So, I may dabble in another business venture that has the capability of being quite lucrative but my friends tell me good luck getting a merchant account that will process for me. I figured that since it's fair game to sell pretty much anything on-line that I would be able to process the transactions with pretty much any processor. Is this not the case? I have looked around on the internet but can't get a clear picture of what can and cannot be processed. I plan to call the folks advertised on this site but just thought I'd put it out here to the processing bothers and sisters.

Max, different merchant account providers have different rules as to what they consider high risk but there are a few things that are considered high risk by most; anything adult related, guns, tobacco, HCG diet are a few of them.

There is a company called 2checkout.com that does do high risk but you are paying accordingly. It is very expensive and they hold your money for a long time.

I am using a merchant account through merchantinc that I think works with some high risk business and they rates are cheap so depending on what product or service you are planing to offer it may be worth a try.

what services or products are you offfering?

As long as you dont go with paypal you will do just fine. Paypal will tell you that all is hunky dorey and let you process and build up a high balance in your paypal account and then BAM!!!!!!!!!! They will shut your ass down when you want to withdraw your money saying you are high risk but not elaborate on why. And now you will have to wait at least 180 days to be reunited with your hard earned money.

hell 180 days sounds like a dream to me! I NEVER got my money back =/ I hate them with a passion!