From Tinder to eHarmony, and JDate, there are numerous dating websites and apps around. There seems to be one for every niche, making this a lucrative and helpful business venture. For those looking for a new business venture, this is great. But, one of the biggest problems comes when you are looking for a merchant account.
If you have previously owned a business, you know that business merchant accounts are essential for accepting credit card payments – which is essential to having an online dating website. The lack of options available for online dating websites is large – thanks to the processing industry classifying it as a “high risk” industry. “High risk” meaning that it is at a higher risk of chargebacks, which we all know are damaging to a business. The understanding of chargebacks is one of the biggest things that you need to look for when you are in the market for an online dating merchant account.
These accounts may be called “adult merchant accounts”, since they are established as adult-oriented services, and sometimes the content can be, well, not so family friendly. Regardless of the name the merchant account is under, you need to make sure that it is the right pick for you and your business. Chargeback understanding is only one of the things you need to consider. Another is their security. Do they provide the same great security to their high risk merchants as they do to their mainstream merchants? Not all do, and this is terrible! You should also make sure that the processor will offer your choice or payment processing and terminal. An even larger issues comes in the form of processing fee. Many charge a large fee for high risk businesses, which is not right. You should seek out a processor that charges industry-standard fees for all merchants.
When you are wanting to start an online dating site, you will need an online dating merchant account. Be sure to go over all of your options and ask questions, as this is one of the most important business decisions you will ever make.
