Payment Processing for Online Gun Stores
Quick answer: Online gun stores need a firearms merchant account paired with a high-risk payment gateway (PayTrace, NMI, or Authorize.net). If you use Shopify, you must connect a third-party gateway since Shopify Payments prohibits firearms. WooCommerce and BigCommerce work directly with firearms-approved gateways without extra platform fees.
Selling firearms online is legal, regulated, and growing. But the payment processing side is where most online gun dealers get stuck. Every major payment aggregator prohibits firearms, and even some high-risk processors avoid the category. Here is how to set up a reliable payment system for your online firearms business.
eCommerce Platform Options
Shopify
Shopify allows firearms on its platform but Shopify Payments prohibits them. You need a third-party payment gateway:
- Connect PayTrace, NMI, or Authorize.net through Settings → Payments → Third-party providers
- Shopify charges an additional 0.5-2% fee for third-party gateways depending on your plan
- Advanced plan ($399/mo) has the lowest gateway fee (0.5%)
WooCommerce
WooCommerce has no additional gateway fees and supports firearms-approved payment plugins directly. This makes it the cheapest option per-transaction for online gun stores, though it requires more technical management (hosting, security, updates).
BigCommerce
Similar to WooCommerce — supports third-party gateways without extra fees. Good middle ground between Shopify's ease and WooCommerce's flexibility.
Custom platforms
Some larger dealers build custom storefronts with direct gateway API integration. This provides maximum control over the checkout experience and compliance workflows.
FFL Transfer Workflow
Online firearms sales have a unique fulfillment requirement: the customer cannot receive the firearm directly. Instead:
1. Customer purchases the firearm online 2. Customer provides their local FFL dealer's information 3. You ship the firearm to the customer's chosen FFL 4. Customer picks up the firearm at the FFL after completing the 4473 background check
Your website must clearly explain this process. Acquiring banks review your FFL transfer policies during underwriting.
Age Verification for Online Firearms Sales
Online gun stores must verify that buyers are:
- 21+ for handgun purchases
- 18+ for long gun purchases (federal minimum, state laws vary)
Implement age verification at checkout using date-of-birth collection and consider third-party verification services for compliance documentation.
Payment Security for High-Ticket Transactions
Firearms have high average order values ($300-1,500+), making them targets for fraud:
- AVS (Address Verification) — verify billing address matches the card
- CVV verification — require the 3-digit security code
- Velocity controls — flag multiple orders from the same IP or card in a short period
- 3D Secure — add bank authentication for card-not-present transactions
- Manual review thresholds — flag orders above a certain dollar amount for manual verification
Shipping and Compliance
- Firearms can only be shipped between FFLs (you must have an FFL to ship)
- Carriers (UPS, FedEx) have specific firearms shipping policies — overnight service often required
- Ammunition shipping has hazmat requirements
- Some states have waiting periods that affect your shipping timeline
- Maintain records of all FFL transfers for ATF compliance
Chargebacks in Online Firearms Sales
Common chargeback triggers for online gun stores:
- Shipping delays — FFL transfers take longer than standard eCommerce
- Buyer's remorse — customer changes mind but firearm is already at the FFL
- Background check denial — customer's 4473 is denied after payment
- Billing descriptor confusion — customer doesn't recognize the charge
Prevention: Use chargeback alerts, clear billing descriptors, transparent shipping timelines, and clear refund policies for denied background checks.
Contact Unison Payment Solutions for online firearms payment processing, or apply for a firearms merchant account.