Why honest, gun-friendly credit card processors are hard to find
Unfortunately for legal online FFL dealers, firearms credit card processing can be a real challenge. Online dealers hoping to establish second-amendment-friendly credit card payments on popular website builders like WooCommerce or Shopify quickly find out that PayPal, Stripe, Shopify Payments, and WooCommerce Payments do not allow credit card processing for guns.
Online firearms dealers must deal with the misconception that guns are simply shipped to the buyer, like an Amazon purchase. Anyone familiar with internet-based gun credit card processing realizes that all gun purchases must ship to a federally licensed firearms dealer, who must perform a federal background check on the buyer before transferring the firearm face-to-face. Online gun dealers are heavily regulated by the ATF and are known for their cautiousness and attention to detail.
For the most part, though, payment processors do not care about this detail.
Gun-friendly credit card processing for online dealers
Finding affordable, “easy-approval” gun merchant accounts that work with auction sites and website builders does not have to be complicated. Blue Payment Agency has extensive relationships with gun credit card processors and FFL-friendly high-risk payment gateway providers.
We provide online firearms dealers with low prices and stable second-amendment-friendly payment processing, without the frozen deposits and no-notice shutdowns that gun dealers experience with Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
Common FFL e-commerce questions
Yes, with rare exceptions, you can use your current website builder to sell firearms online. Payment processing is a separate area to consider, though. Most website builders support the ability to integrate firearms payment gateways as long as sales are FFL-to-FFL transfers, and you also comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Platforms such as WooCommerce and BigCommerce are known for their firearm-friendly policies. Site builders like Wix and Webflow require some expertise, but can be used for FFL e-commerce as long as the payment piece is set up correctly. Some platforms, like Shopify, have some “minor” firearms restrictions, so it’s essential to verify your platform’s policies and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
We specialize in integrating firearm-friendly payment gateways with various website builders, ensuring a seamless and compliant setup for your online firearm sales. Feel free to contact us by clicking the Start arrow near the bottom of this page for a fast, free review of your site builder’s ability to integrate FFL-friendly payment processing.
Integrating a firearm-friendly payment gateway with your website builder involves selecting a compatible gateway, an FFL-friendly merchant account, and following the platform-specific integration process. For instance, platforms like Webflow and Wix require the use of tested, reliable third-party software to facilitate this integration. Conversely, platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce allow for more direct integrations with firearm-friendly payment processors.
We offer personalized assistance by phone, email, and free screen share to help you integrate the right payment gateway with your website builder, ensuring a smooth and compliant payment processing experience.
To ensure your website meets the requirements for credit card processing approval, you must, at a minimum, include essential elements such as a clear return/refund policy, privacy statement, accurate product descriptions, FFL-to-FFL-only shipping disclosures, and secure order pages with SSL certificates (generally part of your shopping cart package). Additionally, you must have a complete contact page with your phone number, email address (or contact form), and your full business address. Other FFL-specific requirements include a page or clear section on your site that outlines specific firearms restrictions by state and locality, and a “How to Purchase” page that clearly outlines the FFL-to-FFL purchase and sale process, including the background check at pick-up. These components are essential for establishing trust with both customers and payment processors.
We will guide you through these requirements, helping you establish a compliant and trustworthy online presence for your firearm sales. Click Start near the bottom of this page to begin.
Yes, you can not only accept credit card payments online but also at gun shows or trade events by utilizing mobile payment solutions. This approach allows you to process transactions securely and efficiently in various settings.
We offer mobile payment options specifically designed for firearm dealers, allowing you to expand your sales opportunities beyond your physical store or website.
Shopping carts and auction sites that work with our firearms credit card processing
We offer affordable, second-amendment-friendly payment gateways and merchant accounts that work with all major shopping carts and auction sites. Click the links below to learn more about firearms credit card processing for each platform and shopping cart:
- AmmoReady payment processing
- BigCommerce payment processing for firearms
- GunBroker credit card processing
- My FFL Cart firearms payment processing
- Shift4Shop gun-friendly credit card processing
- Shopify FFL payment gateways
- WooCommerce firearms payment processing
Always check with your website provider and shopping cart to ensure they are also firearms-friendly. Additionally, you must consult with an attorney familiar with FFL dealers before starting your online gun business.
Fraud protection for online firearms dealers
Fraud and chargebacks can be challenging for gun dealers who need to accept online payments. However, you don’t need to be a tech guru to protect your online gun store from fraud. We offer numerous easy-to-implement, low or no-cost methods that will reduce the chances that your firearms merchant account is attacked by online fraudsters and foreign hackers by offering the following services:
- Automatic online chargeback mitigation and prevention
- Safe storage of billing data for repeat customers
- Address and card code verification
- Automatic suspicious activity flagging
- IP and shipping address matching
- Billing address and shipping address match confirmation
Do you need an FFL to process firearms payments online?
Yes. To be approved for a merchant account that allows e-commerce FFL transactions, you must have a valid Federal Firearms License. The merchant account piece integrates with your payment gateway and is required in order to accept credit cards. Additionally, the name of your business – including “LLC” or “Inc,” if applicable – must match your license exactly.
Can you apply for firearms-friendly payment processing while your FFL is pending?
Yes, you can apply for a firearms merchant account, submit all other documentation, and review your payment processing rates and terms in detail while your FFL is pending. You must, however, wait until your FFL is issued before your merchant account is approved and before your payment gateway software is set up for you.
Let us help you with online firearms credit card processing today. Click Start to begin.
* Always check with your website provider and shopping cart to ensure they are also firearms-friendly. Additionally, you should consult with an attorney familiar with FFL dealers before starting your online gun business.