Do You Need a Merchant Account to Sell Regulated Products on Shopify UK?

Name: Wallid Pay by Bank for Shopify
Brand: Wallid
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Pay-by-Bank / Blog / Do You Need a Merchant Account to Sell Regulated Products on Shopify UK?

Selling regulated products like CBD, vape, or supplements on Shopify UK? You may be told you need a high-risk merchant account—but that's not the only option. In this article, we compare traditional merchant accounts to modern, plug-and-play payment apps like Wall ID to help you choose the right setup.

Key Takeaways:

Traditional Shopify CBD merchant accounts can be expensive and slow to set up
High-risk merchant accounts often require underwriting, reserves, and long contracts
App-based options like Wall ID are faster, simpler, and don’t require a merchant bank
Pay by Bank eliminates chargebacks and delays—ideal for regulated sellers
Wall ID is FCA-regulated and built for high-risk Shopify products in the UK

What Is a High-Risk Merchant Account on Shopify?

A high-risk merchant account is a special type of payment facility offered to industries that banks or card networks consider risky. This includes:

CBD oil & hemp wellness products
Vape and e-liquids
Sexual wellness or adult items
Supplements or subscriptions

These accounts typically come with:

High fees: Transaction + monthly costs
Delays: Weeks of underwriting and setup
Restrictions: Rolling reserves, account freezes, chargeback risk

Why Shopify Doesn’t Support Regulated Products by Default

Shopify Payments is powered by Stripe, which follows strict card network rules. Even if your products are legal in the UK, they may be banned under Stripe policy.

This is why Shopify CBD sellers (and other regulated verticals) get rejected, frozen, or forced to find outside payment providers.

Do You Really Need a Merchant Account?

In 2025, not necessarily. Wall ID lets high-risk Shopify stores accept bank-to-bank payments without a traditional merchant account.

How Pay by Bank Works:

Customer pays directly from their UK bank app
No cards, no acquirers, no gateways
Funds land instantly in your business bank account
Zero chargebacks, no risk of account freezes

This method bypasses many of the issues linked to card-based merchant accounts.

Wall ID vs High-Risk Merchant Accounts

Feature	Traditional Merchant Account	Wall ID / Pay by Bank
Setup Time	2–4 weeks	Instant
Chargebacks	Common	None
Monthly Fees	£30–£150+	£0
Settlement Time	2–7 days	Instant
Shopify Integration	Manual / limited	Seamless
FCA Regulated	Sometimes	Yes ✅
CBD / Vape / Adult Compatible	Sometimes	Yes ✅

Why Wall ID Is a Smarter Option for Regulated Shopify Stores

Wall ID is the best solution for Shopify CBD merchants who want to avoid the pain of applying for a merchant account:

FCA-regulated UK provider
No chargebacks or card disputes
No reserves or account freezes
Built for CBD, vape, supplements, adult products
Simple install, no technical setup needed

“We run a vape store, and WallidPay gave us a practical way to accept payments. It works seamlessly with Shopify too, which was important for us.”

– Wynn Peregrine, GB (Verified Shopify merchant)

Speakable

Shopify merchants selling CBD or vape don’t need a traditional high-risk merchant account anymore. Wall ID makes it easy to accept compliant, instant Pay by Bank payments—no underwriting, no monthly fees, no chargebacks.

Ready to sell CBD, vape, or adult products on Shopify—without merchant account hassles?
Try Wall ID free today → How to Install Pay by Bank on Shopify

FAQ

Do I need a merchant account to sell CBD on Shopify UK?

No. Shopify doesn’t support CBD through Shopify Payments, but you can use Wall ID to take Pay by Bank payments without a merchant account.

What is a high-risk merchant account?

It’s a specialised account used by businesses in industries that card providers see as risky—often requiring higher fees, reserves, and extra paperwork.

Can I use Wall ID with my existing Shopify store?

Yes—Wall ID integrates easily with Shopify and supports regulated product payments instantly.

How fast can I start taking payments with Wall ID?

Most merchants are live within 24 hours after verification—no lengthy underwriting or paperwork required.

Does Pay by Bank work for subscriptions?

Yes—Wall ID supports recurring payment setups for regulated products like supplements or wellness plans.

About the Author

This article was produced by the team at Wallid, specialists in high-risk eCommerce and open banking payments. With deep experience supporting UK merchants selling CBD, vape, supplements, and adult products on Shopify, Wallid helps regulated sellers go live without the delays and costs of high-risk merchant accounts.

As an FCA-regulated Pay by Bank provider, Wallid offers a card-free checkout solution that eliminates chargebacks, speeds up settlement, and integrates seamlessly with Shopify.

Learn more at wallid.co.