BigCommerce High Risk Payment Processing

BigCommerce is one of the most gateway-friendly e-commerce platforms on the market, supporting over 65 third-party payment gateway integrations out of the box. For high risk merchants, this flexibility is a major advantage — it means you can connect your BigCommerce store to a high risk merchant account without the workarounds required on more restrictive platforms.

Flow Payments provides high risk merchant accounts and payment gateway integrations specifically designed for BigCommerce merchants. Whether you sell CBD products, supplements, adult merchandise, digital services, or operate a subscription model, we can get your BigCommerce store processing payments with a compliant, stable merchant account.

 

Does BigCommerce Support High Risk Merchants?

BigCommerce supports high risk merchants through its third-party payment gateway integrations, though BigCommerce Payments itself has restrictions similar to other mainstream processors.

Like Shopify, BigCommerce has a native payment solution (powered by PayPal) that is subject to PayPal’s prohibited business policies. Industries that PayPal restricts — which includes most high risk categories — cannot use BigCommerce Payments as their primary processor.

However, BigCommerce’s gateway ecosystem is broader and more flexible than Shopify’s. Key considerations for high risk merchants on BigCommerce:

 

• BigCommerce Payments (PayPal) is not available for most high risk industries
• Third-party gateway integrations are fully supported and compliant with BigCommerce’s Terms of Service
• BigCommerce does not add extra transaction fees for using third-party gateways on its higher-tier plans
• The platform’s enterprise-grade infrastructure makes it well-suited for high risk merchants with significant volume

 

How Flow Payments Integrates With BigCommerce

Step 1 — Apply for a high risk merchant account
Submit your Flow Payments application with your business details and supporting documents. We review your industry, volume, and risk profile and match you with the right banking partner. Decisions typically come within 24–48 hours.

Step 2 — Gateway configuration
Flow Payments configures a high risk-compatible payment gateway — NMI or USAePay — for your account. Both gateways have established integrations with BigCommerce’s payment API.

Step 3 — Connect to BigCommerce
In your BigCommerce control panel, navigate to Store Setup → Payments. Select your gateway from the “Other Online Payment Methods” section and enter your gateway API credentials.

Step 4 — Configure and test
Set up your preferred payment methods, configure fraud filters per Flow Payments’ recommendations for your industry, and run a test transaction to confirm the integration is working.

Step 5 — Go live
Enable live processing and begin accepting payments. Your dedicated Flow Payments account specialist is available for questions throughout the setup process and ongoing.

 

High Risk Industries We Support on BigCommerce

 

• CBD and hemp products
• Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements
• Health and diet supplements
• Adult products
• Credit repair services
• Tech support and software services
• Debt consolidation
• Online coaching and seminars
• Gaming and entertainment products
• Collection agency services
• Insurance products
• Subscription and continuity programs
• Vape and e-cigarette products
• Tobacco and smoking accessories
• And many more high risk industries

 

Why BigCommerce Works Well for High Risk Merchants

No transaction fees on higher plans
BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees for third-party gateways on its Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans. For high volume high risk merchants, this can represent meaningful savings compared to Shopify’s transaction fee structure.

Enterprise-grade scalability
BigCommerce is built for merchants who process significant volume. Its infrastructure handles high transaction loads without the performance issues that can affect smaller platforms.

Headless commerce support
High risk merchants who need highly customized checkout experiences — including specific disclosure language, age verification, or compliance-driven checkout flows — can use BigCommerce’s headless commerce API to build a fully custom frontend.

Strong B2B capabilities
High risk businesses that sell both direct-to-consumer and to other businesses benefit from BigCommerce’s native B2B features, which many competing platforms do not offer.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Does BigCommerce ban high risk products?

BigCommerce’s platform terms restrict certain product categories, and BigCommerce Payments is not available for most high risk industries. However, selling high risk products via a third-party gateway is compliant with BigCommerce’s merchant terms in most cases. We recommend reviewing BigCommerce’s Acceptable Use Policy for your specific product type and consulting with Flow Payments about your situation.

 

Which payment gateway does Flow Payments use for BigCommerce?

We primarily work with NMI and USAePay, both of which integrate with BigCommerce’s payment API. The gateway we recommend will depend on your industry and volume.

 

Will BigCommerce charge me extra transaction fees for using Flow Payments?

BigCommerce charges transaction fees for third-party gateways on its Standard plan only. On Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans, there are no additional transaction fees for third-party gateways — an advantage over Shopify, which charges transaction fees across all plans.

 

Can I migrate my existing store to BigCommerce and use Flow Payments?

Yes. BigCommerce has well-documented migration tools for merchants moving from Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and other platforms. Flow Payments can have your merchant account and gateway ready before your migration is complete so there is no processing gap.

 

How long does it take to get approved and go live on BigCommerce with Flow Payments?

Most merchants are approved within 24–48 hours and can complete the BigCommerce gateway connection in under an hour. Expect to be live and processing within two to three business days of submitting a complete application.

 

Get Your BigCommerce High Risk Merchant Account Today

Flow Payments helps BigCommerce merchants in high risk industries get approved and keep processing. Call 1-888-879-7022 for a free quote or apply online today.

Get a Free Quote →

Also serving high risk e-commerce merchants on Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, ClickFunnels, and Magento.