Operating a kratom business in 2025 is no joke.
You’ve got a growing $2.19 billion market with increasing demand. There are customers waiting to buy from you. Your products are selling like hotcakes.
Then one day…
Your payment processor terminates your account out of the blue. Funds get frozen. And you’re left scrambling to figure out what happened and apologize to customers why their orders can’t be shipped.
Sound familiar?
Unfortunately, this is the reality kratom vendors face every single day. In fact, 67% of kratom merchants will experience at least one processor shutdown within two years of opening their account.
The good news is that you can protect your business by vetting payment gateways ahead of time. In this article, I’m going to walk you through how to build trust with reliable kratom payment solutions. Let’s jump in!
Here’s what you’ll discover:
- Why Traditional Payment Processors Reject Kratom Businesses
- The Hidden Costs Of Unreliable Payment Gateways
- What Makes A Payment Gateway Reliable For Kratom
- How To Choose The Right Payment Solution
Why Traditional Payment Processors Reject Kratom Businesses
So why exactly won’t the big banks and mainstream processors work with your kratom store?
Simply put, risk.
Financial institutions view kratom businesses as “high-risk” merchants for a variety of reasons, even though kratom is federally legal. The inconsistent state and local regulations around kratom products make banks very nervous.
They’re worried about:
- Potential changes to regulations
- Chargeback rates
- Reputation issues
- Compliance headaches
Once your account starts racking up transaction volume, any of these concerns can pop up. And the processor you were approved by will jump ship. No warning. No goodbyes.
The Reality Of High-Risk Classification
Something most kratom vendors don’t realize…
The harsh reality of a high-risk classification is that your business needs payment solutions for kratom vendors like those from 2Accept, who have been building their entire business model to support other businesses in highly-regulated niches like kratom and tobacco.
Generic payment processors have a blanket policy and infrastructure for ALL merchants. That doesn’t work when you’re in a business that requires restricted state filtering, age gating, compliance monitoring, and transparent labeling. You’ll be wasting your time if you don’t have the right kind of processor to back you up.
The Hidden Costs Of Unreliable Payment Gateways
Missed revenue is just the tip of the iceberg.
When a payment gateway screws you over, the consequences go far beyond a few lost sales. Let’s break it down…
Frozen Funds & Cash Flow Problems
Imagine this scenario: You process $80,000 of sales last month. Business is booming. Then out of nowhere your account gets frozen and all those funds are inaccessible for weeks while the processor “investigates” your business.
Payroll is due. Bills need to be paid. Orders need to be filled.
But your money? In limbo.
Customer Trust Takes A Hit
The biggest asset in business is the customer.
There is nothing more detrimental to customer trust than a broken payment process. Customers that get their orders stuck at checkout are going to leave negative reviews. They’re going to complain on social media. They’re going to tell all their friends how terrible your kratom store is.
Guess what? That damage lasts long after you sort out the payment problem.
Scrambling For Alternatives Wastes Time
The time you spend scrambling to find another payment processor is time not spent building your business. Optimizing marketing. Improving your product offerings.
What’s worse? If you end up signing with another cheap unreliable processor out of desperation? It’ll be the same story again six months from now.
What Makes A Payment Gateway Reliable For Kratom
Not all payment gateways are created equal.
The very best kratom payment solutions have some specific characteristics that set them apart and that will protect your business. Let me show you what to look for…
Industry Expertise Matters
Your processor should specialize in working with high-risk merchants. They need to understand the legal landscape for kratom businesses like the back of their hand.
They know which states you can’t sell in and which ones you can. They know your age verification requirements by jurisdiction. They get product labeling and understand your compliance documentation. Generic processors don’t know kratom. Period. And that will bite you in the end.
Transparent Pricing Structure
High-risk processing is more expensive than traditional merchant accounts. It is what it is.
But the best processors are upfront with their pricing. You know exactly what you’re getting in terms of per transaction fees, monthly costs, chargeback fees, and set up expenses. There are no surprises. No “gotchas” buried in the contract.
Robust Security Features
Security is not optional in the kratom industry.
The payment gateway you use needs PCI DSS compliance. They need top-notch encryption and fraud protection systems. Chargeback tools. All the bells and whistles that make it impossible to steal from you. This protects your customers and your business. It also demonstrates professionalism that instills trust with other financial institutions you work with.
Proven Track Record
Check out their history and experience. How long have they been in business? What’s their approval rate for high-risk merchants?
Are there case studies? Client testimonials? Real life examples of them delivering on their promises?
A processor with a proven track record in kratom doesn’t fold when a regulation changes or challenge crops up.
How To Choose The Right Payment Solution
Ready to find a rock-solid payment gateway? Here’s how…
Do Your Research
Don’t just go with the first processor that approves your application. Shop around for kratom payment processing providers.
Make a list of your top 3-5 contenders. Then deep dive into their service offerings, pricing models, customer support, and integration capabilities. The more you know the better.
Ask The Hard Questions
Pick up the phone and have a call with each potential processor. Ask the hard questions:
- How many kratom merchants do you currently serve?
- What’s your average account stability time?
- How do you handle regulatory changes?
- What happens if a new state restricts kratom in my market?
- Do you support multiple payment methods?
- How many clients do you serve?
Their answers will tell you a lot about their level of expertise and how seriously they take their own business.
Test Their Support
Customer support is the single most important aspect of a payment processor.
Before you sign any contracts, test them out to see how they treat you. Email with a question. Call the support line. See how fast they respond. Test how helpful they are. Are they responsive and useful during the sales cycle? You can bet your bottom dollar they won’t be any better as an actual client.
Read The Contract Carefully
Again, you should never sign any contract until you read it. Line by line.
Pay particular attention to the contract length and renewal terms. Termination clause. Reserve requirements. Volume caps. Rate increase potential. Etc. Know what you’re getting into before you’re stuck with no way out.
Bottom Line
Building trust starts with the right payment gateway.
Your kratom business deserves a payment solution that caters to the industry you operate in. That will protect your revenue and your brand. That will grow with your business. Don’t waste time trying to get approved by a big name processor that will freeze you out the minute there’s a problem.
Research, ask questions, and vet for proven expertise in kratom from the people backing you. You can focus on what really matters: serving your customers and building your brand.
The kratom market is booming. Your payment processing needs to be able to keep up.