Supplement & nootropic payment processing
Accept credit cards for supplements, nutraceuticals and nootropics. A high-risk card processor at 2.5% + card processor fee, with no rolling reserve and no minimum monthly volume.
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
01 · SUPPLEMENTS ON STRIPE
Why Stripe, PayPal and Square restrict supplement and nootropic stores
Plain vitamins and protein often process fine. Problems start with health claims, nootropics and subscription offers, which mainstream processors treat as a high-risk category.
Processors exclude categories, not merchants
Stripe, PayPal and Square don't vet each store. It's cheaper for them to block a whole category, and nutraceuticals, nootropics and "smart drugs" sit on their restricted lists. Shopify Payments runs on Stripe, so the same rules apply there.
Health claims carry regulatory risk
In the US, supplements may make structure/function claims but not disease claims, and the FDA and FTC police that line. Product copy that sounds therapeutic can trigger a processor review, whatever the label says.
Subscriptions raise dispute rates
Free trials that roll into recurring billing are a well-known chargeback pattern in nutraceuticals. Visa and Mastercard have specific rules for them, and processors watch the category closely.
What usually triggers a review
- Health or performance claims on product pages
- Nootropic or cognitive-enhancement products
- Trial offers and subscription billing
- A sudden jump in volume or chargebacks
Merchant category codes (MCC) for supplements
Your MCC tells card networks what you sell. Supplement and nootropic stores usually land in one of these:
| MCC | Category | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 5499 | Miscellaneous food stores | Vitamin, supplement and nutrition stores. |
| 5122 | Drugs and drug sundries | Nutraceuticals and nootropics. |
| 5912 | Drug stores and pharmacies | Pharmacy-style supplement retailers. |
| 5999 | Miscellaneous specialty retail | Mixed specialty stores. |
02 · YOUR OPTIONS
Three ways a supplement store can accept credit cards
A mainstream processor, a nutraceutical merchant account, or a high-risk card processor built for small and new supplement brands.
| Stripe, PayPal, Square | Nutraceutical merchant account | BrokkrPay | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nootropics & health claims | Restricted | Accepted | Accepted |
| All-in cost | Standard rates, until restricted | 8–15% | 2.5% + card processor fee |
| Rolling reserve | Balance often held on closure | 5–10% for 90–180 days | None |
| Minimum monthly volume | None | Often high | None |
| Setup fee | $0 | $0–$2,500 | $0 |
| Time to go live | Minutes | 1–4 weeks | Under 24 hours |
03 · WHAT IT COSTS
What supplement payment processing really costs
Nutraceutical merchant accounts stack fees and hold back part of your revenue. Here is a supplement store doing $50,000 a month.
NUTRACEUTICAL MERCHANT ACCOUNT
in fees per month, at 8–15% all-in
- Setup fee
- $0–$2,500
- Monthly and gateway fees
- Yes
- Held in reserve
- ~$5,000
BROKKRPAY
per month, at 2.5% + ~1.5% card processor fee*
- Setup fee
- $0
- Monthly fees
- $0
- Held in reserve
- $0
*Example rate. The card processor fee varies by region; your full fee list is in the portal once you've registered. Reserve shown at 10% of monthly volume.
04 · THE STRIPE ALTERNATIVE
A Stripe alternative for supplements and nootropics
BrokkrPay is a high-risk card processor for supplements, nootropics, research peptides and SARMs. These are categories we accept by design.
2.5% + card processor fee
One simple rate. No setup fee, no monthly fee.
No rolling reserve
None of your revenue is held back for months.
No minimum volume
Built for new and growing supplement brands with no history.
Every major way to pay
Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Every order screened
Risky orders are blocked before they become chargebacks.
Live within 24 hours
From sign-up to your first card payment in under a day.
05 · GETTING STARTED
How to start accepting cards for supplements
- 1
Sign up for free
No setup fee and no monthly minimum.
- 2
Top up 250 USD in credits
Prepaid credits cover processing on your first 10,000 USD of orders. Not a setup fee.
- 3
Add your company information
Company registration, the products you sell and your website.
- 4
Integrate your store
WooCommerce plugin, WordPress plugin or direct API. Our AI skill helps Claude Code, Codex and similar coding agents do it for you.
- 5
Take your first payment
Every order shows up in your portal. See the full guide.
06 · WHO IT SUITS
Built for small and new supplement brands
BrokkrPay serves every lawful supplement business, but it fills the gap high-risk processors leave for smaller operators. Who it's for
- Supplement and nutraceutical stores
- Nootropic and cognitive-supplement brands
- New stores with no processing history
- Stores below the minimum volume high-risk processors require
- Stores that also sell research peptides or SARMs
07 · STAY IN GOOD STANDING
How to keep your supplement store's processing healthy
Card networks watch your chargeback rate. Visa's and Mastercard's monitoring programs start flagging merchants at around 1.5%. Aim to stay under 0.5%.
Keep claims compliant
Structure/function wording only. No claims to treat or cure.
Be clear about subscriptions
Show the price and renewal terms upfront, and make cancelling easy.
Ship fast, with tracking
"Item not received" is a top chargeback reason.
Make refunds easy
A refund costs less than a chargeback.
What is the MATCH list?
MATCH is Mastercard's database of terminated merchants. A listing lasts five years and makes a new merchant account very hard to get. Low chargebacks and accurate business descriptions keep you off it.
08 · FAQ
Supplement & nootropic payment processing FAQ
Can you sell supplements on Stripe?
Plain vitamins and protein often process fine. Stripe restricts nutraceuticals, nootropics and supplements that make health claims, and those stores are often reviewed and closed. PayPal, Square and Shopify Payments (which runs on Stripe) apply similar rules.
Can you sell nootropics on Stripe?
Not reliably. Nootropics and "smart drugs" fall into the restricted category on Stripe, PayPal and Square. Nootropic brands need a high-risk card processor such as BrokkrPay.
What is a nutraceutical merchant account?
A merchant account from an acquirer that accepts supplement and nutraceutical risk. They typically cost 8–15% all-in, hold a 5–10% rolling reserve and often require a high monthly volume.
What is the best Stripe alternative for supplements and nootropics?
A high-risk card processor that accepts the category by design. BrokkrPay charges 2.5% + card processor fee, holds no rolling reserve and has no minimum monthly volume.
How much does supplement payment processing cost?
Nutraceutical merchant accounts cost 8–15% all-in plus a 5–10% reserve. BrokkrPay costs 2.5% + card processor fee (around 1.5% as an example; it varies by region), with no reserve and no setup fee.
Does BrokkrPay hold a rolling reserve?
No. BrokkrPay holds no rolling reserve.
Is there a minimum monthly volume?
No. Newly launched supplement and nootropic stores with no processing history are welcome.
How fast can a supplement store start accepting cards?
Nutraceutical merchant accounts typically take one to four weeks. With BrokkrPay, most stores go from sign-up to first payment in under 24 hours.
Can a supplement store accept Apple Pay and Google Pay?
Yes. BrokkrPay supports Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Does BrokkrPay work with WooCommerce and WordPress?
Yes. There's a WooCommerce plugin, a WordPress plugin and a direct API, plus an AI skill for Claude Code, Codex and similar coding agents.
What MCC do supplement stores use?
Vitamin and supplement stores often use 5499. Nutraceuticals and nootropics may fall under 5122, and pharmacy-style retailers under 5912.
How do I pay BrokkrPay?
With prepaid credits. Start with at least 250 USD, which covers processing on your first 10,000 USD of orders. It is not a setup fee.