What payment gateways actually accept gun retailers

Most mainstream payment processors—Stripe, Square, PayPal—prohibit firearms sales entirely in their terms of service. Gun retailers operate in a constrained market where the processor must explicitly permit the category and the acquiring bank must be willing to underwrite the risk. This means your options are narrower than for other retail, and the gateways that do work with gun sales typically charge higher processing fees and require more documentation than standard e-commerce.

The gateways that actively work with licensed firearms dealers fall into two groups: processors built specifically for the firearms industry, and a smaller set of general processors that have chosen to support the category. Neither group is invisible or underground—they operate openly and require you to prove you hold a valid Federal Firearms License (FFL). The difference is in how they handle the underwriting, what compliance they demand, and what they cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Mainstream processors like Stripe and PayPal explicitly ban firearms sales, so you must use a processor that has chosen to support the category.
  • Firearms-specific gateways like Heartland Payment Systems (for FFL holders) and Repay charge higher fees but handle the compliance burden that comes with the category.
  • You will need to provide your FFL, proof of business registration, and sometimes banking history before a processor will set up your account.
  • Processing fees for gun retailers typically run 2.5% to 3.5% plus per-transaction charges, higher than standard retail rates.
  • Some processors restrict what you can sell (ammunition, parts, complete firearms) or require additional documentation for certain product types.

Processors built for firearms retailers

Heartland Payment Systems (owned by Global Payments) explicitly supports FFL holders and has built compliance workflows around the category. They require an active FFL, proof of business formation, and a review of your sales practices before approval. Their rates are typically in the 2.8% to 3.2% range plus per-transaction fees, and they handle the acquiring bank relationship so you do not have to shop for one separately.

Repay is a payment processor that works with firearms retailers and has developed specific underwriting for the category. They require FFL verification, business documentation, and a review of your website and sales practices. Their fee structure is similar to Heartland—around 2.8% to 3.5% depending on your volume and risk profile—and they provide a dedicated merchant services representative rather than routing you through a general support queue.

Both of these processors understand that firearms sales involve state-level licensing variations, shipping restrictions, and age verification requirements. They do not treat your account as a general retail account that happens to sell guns; they treat it as a firearms merchant account from the start. This means the compliance expectations are built in, not added later.

General processors that support firearms sales

Square does not support firearms sales through its standard merchant account. However, Square Cash for Business and some Square resellers have worked with FFL holders on a case-by-case basis. This is not a reliable route—Square's policy is restrictive, and approval is not may provide even with an FFL.

Authorize.Net (owned by Visa) permits firearms sales if you hold an FFL and meet their underwriting requirements. They do not market themselves as a firearms processor, but they do not prohibit the category. You will need to disclose the nature of your business during onboarding and provide your FFL. Their rates are competitive with general retail (around 2.9% plus per-transaction fees), but you are responsible for finding an acquiring bank willing to underwrite a firearms merchant account, which adds complexity.

The challenge with general processors is that even if they permit firearms sales in theory, the acquiring bank—the actual financial institution that holds your funds and manages the risk—may decline you. This is why firearms-specific processors are often easier: they have already negotiated relationships with banks that understand the category.

What documentation you will need to provide

Every processor that works with gun retailers requires proof that you hold a valid FFL. This means a copy of your Federal Firearms License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The license must be current; expired licenses will disqualify you.

Beyond the FFL, expect to provide business formation documents (articles of incorporation, DBA registration, or partnership agreement), a business tax ID (EIN), proof of business address, and often a personal may provide from the owner. Some processors also request your business bank statements for the past three to six months to verify that you are an established merchant, not a new account trying to process high volumes when ready.

Processors may also ask about your sales practices: whether you ship across state lines, whether you sell ammunition or only firearms, whether you conduct background checks through NICS (National when ready Criminal Background Check System), and whether you have any history of chargebacks or disputes. Transparency here matters—processors are underwriting risk, and they want to know what they are taking on.

How fees and pricing differ from standard retail

A typical e-commerce processor charges 2.2% to 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction for standard retail. Firearms processors charge 2.5% to 3.5% plus $0.30 to $0.50 per transaction. The difference reflects the higher risk: chargebacks are more common in firearms sales (disputes over legality, shipping delays, product condition), and the acquiring bank demands a higher margin to hold the account.

Some processors also charge a monthly gateway fee ($25 to $50) or a monthly merchant account fee ($15 to $30) on top of per-transaction costs. Firearms-specific processors are more likely to include these fees because they are building a dedicated compliance and support infrastructure around your account. General processors that permit firearms sales may charge the same fees as standard retail, but the acquiring bank may impose additional requirements or reserves (holding back a percentage of your sales for a set period).

Volume discounts are available from most processors, but they typically kick in at higher thresholds for firearms merchants ($50,000+ monthly volume) than for standard retail ($10,000+ monthly volume). This reflects the risk profile: processors want to see sustained, stable sales before they lower rates for a firearms account.

Restrictions on what you can sell

Not all processors treat all firearms products the same. Some permit sales of firearms and parts but restrict ammunition. Others permit ammunition but require additional documentation for certain calibers or types (armor-piercing, for example). A few restrict sales of certain firearm types (fully automatic weapons, for instance, though these are already heavily regulated at the federal level).

Before you sign up, ask the processor directly what product categories they permit. This is not a detail buried in the terms of service—it is a core part of their underwriting. If you sell ammunition and the processor only permits firearms, you will either need a second processor or you will need to find a different one from the start.

Some processors also require that you disclose your inventory and sales mix during onboarding. They may ask what percentage of your revenue comes from firearms versus parts versus ammunition, and they may set limits on how much of any category you can process in a given month. These limits are rare but do exist, particularly with processors that are newer to the firearms category or that have had chargebacks in the past.

The underwriting and approval timeline

Approval for a firearms merchant account typically takes two to four weeks, longer than standard retail (which often takes three to five business days). The processor needs to verify your FFL with the ATF, review your business documents, and often conduct a manual review of your website and sales practices. Some processors also conduct a phone call with you to discuss your business model and risk practices.

During this time, you cannot process payments through the gateway. If you are launching a new business, plan for this delay. If you are switching processors, some will let you run both accounts in parallel for a short period, but most require you to close the old account before activating the new one.

Once approved, you will receive login credentials for the merchant dashboard, documentation on how to integrate the payment form into your website (or how to use their hosted payment page), and contact information for your merchant services representative. Firearms processors typically assign a dedicated contact rather than routing you through general support, which can speed up resolution if issues arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use PayPal or Stripe if I have an FFL?

No. Both PayPal and Stripe explicitly prohibit firearms sales in their terms of service, regardless of whether you hold an FFL. This is a business decision, not a legal requirement—they have chosen not to underwrite the category. You will need to use a processor that has chosen to support firearms merchants.

What happens if a processor discovers I am selling firearms without disclosing it?

The processor will freeze your account, hold your funds for a chargeback period (typically 180 days), and may pursue legal action for breach of contract. You will also lose access to process any payments during this time. Disclosure upfront is always the right move.

Do I need a separate processor for ammunition sales?

Not necessarily, but some processors restrict ammunition while permitting firearms. Ask the processor directly what product categories they support before you sign up. If they do not permit ammunition, you will either need a second processor or a different primary processor.

Are there processors that work with online gun sales but not in-person sales?

Most firearms processors do not distinguish between online and in-person sales—they underwrite based on your FFL and your business model. However, some may have restrictions on shipping across state lines or may require additional documentation if you ship to states with stricter firearms laws. Disclose your sales channels during onboarding.

What if my FFL is about to expire?

Notify your processor when ready. Most will freeze your account until you provide a renewed license. If your license lapses, your account will be closed and your funds held for the chargeback period. Renewal should happen before expiration to avoid this.