Supplement and peptide merchant accounts share the same high-risk underwriting bucket. The application, document checklist, rates (2.4–2.9% effective), and rolling reserves (5–10%) are nearly identical. The only meaningful difference is MCC code — supplements get 5499, peptides usually get 5912.
Why supplements are high-risk too
Card networks bundle supplements with nutraceuticals because of three patterns: subscription billing, free-trial offers, and structure-function health claims. Even single-purchase supplement brands inherit the category baseline of 1.2–2% chargebacks vs. 0.6% mainstream ecommerce.
What overlaps with peptide accounts
- Same acquiring banks (Esquire, Merrick, plus 4–5 specialist offshore options)
- Same gateways (NMI, Authorize.net, USAePay)
- Same chargeback infrastructure (Ethoca, Verifi)
- Same recurring billing tools
- Same 24–72 hour approval timeline
What differs
| Field | Supplement | Peptide |
|---|---|---|
| Default MCC | 5499 | 5912 |
| Reserve range | 5–8% | 7–10% |
| Chargeback baseline | 1.2–2% | 1.5–3% |
| Average ticket | $40–80 | $80–150 |
| Subscription % of revenue | 60–80% | 30–50% |
How to apply
If you sell both, list both on the application and you will receive a single MID covering the full catalogue. Hiding peptide SKUs and adding them post-approval triggers an account review and possible termination.
Frequently asked questions
Can a vitamin and mineral company use a peptide merchant account?
Yes. The processor will route it under the supplement MCC (5499) which is actually lower-risk classification.
Do supplement accounts allow free-trial offers?
Specialists allow them with three guardrails: 14-day notice, single-click cancel, no negative-option language. Without those guardrails, expect higher reserves or rejection.
What is the cheapest supplement merchant account?
Anyone quoting under 2.2% effective is either subsidising the rate (and will raise it) or running flat-rate that costs more long-term. Real interchange-plus pricing sits around 2.4%.
Apply via credit card processing or read more in the nutraceutical merchant account guide.
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