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Get paid

How to open a payment account that doesn't get shut down, and what banks want to see from you.

4 lessonsabout 46 minutes

What you finish with

An approved payment account, opened with full disclosure, plus a documented backup path.

Lessons

  1. 01Why accounts get closed

    12 min

    Almost every shutdown traces to the same causes: the processor learned something the application didn't disclose, the site contained claims, or dispute rates crossed a threshold. Each is preventable.

    • Underwriting: what they actually check
    • Dispute-rate thresholds and monitoring programs
    • Why undisclosed products end the relationship
  2. 02Applying with full disclosure

    15 min

    You will describe exactly what you sell, to whom, and under what restrictions — then supply the documents that back it. Disclosure is slower to approve and far more durable than the alternative.

    • Building the application pack
    • Describing your catalogue accurately
    • Answering underwriter follow-ups
  3. 03Reserves, payouts and cash flow

    10 min

    Expect a rolling reserve and delayed payouts early on. Plan working capital around the worst case so a hold doesn't stop your restocking.

    • How rolling reserves work
    • Cash-flow planning around payout delays
    • When to request reserve release
  4. 04Backup and continuity

    9 min

    Maintain a second approved path and keep your documentation current so you can switch without a week of downtime.

    • Keeping a warm secondary account
    • Switching checkout without breaking orders
    • What to do the day an account is frozen

Templates included

  • Payment application pack
  • Underwriter Q&A prep sheet
  • Continuity plan template

Mistakes to avoid

  • Describing the business vaguely to get approved faster
  • Running with no secondary processor
  • Ignoring dispute rate until a warning arrives