Peptide Merchant Account Requirements: The Complete Underwriting Checklist
Everything an acquirer asks for before approving a research peptide merchant: entity documents, product documentation, website standards, processing history, reserves and the questions underwriters actually ask.
How to use this checklist
Acquirers that accept research-use-only suppliers use a consistent list. Meeting all of it does not guarantee approval — product review and overall risk appetite still apply — but missing items are the most common cause of declines, and a decline is recorded. Prepare everything before submission.
1. Legal entity and ownership
- Formation documents: articles of organisation / incorporation, operating agreement or bylaws (US); registry extract (EU/UK)
- EIN confirmation letter (US) or tax / VAT registration (EU)
- Registered address and principal place of business; a residential address is acceptable for small entities but must be disclosed
- Government ID and proof of address for every beneficial owner of 25% or more and for the signing officer
- Business bank account in the entity's name: statement or voided cheque
- If a trade name is used, evidence linking it to the legal entity (DBA filing or a clear statement on the website)
2. Products and documentation
- Full product list with true compound names, formats and prices — no coded or branded names that obscure the compound
- Third-party certificates of analysis per batch from a named laboratory
- Supplier agreements or invoices demonstrating the source of goods
- A written statement of intended use (research use only) consistent with labelling and the website
- Confirmation that no product is an FDA-approved or prescription drug, a clinical-stage drug analogue sold for use, or a scheduled substance
3. Website standards
- Legal entity name, registration number and address in the footer or legal pages
- Terms of service naming the entity, governing law, payment and delivery terms, and dispute handling
- Refund and cancellation policy with fixed timelines and a route for non-delivery and damaged goods; aligned with the terms
- Shipping policy with carriers, timelines, tracking and a restricted-state / restricted-country list
- Privacy policy appropriate to the market (CCPA/CPRA for US customers; GDPR for EU customers), naming the payment processor and any tracking
- Contact page with email, phone number, physical address and support hours
- Research-use-only language throughout; no dosing, protocols, results, testimonials about effects, or human-use imagery
- Age gate (21+) and a business / researcher attestation at account creation or checkout
- HTTPS, card-brand logos at checkout, total and currency shown before payment, mandatory terms acceptance
4. Processing history
- Three to six months of statements from any previous provider, showing volume, refunds and chargebacks
- Full disclosure of terminations, holds and any MATCH / TMF listing, with the reason and what was changed
- For pre-launch merchants: realistic volume projections, average ticket and expected customer mix
5. Financial and risk terms you should expect
- Rolling reserve, typically 5–10% held for 90–180 days, reviewable after six months of clean processing
- Monthly volume cap at the start, increased on request with history
- Personal guarantee from the principal with some acquirers
- Chargeback ratio thresholds (commonly below 1% of transactions) with monitoring and remediation requirements
6. Questions underwriters ask — and the answers that work
- Who are your customers? — "Research institutions, laboratories and businesses; we verify at account creation and require an attestation at checkout."
- Why did your last provider close the account? — The real reason, what you changed, and the date. Never "no reason given".
- What is the descriptor? — A specific string matching the brand, decided before the application.
- What happens if a product is restricted in a state? — "It is geo-blocked at checkout; the list is maintained in the gateway and shipping settings."
- Do you sell any compound that is an approved drug? — "No" has to be true. Underwriters check.
The fastest way to find out which of these you are missing is the free readiness review. The peptide merchant accounts page describes what happens after the checklist is complete.
Apply for peptide payment processing
Fifteen minutes to submit. An honest eligibility assessment within two business days, before anything goes to an acquirer.
Questions
Can a sole proprietor get a peptide merchant account?
Rarely. Acquirers in this category expect a registered entity with a business bank account. Forming an LLC or equivalent is the normal first step.
Do I need COAs for every product?
Yes, per batch, from a third-party laboratory. In-house or supplier-only COAs are weaker and some acquirers do not accept them.
Will a previous termination disqualify me?
Not on its own. An undisclosed termination will. Disclose it, explain the fix, and the application can proceed with the acquirers that accept the history.
How long should I keep processing statements?
Indefinitely. Every future application, reserve review and cap increase will ask for history.
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