented businesses online. The company has been around since 1996. Since then, it has become one of the most favored merchant account providers among merchants from the porn business.
Epoch processes payments using various global and local payment methods. It offers recurring payments, one-time payments, or one-click payments. Adult webmasters can cater to customers for all types of content, from monthly memberships to live chat or video.
Epoch offers flat rates. This helps with economic planning in some business models, as traders know exactly what fees to expect.
Curiously, Epoch is one of only a few adult payment gateways that will allow you to accept payments via Paysafe Card and PayPal. Not even PayPal will let you do this if you work with them directly!
Pros:
- all-inclusive merchant integration,
- the automated application process,
- good customer service.
Cons:
- Their fees might be higher than industries average.
Paxum
Paxum is an e-wallet similar to PayPal. The platform enables an option to accept credit card payments online. Paxum also allows you to receive payments directly through wire transfer (i.e., somebody pays you from their bank account). You can withdraw money the same way.
Paxum also offers a prepaid debit card linked directly up to your Paxum account. This means that you do not have to worry about waiting to withdraw money from your Paxum account.
Paxum is available in 50 countries and works with 20 different currencies.
Pros:
- Fast onboarding
- Good customer support
- Easy withdraw.
- Low fees
Cons:
- Picky with merchants from adult-oriented industries
Verotel
Verotel is one of the largest credit card processors for online porn sites and other merchants. According to the company’s webpage, since 1998, Verotel supports 50,000 high-risk merchants. The platform is compatible with companies of any size.
The platform serves primarily high-risk e-commerce merchants, including those from the porn business.
Verotel offers two pricing plans for merchants: Basic and Premium. The Basic plan enables merchants to accept recurring payments for an annual fee of €500 and a transaction fee of 15.5% per subscription payment, and it includes a six-month rolling reserve of 10%.
Pros:
No long-term contracts
Supports Multi-Currency processing
No history needed
Regular weekly payouts
Cons:
Higher-than-average rates
Overall negative trend in customer reviews
SpectroCoin
SpectroCoin іѕ a European crypto payment gateway which аllоwѕ mеrсhаntѕ tо accept crypto payments for all types of online content, also from the adult entertainment industry.
Usually, SpectroCoin can understand the needs of their customers and deliver the exact payment processing systems they need.
Along with fund withdraws to a bank account, SpectroCoin also offers to its merchants Visa debit card.
Their fees start as low as 1%, which makes them one of the cheapest services in the industry.
Pros:
- Easy onboarding
- Easy setup
- No setup fee
Cons:
- None
Instabill
Instabill is a high-risk merchant account provider and credit card processor with a prime focus on high-risk merchants, especially those in the adult entertainment industry.
This payment provider has a plethora of useful features for pornographers out there. Instabill can deal with payments in 160 different currencies, which means more of an opportunity to make money for your business.
Instabill doesn’t list their fees online, and their fees will vary considerably depending on the merchant’s processing history and expected sales volume.
Pros:
- Fast application process
- Ideal for international merchants
Cons:
- Not the cheapest option in the market
- Monthly Statement Fee
SpicePay
This is another crypto payment processor suitable for high-risk merchants from Europe and North America. It is an excellent solution for startups working in the adult entertainment industries.
This platform enables merchants to withdraw their bitcoin payments via PayPal or standard bank transfer, which makes this platform ideal for merchants whose business relies heavily on PayPal.
Pros:
- Ease to use,
- Fast onboarding,
- Seamless third-party integrations,
- The responsive customer support team,
- Advanced fraud detection technology.
Cons:
- None
Shift4 (Securionpay)
Shift4 is Swiss-based payment service provider which alongside other high-risk industries, accepts merchants that deal with porn.
Company is an excellent option for startups that require online payments or paid subscriptions.
Pros:
- Detailed payment tracking,
- Flexible, customizable software,
- Low processing fees for High-risk merchants.
Cons:
- The merchant approval process takes some time.
Cardinity
Cardinity is another European licensed payment service provider. This provider is one of few from this list that works with registered businesses and sole proprietors.
The company is ready to work with all kinds of merchants, also with merchants from adult-oriented segments.
Pros:
- Easy boarding process
- Works with all kinds of high-risk industries
- Competitive fees
Cons:
- Works only with merchants based in Europe,
- takes a too aggressive approach with fraud prevention policies
eMerchantBroker
eMerchantBroker or EMB has been operating since 2011 and specialize in providing services to high-risk merchants of all kind, including businesses from the porn industry. In addition, the eMerchantBroker has a reputation for working even with those merchants that may have been turned down by other processors.
Pros:
- One-stop solution,
- Provides a proprietary dashboard and tools for tracking and account management,
- Seamless integrations with thousands of third-party applications,
- Generally favorable reviews from clients and consumers,
- Good customer support.
Cons:
- Little information disclosed about their contract length or terms.
Read also: Best Cryptocurrency Payment Gateways For Merchants
How to get approved with Payment Processors that deal with Porn websites?
As it is with any high-risk merchant account application, be ready to provide additional documentation. That can include a business plan and proofs of service delivery or adult material distribution licenses showing your company have the legal rights to publish the material.
Payment Processors might also ask your policies on how you screen the acceptance of webcam models. There are different requirements, and every payment provider may ask you for slightly other things, but usually, this includes:
- Articles of incorporation,
- EIN (Employer Identification Number) or SSN (Social Security Number),
- Business license,
- Valid photo ID (such as passport or driver’s license),
- Processing statements for the past 3-6 months,
- Business’ bank statements for the past three months,
- Business utility bill,
- Voided check from your business’ bank account.
Also, be prepared to face the realities of high-risk processing. You should expect higher processing rates, applicable rolling reserve funds, tiered pricing plans, and a liquidated damages clause. I have covered this in-depth in my article about High-Risk Industries for Payment Processing.
Common Questions about Payment Processors for Porn sites
Is it possible to reduce processing fees if you are a high-risk merchant from the adult entertainment industry?
Yes, you can renegotiate fees every three months or so. When you prove you are a stable, profitable business and can grow, payment processors will consider your business as an asset, not a liability.
How can I increase my processing volume limits?
Three key business metrics that enable you to negotiate higher processing volume limits are stability, reliability, and profitability.
Initially, payment service providers will always limit the volume of high-risk businesses as a means of protecting themselves. But once you can prove that your business is stable and reliable, they should be more than willing to raise the processing volume for you.
What if a processor isn’t willing to accept my particular type of adult business?
Just keep looking! As long as you run a legitimate, legal business, you’ll eventually be able to find someone willing to take you on. Just keep looking.
Can I use easy payment solutions such as PayPal, Square, and Stripe for my adult-oriented business?
No, unfortunately, these major processors simply won’t accept adult merchants. Besides, it can be dangerous for your business. When those processors find out your business’s nature, they will shut down your account, and you may also incur penalties such as having your funds frozen for a long time.
Read also: Best Payment Processors For High Risk Small Businesses
