Why CBD merchants face challenges and how to accept payments online

CBD oil is currently one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, already making billions in revenues globally.

CBD’s medically proven health benefits, and its recent legalisation have resulted in an overwhelming demand. The vast potential of this industry makes it one of the most exciting business sectors today.

Unfortunately, many online merchants in this sector face one MAJOR obstacle which holds back their business growth and impedes their sales—the inability to accept card payments online.

Until now, only few merchants have been able to establish the necessary banking compliance for enabling purchases of their CBD products online.

If you’re a CBD merchant who wants to make this problem a thing of the past, check out our webinar hosted by Fibonatix CEO: Tal Miller.

Tal is going over everything you need to know in order to enable your customers to purchase CBD products online, effortlessly and securely.

» Processing payments for CBD products in the UK or EEA? Talk to our team about merchant account options

Disclaimer: Fibonatix is a UK-based, FCA-regulated payment service provider (FRN 768776) specialising in merchant accounts for B2C businesses globally, but B2B exclusively to the UK and EEA. Verify our regulatory status on the FCA Financial Services Register.

FAQs

What payment processors accept CBD merchants in the UK?

FCA-regulated specialist PSPs are the primary route for UK CBD businesses to accept card payments. Major aggregators such as Stripe and PayPal prohibit CBD under their acceptable use policies, so businesses need a specialist with proven experience processing for UK and EEA CBD merchants.

What compliance requirements must UK CBD merchants meet to accept card payments online?

Ingestible CBD products require FSA Novel Food Authorization; health or medicinal claims must comply with MHRA advertising guidelines; and merchants must maintain PCI DSS compliance for card data handling. The PSP itself must hold FCA Payment Institution authorisation, which is a legal requirement for facilitating card payments in the UK.

What fees should CBD merchants expect from specialised payment providers?

Expect higher processing rates than standard e-commerce, reflecting the additional underwriting and compliance costs specialist providers carry. Beyond the headline rate, merchants should scrutinise setup fees, monthly minimums, chargeback fees, and rolling reserve requirements before committing, as these can materially affect the effective cost of processing.