For licensed firearm businesses
Accept credit cards at your counter, online and at gun shows with a firearm merchant account that's approved for what you sell from day one. Transparent pricing, no termination fees, and a real team that picks up the phone.
It's a credit card processing account that a bank has approved specifically for a firearms business. Square, Stripe, PayPal and Shopify Payments all prohibit firearm sales, so dealers who use them risk being shut down with their money held for months. A firearm merchant account is underwritten knowing what you sell, so there's nothing for the bank to "discover" later.
A bank underwriter reviews your license, your products and, if you sell online, your website. Be upfront about everything you sell. That's what keeps the account stable.
1 · Gather documents
FFL, state license, ID, EIN, voided check, 3 months of statements.
2 · Apply & disclose
List every product category, including NFA items.
3 · Approved
Most in 1–5 business days; gateway live within 24 business hours.
Firearm dealers are often quoted 3–5% as generic "high-risk" merchants, even when most sales happen at the counter. Know what you're paying:
Payments add a few rules on top of the firearms laws you already follow:
Merchant code (MCC 5723)
Required in CA, CO and NY; banned in about 20 other states.
Chargeback limits
Visa's "excessive" level for online disputes and fraud dropped to 1.5% in 2026.
PCI & website rules
Annual security questionnaire; refund, shipping and age policies online.
Shopify Payments, Stripe and PayPal won't process firearms, but your store platform isn't the problem. Pair a firearm-approved merchant account with the Authorize.Net gateway and take cards on Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce or 1,000+ other carts. Budget for platform fees on outside processors: Shopify charges 0.2–2% and BigCommerce 0.6–2% on its self-serve plans (as of September 2026).
Full guide: accepting cards on your online gun storeDealers who use Square, Stripe, PayPal or Clover are usually closed once the platform notices what they sell, and the money in the account can be held for months. It's a platform rule, not a judgment on your business, and it's fixable.
Gun stores see disputes most retailers never do: failed background checks, cancelled transfers, and buyers waiting months on NFA paperwork. Clear policies and the right paperwork prevent most of them and win the rest.
Many dealers ask whether they can pass card fees to customers. Often you can, with a surcharge on credit cards or a cash discount program, as long as you follow the card-network rules and your state's law.
Since January 1, 2026, the federal tax stamp for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns is $0, and demand has surged. Many processors still exclude NFA items, and the long wait between payment and pickup needs careful handling.
Your merchant account has to work where you actually sell: the counter POS, your website and marketplaces like GunBroker. Some systems let you bring your own processor; others lock you into theirs.
Their terms prohibit firearms and ammunition. Dealers who sign up anyway are typically shut down once the platform notices, often with funds held for 90 days or more. Already shut down? What to do next →
Most START merchants are approved in 1–5 business days, and the Authorize.Net gateway is usually set up within 24 business hours of approval.
Your FFL, any state dealer license, a government ID, your EIN, a voided business check and three months of bank statements, plus processing statements if you already take cards. Full document checklist →
It depends on how you sell. Counter sales cost less to process than online orders. Ask for interchange-plus pricing and check your effective rate. How to check your effective rate →
Yes. Shopify Payments won't accept firearms, but Shopify supports Authorize.Net as a third-party provider (with a 0.2–2% Shopify fee). Shopify setup, step by step →
Often, yes, within card-network caps and your state's rules, and never on debit cards. A cash discount program is another option. Surcharges vs. cash discounts →
No. There are no termination fees, no annual fees and no address-verification fees.
Firearms Payment Guides
The requirements underwriters check, the documents you need, and how new FFLs get approved.
Read the guide 9 min
What a gun store should pay, how to find your effective rate, and the fees and reserves to watch.
Read the guide 9 min
MCC 5723 by state, chargeback limits, PCI and the website rules that keep your account open.
Read the guide 8 min
Take cards on Shopify, WooCommerce or BigCommerce when mainstream payment platforms won't.
Read the guide 11 min
What to do in the first 48 hours, how held funds work, the MATCH list, and getting processing back fast.
Read the guide 9 min
Background-check denials, cancelled transfers and NFA waits: prevent firearm disputes and win the ones you get.
Read the guide 9 min
Surcharges, cash discounts and dual pricing: the card-network caps, state limits and 2026 changes.
Read the guide 8 min
Taking payment for suppressors and NFA items: disclosure, Form 4 timing, deposits and avoiding disputes.
Read the guide 8 min
Which gun store POS systems and GunBroker checkout options work with your own merchant account.
Read the guide 8 minComplete our quick and secure form. We'll review your inquiry and present the best solution within 24 business hours.
We've received your inquiry and will review it promptly. A member of our team will contact you within 24 business hours to discuss your merchant account needs.
Need immediate assistance? Call us at 888-573-7587
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1940 S. Fremont Dr STE 202
Salt Lake City, UT 84104