Merchant accounts are a need for every business. Merchant accounts, in simpler terms, are the specialized bank accounts that help a company that wants to have a system of credit card and debit card payments. It is a genuine understanding that financial institutions don’t prefer to invest in something carrying high risk. A high-risk merchant faces various hardships at each step of owning a merchant account, from application to higher charges. Businesses with a higher risk of chargebacks face difficulty having a merchant account. 

But, looking at the popularity and advantages of merchant accounts, various solutions are coming up in the market. Having a high-risk merchant account in Canada won’t be as feasible as a low-risk merchant account, but it can be a little easier with the new solutions like different platforms that make the process simpler. 

What Is A High-Risk Merchant Account?

High-risk merchant accounts are one of the categories defined by payment processors to label a merchant’s account as having a high likelihood of chargebacks or frauds. The owners of such accounts have to pay higher fees than usual merchants to compensate the payment processors for the risk they are carrying. Generally, a payment processor identifies a merchant account as high-risk if-

• It has a high risk of fraud.
• It has a high risk of chargebacks.
• It is more prone to a high volume of returns.
• Your account is for an industry that is usually considered high-risk in the market.

Is Getting a High-risk Merchant Account In Canada Feasible?

Each payment provider has different processing fees, but all providers have higher charges for high-risk merchant accounts. Charging this enormous amount is simple: no one wants to take huge risks financially, so these processors have to compensate for their trouble. Other disadvantages for a high-risk merchant account holder are that they usually have one-sided contract terms, rolling reserve provisions, and early termination fees.

There are many people involved in high-risk businesses these days as they come with an opportunity to earn a large chunk of money. This situation served as a perfect opportunity for solving complicated processes with high-risk merchant accounts. Though high-risk merchant accounts are still expensive in Canada and worldwide, different solutions are coming up. 

Earlier, there was a lot of money involved to open a high-risk merchant account due to process complications. So, people had to resort to different mediators who charged them extra money to make things simpler. It made the process even more expensive. So, several platforms emerged in Canada that made the process simpler, eventually making it a little more feasible. Various providers claim to make your process more accessible and more affordable. But, it is crucial to do your research before choosing your target from a sea full of fish. 

• Experience 

It is better to prefer someone who has experience handling high-risk merchant accounts. If your business has some specific requirements, there are specialized providers to cater to them.

• Availability

It must be easy to contact your provider, and he must respond on time when you have any concerns to avoid losses.

• Terms Of The Contract

It is the part where the feasibility of your account depends largely. Most providers have terms of the contract in which they increase charges if you exceed the limit of chargeback. Some providers may have strict terms that result in better profits for payment providers. You should always read the terms of the contract thoroughly and negotiate, if possible. It will help in making high-risk merchant accounts more feasible for you. 

• Services

Some providers may charge you a little more but give you streamlined services. You should always consider the quality of services over money as it is beneficial for your business in the long run. A provider having a proper set of financial tools is very crucial for the functioning of your account.

The process for applying for a high-risk merchant account is more feasible now. The first step is to fill up an application form that helps determine your account category. Then comes the documentation stage, where you have to submit various necessary documents such as bank statements, transaction history, etc. There will be an interview for any questions your provider needs to know. After this, your documents are at a review stage. When it gets cleared, you get your approval within a few weeks. 

In Short

So, we can say that many service providers have made high-risk merchant accounts more feasible in Canada. But, many fraudsters are duping themselves as providers and luring people through low costs. So, always have a thorough check. It is also crucial to consider all the relevant factors related to your business as specialized service providers can be a better option if your business industry requires so.