High Risk Merchant Accounts 101 – The Book, Coming Soon
The Essential Guide to Payment Processing in High Risk & Regulated Industries
Adam Carlson and Andy Hagans | Coming 2026
Payment processing can make or break your business.
For merchants in high risk and regulated industries, that’s not a figure of speech. A single account freeze can cut off cash flow overnight. A chargeback spike can lock down funds for 180 days. A policy change at an acquiring bank can shut you down without warning—even if you’ve done nothing wrong.
Most merchants never see it coming. Not because they’re reckless, but because no one ever explained how the system actually works.
What You’ll Learn
- How banks, processors, and card networks actually assess risk—and why your business may be flagged without your knowledge
- The difference between mainstream PayFacs and dedicated high risk providers, and why it matters
- How to prepare a bulletproof merchant account application and avoid the mistakes that cause most delays
- What chargeback thresholds mean, how monitoring programs work, and how to stay clear of them
- How to build a resilient payment infrastructure that supports long-term scale
More Than a Warning. A Playbook.
Whether you’ve already experienced an account freeze or you’re building proactively, this book gives you the context and control most merchants don’t know they need.
Praise For The Book
“Cuts through myths, exposes how underwriting really works, and gives merchants the tools they need to protect their revenue and scale with confidence.”
James Huber, Esq.,
Managing Partner, Global Legal Law Firm
“Delivers real-world insights you can actually apply—whether you’re new to high risk payments or a seasoned operator.”
Eric Knapp,
President, Electronic Verification Systems
Published by Spoonbridge Press. Produced by SoarPay.