CBD
CBD Payment Processing Through Watchdog Merchant Services®
CBD and hemp businesses often face higher scrutiny from payment providers, and many merchants get declined or reviewed even when they believe they’re compliant.
Watchdog Merchant Services® helps merchants understand and optimize credit card processing, so you can accept payments with a setup designed for your business mode
CBD Merchant Accounts Built for a High‑Risk Category
CBD products are commonly treated as high-risk by merchant account processors, which is why CBD businesses often need a processor/provider that specializes in CBD payment processing rather than a generic “one-size-fits-all” approach.
As consumer demand grows—U.S. CBD sales were projected to surpass $3.5B by 2025—having stable, scalable payments matters.
Avoid Frozen Payouts & Surprise Reviews
CBD merchants frequently report that “traditional” processors can decline applications, shut down accounts, or freeze payouts, sometimes triggered by promotions or sudden volume spikes that look risky to automated systems.
What this means for your business: choosing a CBD-capable processing setup from the start can reduce operational disruptions that affect cash flow and fulfillment.
Accept CBD Payments the Way You Sell (Online + In‑Store + Phone Orders)
CBD brands often sell across multiple channels, and your payments should match your operations:
- Online payments for CBD eCommerce checkout flows
- In-store payments for retail CBD locations
- Virtual terminal / keyed transactions for phone orders and manual invoices (if applicable)
Finding the right solution can be complex for companies selling CBD or hemp-derived products—this page is built to make the decision easier.
What We’ll Review to Recommend the Right CBD Setup
Because CBD processing is not “standard retail,” the fit depends on your products and risk profile. CBD businesses often need a provider that can streamline transactions and support compliance with user-friendly solutions.
During your review, we’ll typically look at:
- Product types and how they’re described across your site/catalog (risk classification alignment)
- Sales channels (online vs retail vs mixed)
- Expected volume, promotional plans, and growth projections (to reduce “spike” issues)