Many merchants complain about the lack of information when it comes to high risk merchant account application. It's not that there's no information at hand; it's more likely because merchant account providers do not provide standard customer service or are simply too lazy to share the nuts and bolts that the applicants need.

CASE IN POINT

For example, a merchant may have already submitted his application before the merchant account provider (MAP) reveals the improbable terms: that he may not receive payment until x number of months or that he may not be approved for a merchant account unless he changes his marketing plan. When this happens, the worst case scenario is that the merchant's application may never be approved. If the company doesn't offer a money back guarantee, he may lose money even before he earns it.

The dark side of high risk merchant application involves a possibility that the MAPs may take long to approve your account. The reason is that they need to assess your business in relation to the rate of frauds and chargebacks that might be incurred. Also, you may spend more on fees than a regular merchant account.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

However, it's never a dead end road for the high risk merchant. Here, I have compiled a list of some insider information you might want to check out first before diving headlong into your high risk/offshore account application.

1. business profile

2. personal credit of the owner

3. business lifespan

4. monthly processing volume

5. business solvency

6. processing history

7. fraud / chargebacks history

GOING THE OFFSHORE WAY

Now, for businesses who have originally planned to go the route of offshore merchant account application, there is no need to convince them of the benefits they will earn. Going the offshore way means getting a ton of perks when it comes to taxation. Internal bank policies in international banks are not as strict as U.S. banks. The drawback is the higher processing costs and a holdback on proceeds as reserve to protect them against chargebacks in the future.