Getting approved to process payments for peptide sales is less about luck and more about preparation. Banks and underwriting teams want one thing: predictable, controllable risk. When they can clearly understand your business model and see that customers won't be confused (or likely to dispute), approvals become much easier—and your account becomes far more stable.
Peptides are commonly treated as a high-risk category. That doesn't mean you can't get approved. It means your approval path needs the right underwriting partner, the right documentation, and a website that passes review.
If you're already processing and seeing declines, start with Unison's Peptides & Research Chemicals program.
Step 1: Make Sure You're Applying the Right Way (High-Risk vs. Standard)
A common reason peptide merchants struggle is applying through a standard, one-size-fits-all route. Even if you get "approved" quickly, that setup may not be underwritten for your product category—creating risk of holds, declines, or termination later.
A peptide-friendly approval path starts with a high-risk underwriting track designed for your category and business model. That's why Unison focuses on properly structured high-risk merchant accounts for peptide sellers. For a deeper look at what these accounts include and why they matter, read our guide on high-risk merchant accounts for peptide companies.
Step 2: Build a Website That Passes Underwriting Review
Underwriting is not just paperwork—it's also a site review. Banks look for signals that customers won't be confused and that disputes will be manageable. If your site looks incomplete, unclear, or overly aggressive in claims, you'll either be declined or pushed into stricter controls.
Website checklist underwriters care about
- Clear contact info: visible support email/phone and business location details (where appropriate)
- Refund and return policy: plain-language, easy to find, and consistent with your checkout experience
- Shipping policy: timelines, carriers, tracking expectations, and handling times
- Terms & conditions: especially around cancellations, chargebacks, and limitations
- Product clarity: accurate naming, quantities, and customer expectations
- Consistent positioning: avoid implying medical outcomes; keep language aligned across product pages, blogs, and FAQs
Many declines happen because the website reads "unclear" to a risk team. Clarity reduces refunds, reduces disputes, and improves approval odds.
Step 3: Prepare the Documents Underwriters Will Ask For
Underwriting teams typically review your business legitimacy, operational stability, and the ability to cover refunds/chargebacks. Having your documents ready speeds up approval and reduces back-and-forth.
Commonly requested items
- Government ID for owners/officers
- Business formation documents (e.g., LLC/Corp filing)
- EIN confirmation (or equivalent)
- Business bank statements (often recent months)
- Processing statements (if you've processed before)
- Supplier or fulfillment details to confirm how orders are handled
If you want Unison to quickly identify red flags and speed your path, submitting a recent processing statement (if available) can be a big advantage.
Step 4: Set Realistic Volume and Ticket Expectations
Underwriters don't just approve "a business." They approve a business at a specific risk level—based on how you process. Your approval terms can be influenced by:
- Monthly volume (how much you plan to run)
- Average ticket (typical order size)
- Refund rate expectations
- **Subscription or recurring billing** (if applicable)
- Shipping times (faster + trackable is usually safer)
The goal is alignment: if you grow, it should be in a way that doesn't look like a sudden anomaly to bank monitoring systems.
Step 5: Configure Your Gateway and Fraud Tools for Approvals
Declines aren't only about underwriting—they're also about how transactions are filtered. A well-tuned gateway can increase legitimate approvals while reducing fraud.
Fraud controls that help (without killing conversions)
- AVS + CVV checks to reduce unauthorized use
- Velocity limits to stop rapid-fire attempts
- IP/device signals to spot bots and repeated abuse
- 3DS (where appropriate) for higher-risk segments and cross-border orders
If you need an ecommerce-ready setup, Unison can pair your merchant account with a payment gateway designed for high-risk acceptance.
Step 6: Reduce Chargebacks Before They Start
Underwriters approve peptide merchants who demonstrate they can keep disputes controlled. You do that by preventing confusion and making customer support easy to reach.
Simple moves that reduce disputes fast
- Billing descriptor: make it recognizable (customers should immediately know it's you)
- Proactive tracking: send tracking quickly and update customers if delays occur
- Visible support: make it easier to contact you than to file a dispute
- Clear policies: refunds/returns should be easy to find at checkout and post-purchase
If disputes are already a concern, ask about Unison's chargeback protection options.
Final Checklist Before You Apply
- Website is underwriting-ready: policies, clarity, and consistent positioning
- Documents prepared: formation, bank statements, ID, and processing history (if any)
- Volume/tickets aligned: realistic expectations for underwriting
- Fraud tools configured: reduce risk without blocking good buyers
- Operational readiness: shipping, tracking, customer support response time
Unison can review your site, model, and processing goals and recommend the cleanest underwriting route for peptide acceptance. If you were previously terminated and need to reapply, see Peptide Merchant Account Terminated? What to Do Next.