If you sell peptides online and you are using Stripe, Square, or PayPal to process payments, it is not a matter of if your account will be shut down — it is a matter of when.
These platforms are not built for peptide businesses. They use aggregator models that pool thousands of merchants under a single master account, and their risk systems are designed to flag and remove businesses in categories they consider high-risk. Peptides and research chemicals are firmly in that category.
This guide explains exactly why each platform fails for peptide merchants, what happens when your account gets terminated, and how to set up stable payment processing that is built for your business from day one.
Why Stripe Doesn't Work for Peptide Businesses
Stripe is popular because it is easy to set up. But easy setup comes with a tradeoff: Stripe is an aggregator, not a dedicated merchant account provider. You are processing under Stripe's master merchant ID, and Stripe can remove you at any time.
How Stripe handles peptide merchants
- Peptides are on Stripe's restricted list. Stripe's acceptable use policy explicitly restricts supplements, research chemicals, and products with regulatory ambiguity.
- Initial approval means nothing. Stripe's onboarding is automated and does not perform high-risk underwriting. Many peptide merchants get "approved" initially because the system has not yet flagged their product category.
- Automated risk monitoring triggers termination. Once Stripe's systems detect peptide-related transactions — through transaction descriptions, website reviews, or chargeback patterns — the account is flagged for closure.
- Funds are held after termination. When Stripe terminates a peptide account, funds are typically held for 90-120 days. During this period, you cannot process new transactions or access the held balance.
The real cost of using Stripe for peptides
The shutdown itself is only part of the problem. When Stripe terminates your account, your checkout stops working immediately. Revenue stops. Customers see failed payments. Ad spend is wasted. Inventory sits unfulfilled. And if you have been relying on Stripe as your only payment rail, there is no backup.
Many peptide merchants who are terminated by Stripe then rush to apply for new processing — but doing so under pressure, without proper preparation, often leads to another rejection or a poorly structured account that creates the same problems again.
Why Square Doesn't Work for Peptide Businesses
Square uses the same aggregator model as Stripe. You share a master merchant account with other businesses, and Square's risk team can remove you without notice.
How Square handles peptide merchants
- No high-risk underwriting. Square does not evaluate peptide businesses individually. It uses a one-size-fits-all risk model that is not designed for high-risk categories.
- Account termination without warning. Square is known for abrupt account closures. Peptide merchants may process successfully for weeks before receiving a termination notice.
- No dedicated support for disputed closures. When Square terminates an account, there is no account manager to call. Support is ticket-based, and decisions are rarely reversed for restricted categories.
- Fund holds. Similar to Stripe, Square holds funds after termination to cover potential chargebacks.
Square's POS systems are popular for in-person businesses, but for peptide merchants — who are almost entirely ecommerce — there is no advantage to using Square over a properly underwritten high-risk merchant account.
Why PayPal Doesn't Work for Peptide Businesses
PayPal has been shutting down supplement and peptide sellers for years. Its acceptable use policy restricts products that "make health claims" or fall into regulatory gray areas — a description that covers most peptide businesses.
How PayPal handles peptide merchants
- Broad category restrictions. PayPal's policies are intentionally broad. Peptides, research chemicals, and supplements with ambiguous regulatory status are all flagged.
- 180-day fund holds. PayPal is particularly aggressive with fund holds after termination. Merchants routinely report being unable to access funds for the full 180-day hold period.
- Buyer-friendly dispute resolution. PayPal's dispute process heavily favors buyers. Peptide merchants face higher effective chargeback rates on PayPal because of how aggressively PayPal sides with customers in disputes.
- No underwriting path. There is no way to get "approved" for peptide sales on PayPal. It is simply not an option for this category.
The Aggregator Problem: Why All Three Fail
Stripe, Square, and PayPal share a fundamental issue: they are payment aggregators, not dedicated merchant account providers.
What this means for peptide merchants
- Shared merchant ID. You process under the aggregator's master account. If your transactions create risk for the aggregator, you are removed to protect the master account.
- No individual underwriting. Aggregators do not evaluate your business individually. They use automated systems that flag categories, not business quality.
- No relationship. When you are terminated, there is no account manager, no review process, and no path to resolution. You are simply removed.
- No stability guarantee. Even if you process successfully for months, the aggregator can shut you down at any time. Policy changes, risk model updates, or a single chargeback spike can trigger termination.
How a dedicated merchant account is different
With a dedicated high-risk merchant account, you have your own merchant ID, your own bank relationship, and underwriting that is specifically designed for your business model. The account is approved for peptide sales from day one — there are no surprises.
If a chargeback occurs, your processor works with you to manage it rather than terminating your account. If you need to scale volume, you communicate with your account manager rather than hoping an algorithm does not flag you.
What Peptide Merchants Actually Need
1) A properly underwritten high-risk merchant account
Your account must be underwritten and approved specifically for peptide and research chemical sales. This means the acquiring bank knows what you sell, has evaluated your risk profile, and has agreed to process your transactions. Learn more about high-risk merchant accounts for peptide companies.
2) A payment gateway built for high-risk ecommerce
Your payment gateway handles the technical side — encrypting card data, routing transactions, and managing fraud controls. For peptide merchants, the gateway needs to support AVS, CVV, velocity controls, and 3D Secure for cross-border orders. Explore Unison's payment gateway options.
3) Chargeback prevention tools
Disputes are the biggest threat to peptide merchant account stability. Prevention tools like early dispute alerts, recognizable billing descriptors, and proactive customer communication reduce chargebacks before they impact your ratios. See how Unison's chargeback protection works.
4) Platform integration that works
Whether you sell on Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, your payment processing must integrate with your ecommerce platform. Unison provides gateway integrations for all major platforms.
5) LegitScript certification
LegitScript certification is becoming essential for peptide merchants. It independently verifies your compliance and gives banks confidence to approve your account. Unison is a LegitScript partner processor, offering discounted certification and guided application support. Certified merchants get faster approvals, lower reserves, and better rates.
6) A processor who understands peptides
Generic processors do not understand peptide compliance, underwriting requirements, or the specific challenges of this industry. Unison's Peptides & Research Chemicals program is built specifically for this category.
How to Switch From Stripe, Square, or PayPal to Stable Processing
Step 1: Apply for a peptide merchant account
Start with Unison's peptide merchant account application. Provide your business details, processing volume, and current setup. Our team evaluates your application with peptide-specific underwriting.
Step 2: Prepare your website for underwriting
Make sure your website passes underwriting review: clear policies, proper disclaimers, accurate product descriptions, and visible contact information. See our guide on building a compliant peptide website.
Step 3: Connect your new gateway
Once approved, connect your Unison payment gateway to your ecommerce platform. Our team handles configuration and testing.
Step 4: Transition smoothly
Do not shut off your current processor until your new account is live and tested. Unison coordinates the timing so there is no gap in your ability to accept payments.
Related Resources
- Peptide Payment Processing: Complete Guide
- High-Risk Merchant Accounts for Peptide Companies
- How to Get Approved for a Peptide Merchant Account
- Peptide Payments on Shopify
- Peptide Payments on WooCommerce
- Peptide Payments on BigCommerce
- Peptide & Research Chemical Payment Processing
- Contact Unison for a Free Quote