High-Risk Payment Processing · By Zach Schleien · · · 8 minutes
Payment Gateways for Firearms and Ammo Retailers: Approval Comes First
Choose a merchant account approved for your actual inventory, then compare gateway compatibility, fees and contract terms.
Part of our guide to High risk payment processing. Categories mainstream processors decline, and the accounts that approve them.
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Finding a payment gateway for firearms and ammo sales starts with category approval, not a checkout plugin. A gateway connects your store to payment processing. It does not, by itself, give you permission to accept payments for regulated products.
Your merchant account must cover what you actually sell, including ammunition, reloading supplies and regulated parts. Approval for accessories does not automatically cover your entire catalog.
This guide covers which mainstream processors allow these sales, the two specialists we recommend, and how to prepare for underwriting without confusing payment approval with legal compliance.
Can you sell guns and ammo online with Stripe, PayPal or Shopify?
Not with PayPal or Shopify Payments, and only after review with Stripe. Here is what each processor's own policy says, checked November 9, 2026.
| Processor | Firearms | What its own policy says |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Restricted (review required) | Lists rifles, shotguns, pistols and regulated parts such as suppressors as restricted. Illegal weapons are prohibited. Ammunition is not mentioned. |
| PayPal | Prohibited | Prohibits ammunition, firearms and certain firearm parts or accessories, with no approval route |
| Shopify Payments | Prohibited | Prohibits firearms, holsters, ammunition and weapons, but lets you add a third-party payment provider |
| Square | Prohibited in its published terms | Its annotated US terms prohibit selling firearms, parts and ammunition; check the current terms |
| Helcim | Partly prohibited, partly restricted | Prohibits wholesale firearms and ammunition; online, mail and phone firearm sales need approval |
Two details matter for online ammo stores. Stripe's restricted list names firearms and regulated parts but does not mention ammunition, so ask Stripe directly before you list it. And Shopify lets a store that is not eligible for Shopify Payments add a third-party payment provider, which is how many firearms stores on Shopify take cards.
Business legality and processor acceptance are separate questions. A license does not oblige a payment provider to accept your business, and a working checkout is not evidence of approval. Read our full answer to does Stripe allow firearms for what Stripe's review involves.
Which payment providers accept online firearms and ammo sales?
Apply to Easy Pay Direct and Payline. Both list firearms among the high-risk industries they underwrite, and both review your business before processing begins. Ask each one to confirm ammunition, parts and accessories by name: approval for one product type does not automatically cover the others.
| Provider | Why apply for an online ammo store | Confirm before you sign |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Pay Direct | Its gun-friendly page names ammunition retailers, reloading supplies, gun parts and online firearms sales, lists an online card rate of 2.69% + $0.36, and says underwriting takes 1 to 4 business days on clean files. Dedicated merchant account plus a gateway that connects to 500+ carts and tools, according to Easy Pay Direct, with failover across multiple merchant accounts | Which products and sales channels are approved, the full quote and any reserve |
| Payline | Lists properly licensed firearms businesses. Online payments, a virtual terminal and payment links, plus counter terminals if you also have a store. US and Canada only | Ammunition approval by name, high-risk pricing (not published), monthly and PCI fees |
If your store sells mostly online, start with Easy Pay Direct: routing across more than one approved account keeps checkout running if one account is paused. If you also run a counter, start with Payline so the store and the website sit on one account.
A gateway alone is not an approval. Ask which bank holds the merchant account behind your checkout and get the approved product list in writing. Our firearms merchant account guide covers both providers in more detail.
Run a store with a counter too? Our gun shop card processing guide covers terminals and the state rules on firearms merchant codes.
Verified November 2026. Sources: Easy Pay Direct gun-friendly merchant account page; Payline high-risk industry list, checked November 7, 2026; Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, Square and Helcim policy pages, checked November 9, 2026.
Can you process training courses and range memberships the same way?
Treat training and memberships as part of the same application. A firearms training course, range membership or tactical class is still firearms-related, so disclose it when you apply instead of describing it as a generic digital product. Doing so after the fact is a common reason accounts get closed.
Ask the provider to approve each revenue stream: physical products, in-person classes, online courses and recurring memberships. Payline offers recurring billing for memberships and retainers, and Easy Pay Direct lists continuity and subscription billing, but each still has to approve your firearms-related use.
A merchant of record arrangement does not make a restricted category acceptable either. Check what the contract actually covers.
How to Get Approved Without the Headache
A complete application makes your business easier to assess, but approval remains the provider's decision. Ask for its document checklist before applying.
- Business and licensing records: Prepare ownership details, business bank records, and your Federal Firearms License where required for your activities.
- A complete product list: Identify firearms, ammunition, regulated parts, accessories, and digital products separately. Disclose any planned additions.
- Clear store policies: Publish accurate delivery, cancellation, refund, and return terms, including any applicable restrictions or restocking fees.
- Documented compliance procedures: Explain how you address applicable transfer, recipient, age, and shipping requirements. Have a qualified firearms attorney review the procedures relevant to your business.
- Checkout security: Confirm applicable PCI requirements with your provider. An SSL certificate alone does not establish PCI compliance.
- Written commercial terms: Request processing and gateway fees, funding conditions, reserve terms, dispute costs, and cancellation provisions.
Do not assume a particular FFL lookup plugin is universally required or sufficient for compliance. Confirm the legal requirements for your transactions and the separate requirements imposed by your bank and processor.
If you are replacing an existing provider, read our guide on how to switch payment processors. Review your current contract and secure approval for the replacement account before moving checkout traffic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which payment processors accept ammunition sales?
Easy Pay Direct's gun-friendly page names ammunition retailers, and Payline lists properly licensed firearms businesses. PayPal and Shopify Payments prohibit ammunition. Stripe's restricted list does not mention ammunition, so ask Stripe before listing it.
Can I use Shopify to sell guns and ammo?
Shopify Payments prohibits firearms, holsters, ammunition and weapons, but Shopify lets stores that are not eligible add a third-party payment provider. Pair your store with a merchant account approved for firearms and ammunition.
What are the average rates for firearms payment processing?
There is no verified industry average. Easy Pay Direct's gun-friendly page lists an online card rate of 2.69% + $0.36 per transaction, a $99 setup fee waived if documents are submitted within 24 hours, and a monthly fee of typically $25 that varies by business type and volume. Payline does not publish high-risk pricing. Request a written quote covering processing, gateway fees, disputes, reserves and contract cancellation costs.
How long does it take to get approved?
It depends on how complete your file is. Ask each underwriter for an estimate once it has your products, licenses, business records and fulfillment procedures, and get it in writing.
What legal compliance tools do I need on my website?
That depends on your products, business activities and the jurisdictions involved. Confirm licensing, transfer, age and shipping requirements with a qualified firearms attorney, then ask your processor about its own checkout and documentation requirements.