Nikolas Tousounis
2 hours ago
Love burg love Sarah really great team! They do the most for a processing company.
High-Risk Merchant Account Specialists
See why high-risk businesses across the country trust Vector Payments to get approved, get supported, and process credit cards at near cost.
Travel, CBD and cannabis, nutraceuticals, ticketing, events, and other hard-to-place industries welcome.
Background
A high-risk merchant account is a credit card processing account placed with a bank and processor that specifically underwrites industries the card networks consider higher liability. Banks label certain industries high-risk because of chargeback potential, regulation, ticket size, or product type. Travel, CBD and cannabis, nutraceuticals, ticketing, events, firearms, and subscription billing all commonly fall into this bucket.
When a business in one of these industries tries to process with a generic provider like Square, Stripe, or PayPal, the most common outcomes are outright decline, sudden account closure, frozen funds, or rates inflated to absorb the perceived risk. None of those outcomes are workable for a real operating business.
A purpose-built high-risk merchant account solves this by placing your processing with an underwriter who understands your vertical, prices in your real risk profile, and supports you through compliance, chargebacks, and growth.
CBD, cannabis, nutraceuticals, peptides, firearms, and adult-adjacent verticals carry regulatory scrutiny that generic processors refuse to underwrite.
Once a merchant ID accumulates chargebacks above card-network thresholds, mainstream aggregators close accounts and freeze funds.
New entities, owners with weak personal credit, or businesses without processing history get flagged by automated underwriting models.
Travel, ticketing, events, and B2B services with average tickets above a few hundred dollars trigger fraud and refund risk reviews.
Cross-border transactions and subscription billing both raise chargeback exposure, which generic processors treat as a decline trigger.
Pricing Comparison
Flat-rate processors like Square, PayPal, and Stripe bundle their margin into one simple-looking rate. That is convenient at very low volume and expensive once you scale. Vector uses interchange-plus pricing, also called cost-plus, and reviews three months of your real statements to build an apples-to-apples comparison.
| Provider | Pricing model | Publicly posted standard rate | Statement review and savings guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | Flat / blended | 2.6% + 10 cents in person, 2.9% + 30 cents online | No |
| PayPal | Flat / blended | 2.99% + 49 cents standard online (varies by product) | No |
| Stripe | Flat / blended | 2.9% + 30 cents online | No |
| Vector Payments | Interchange-plus (cost-plus) | Priced at near cost with minimal markup, set after reviewing your statements | Yes |
Competitor figures are publicly posted standard rates as of June 2026 and may vary by product, region, and volume. Always confirm current pricing with each provider.
Vector reviews three months of your current statements, breaks down every recurring fee, PCI charge, and markup, and guarantees a side-by-side comparison that saves you money. No fixed rate card. Your effective rate is built around your real business.
What clients say
Verified reviews from Vector's Google Business Profile. Filter by what matters to you.
2 hours ago
Love burg love Sarah really great team! They do the most for a processing company.
2 weeks ago
It has been my pleasure working with Vector Payments. Such GREAT people and company!
4 weeks ago
Ryan and his team have been truly awesome partners to us as we've built out our portfolio of companies. They're able to secure processing for us across a fairly wide variety of companies, are quick to respond whenever we have questions or w...
7 weeks ago
Vector Payments has provided exceptionally well-planned and professional merchant services for our business. Their team is highly supportive, responsive, and always ready to help whenever needed. The onboarding process was smooth, and they...
8 weeks ago
Very attentive, on top of it whenever I need them!
12 weeks ago
Now where do I start! Berger and the team have been FANTASTIC! We have been with Vector for about 2 years now and all I can say is Vector has been great to work with. Highly Recommend!!
13 weeks ago
Vector got me the best processing rates of any vendor I evaluated. Ryan was a true partner. Throughout the process he was knowledgeable and responsive. His emails showed that he was invested in getting things processed quickly and accuratel...
17 weeks ago
Ryan and his team are great to work with. They are professional, straight forward and attentive. So happy to be working with them.
20 weeks ago
This company worked with us setting up and implementing our new account with professionalism. I would highly recommend them. Ryan is always upfront and fair. It made our transition seamless.
20 weeks ago
Highly recommend these guys. Really great to work with.
23 weeks ago
Ryan Mirpanah has been a pleasure to work with since we began our relationship with him a couple of years ago for our payment processing needs at Lucky You in Burlington, VT. He is responsive, effective and efficient. That gives us great co...
33 weeks ago
I have been with Vector Payments for over 8 years and have always been satisfied with the service. Jim Fig THE BLVD CBD STORE.
33 weeks ago
It has been a rough year with problem after problem this year but it looks like we have finally overcome everything and we're back in business again! My hero Ryan at Vector Payments was there for me! Thanks again buddy!
36 weeks ago
This brilliant team worked tirelessly to find and implement a solution that we could never have imagined would be as useful as it is! Thank you!
40 weeks ago
I've had a great experience with Vector Payments. Their team replies to emails and calls in just a few minutes, and every interaction feels professional and friendly. They made setup simple, explained everything clearly (no surprises), and...
48 weeks ago
Working with Vector Payments has been a smooth and professional experience. The team is knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping businesses succeed. From setup to support, everything has been handled with care and clarit...
48 weeks ago
Working with Vector Payments has been smooth and efficient. Ryan was quick to respond and followed through on everything he promised. Customer service has been top-notch, highly recommend for any business needing reliable payment processing...
49 weeks ago
The company that I previously owned has used Vector Payments for the last twelve years and we never had a problem. Our contact Ryan was absolutely awesome and went above what he needed to do to help us out a few times. When we decided to tr...
Apr 18, 2025
Working with Mike at Vector Payments has been such a positive experience. He is highly knowledgeable, quick to respond, and always helpful with any assistance I have needed. I highly recommend.
Apr 6, 2025
I do not usually write reviews but my experience with Vector Payments certainly required I take a minute to share my experience. After many headaches trying to navigate the space and get approved for online CBD sales, I was introduced to Ve...
Mar 20, 2025
Ryan is very knowledgeable and professional. His experience in the industry is helpful to anyone who has questions about starting up with a new processor.
Mar 19, 2025
We've been working with Vector Payments for our credit card processing services and support, and the experience has been nothing short of outstanding. Their team is professional, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping businesses succ...
Dec 5, 2024
Ryan has been an incredible help with setting up my account, reviewing everything to ensure I stay compliant, and has been there to answer every question I would throw at him. He made setting up an account with Vector very straight forward...
Jun 30, 2024
As a high-risk business selling tickets for concerts and events, I faced numerous challenges with multiple payment processors over the last couple of years. Some declined my application, while others brought high rates, hidden fees, volume...
Jun 21, 2024
The team over at vector payment know what they are doing. They support you every step of the way and have a quick process. Every question I've had they answered without any hesitation. Will recommend them every time!
May 28, 2024
Incredible service by Vector payments, they helped me get my business taking credit card payments efficiently and ahead of schedule. Would highly recommend for anyone needing credit processing services.
May 28, 2024
Vector Payments was extremely helpful with setting up by business and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone to use them. Their customer service was helpful and they walked me through the process without long wait times.
May 25, 2024
Vector Payments is one of the best Merchant company we came across, they provided exceptional customer service and supports their clients all time and response time is the best.
May 21, 2024
Michael fixed me up from a bad situation from a different company, If you find Processing to be a pain, Give them a call. they are Great
May 7, 2024
I've been using Vector Payments for over 5 years for my 7 locations. The experience has been great. The organization is knowledgeable regarding the payment industry and offered a very competitive package. Although I don't reach out to Vecto...
May 7, 2024
Vector is changing the processing industry by giving a hands on personal approach to clients. In all my years in business I have never had a company provide such great care and communication after signing up. I would highly recommend anyone...
Aug 11, 2023
Have used Vector since our small business in Greensboro NC started back in 2016. Reliable and simple. And the Vector team has been easy to work with and maintains a good line of communication with their customers. Would highly recommend.
Aug 10, 2023
Excellent customer service! Saved us a ton on processing fees and the funds are deposited way faster than my previous processor!
Aug 9, 2023
To all of those involved at Vector Payments, thanks for all you do! - Extremely Hands on - Always Very Responsive - Reliable - They handle everything so we don't have to. We will certainly utilize Vector Payments for any of our transactiona...
Aug 9, 2023
These guys are phenomenal to work with. I wish all my vendors handled my account this way. First class service, attention to detail, you name it. If only I could get them into logistics….
Aug 9, 2023
I have been using vector payments at all 3 of my store locations for many years now without complaint! They are always very responsive when we have had a terminal issue as well. I have recommended vector payments to everyone in my industry...
The Process
New businesses apply directly. Existing businesses send three months of processing statements.
Vector breaks down every fee and builds an apples-to-apples comparison with a savings guarantee.
High-risk specialists place accounts that generic processors decline.
Start taking cards at near cost with a dedicated rep who actually answers.
Questions
Send three months of statements. Vector builds an apples-to-apples comparison, places your account with the right underwriter, and guarantees you save versus what you pay today.