Fireworks Merchant Accounts | Credit Card Processing for Fireworks Businesses
Take your business wherever you want to go and give your customers peace of mind with a secure payment solution designed to ignite growth.
Whether you have a brick-and-mortar store, stand, or tent, your fireworks business needs a credit card processing payment solution that's portable, durable, and designed for ease-of-use and security. With a fireworks merchant account from Website Payment Pro USA, you can customize the features and functions best suited for your business model:
- Ability to accept credit, debit, electronic check, and mobile payments like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay
- EMV chip compatibility
- Mobile wireless terminals
- Mobile applications and small card readers that attach to your smartphone for the ultimate flexibility and convenience accepting payments (check out our Clover Suite here)
- Feature-rich countertop POS system for your store
- Virtual terminal to accept payments over the phone (MOTO)
- Payment gateway for your website with a customizable Advanced Fraud Detection Suite
- B2B enhanced data processing to lower your rates for corporate transactions
- Integration assistance to sync your payment system with other areas like accounting and inventory to create one seamless business flow—and less administrative work
- Merchant account freezing for up to six months, with a hassle-free reopening, for seasonal retailers
- Guidance in areas ranging from return policy wording to marketing—all aimed at chargeback reduction
- PCI compliance assistance so your business is up to date with the latest security requirements
If you already have a fireworks merchant account, you may know that finding one isn't the easiest task, and you might be paying higher fees than you should be. Here's why, followed by what we do to counteract risk and subsequently offer you the lowest rate possible.
High-Risk Factors
There are a number of high-risk factors that financial institutions consider before they form relationships with certain business types. The U.S. Department of Justice launched Operation Choke Point in 2013, and the initiative was aimed at investigating and discouraging banking relationships for businesses deemed at the highest risk for fraud and money laundering.
Among the many targeted business types were adult entertainment, payday loans, firearms, and fireworks. As a result, banks began severing ties with these industries, even those with longstanding, positive banking histories. Operation Choke Point received widespread criticism for grouping numerous business types into one big red flag for banks, drawing on its unfair punishment of legitimate companies.
Although the initiative was put to an end in 2017, the risk it outlined still makes financial institutions think twice before entering any kind of relationship with fireworks merchants. Fortunately, there are still plenty of high-risk merchant service providers and acquiring banks that partner with fireworks sellers, but rates vary from provider to provider and tend to run higher.
Each provider has a different approach to offsetting risks associated with inconsistent revenue and the potential of being shut down. If a fireworks company gets shut down or fined, goes bankrupt, or experiences excessive chargebacks or fraud, its merchant service provider is liable to handle these issues if the business can't. This leads to higher transaction fees than those charged to other retail businesses. Fireworks merchants are susceptible to specific business challenges, and the potential setbacks that can arise from not dealing with those challenges properly are taken into account by merchant service providers when they determine their level of risk:
- Local and state regulations about if, where, and when businesses are permitted to sell fireworks
- Proper licensure, permits, insurance, and tax paperwork
- Appropriate equipment, such as fire retardant gear and storage protocols, to minimize safety hazards
- Seasonal peaks and dips
- Customers' tendency to dispute fireworks purchases, whether they were legitimate ("friendly fraud") or not (the product was defective, led to an injury, was not as described, or otherwise gave the customer a reason to dispute the payment)
- Return policies or lack thereof
Legal age requirements
Consumer vs. commercial product requirements and restrictions, and variation in regulations for different products (e.g., sparklers, firecrackers, smoke bombs, roman candles, novelty fireworks, and other product types, as well as their size/extent, are all subject to different rules)
It's crucial for fireworks merchants to address all of these challenges and be operating legally according to their state and local ordinances before seeking a merchant service provider to process credit cards for business.
Benefits of Accepting Credit Cards
Fireworks companies that accept credit cards gain access to more customers, since not everyone carries cash. Consumers are also more likely to spend more with credit cards, rather than being limited by the amount of cash in their wallets. An electronic payment system gives you straightforward transaction records and monthly sales reports, which you can use to tighten up your accounting and inventory tracking, and even integrate to work together as one efficient operation. Your manual tasks become much lighter, freeing up more of your valuable time to devote to other aspects of running your business.
Furthermore, customers trust major card brands like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, and that trust tends to extend to your business when you accept credit cards. This added legitimacy is especially relevant for fireworks retailers, since they are selling products that can be hazardous to use. Customers don't want to run the risk of purchasing a faulty or dangerous product, so when your payment system exudes professionalism, it can translate to more confidence in your merchandise.
After one smooth checkout and product use experience, customers are likely to develop loyalty to your store and recommend it to friends, rather than take a chance trying out a new business. Fireworks are bought for special occasions, so customer satisfaction is a huge part of your business's success. In addition to providing quality products, expanding your online presence and promoting deals and loyalty programs are some ways you can boost your visibility.
Low Rate, Top Level of Service
At Website Payment Pro, we value building long-lasting partnerships with fireworks merchants over seeking a quick profit. Our primary goal is to provide support to get your business properly equipped for long-term viability and success. That includes putting a chargeback and fraud reduction plan in place. When we have your business protected from every angle, we are able to offer lower rates to process your card transactions. With 25 years of experience working with fireworks merchants, we guarantee that we'll give you the best rate of any verified provider.
During a free consultation, we'll show you exactly how with a side-by-side comparison of your current processing statement and our proposal. If you aren't processing yet, we'll guide you through the application process to get your business up and running quickly. With a fireworks merchant account from Website Payment Pro, you don't have to settle for high transaction rates, outdated equipment, and hidden fees so commonly exploited by other merchant service providers. Take your business wherever you want to go with a payment solution designed with your business in mind.
Contact Website Payment Pro today at 1-800-304-0555 to learn more about our secure payment processing solutions for your fireworks business.
