Industries eCom Pay can approve for payment processing
The full list of sectors eCom Pay underwrites for card payments in the UK, from everyday online and in person businesses to the specialist sectors most providers decline on sight. Experienced underwriters shape every application, approval lands in 24 hours once your documents are in, settlement is next working day, and startups are welcome throughout.
24 hrs
approval, once documents are in
150+
currencies processed
4.5
Trustpilot rating
2010
processing payments since
Why eCom Pay exists
Why apply through eCom Pay rather than directly to an acquirer?
A direct application to a large acquirer is decided by an automated risk model that scores your category. Your file is one of thousands and the outcome makes little difference to the acquirer. eCom Pay is a separate underwriting stage that sits before the acquirer sees your application, where experienced people build the case for your business and secure the terms.
What settlement and reserve terms do high risk merchants get with eCom Pay?
Next working day settlement and no rolling reserve. Every eCom Pay merchant, including those in high risk and specialist sectors, is settled the next working day with no reserve held back. That is the outcome the specialist underwriting stage exists to deliver, and it is written into your merchant agreement before you sign.
Can eCom Pay get me approved if I have been declined elsewhere?
Yes, in most cases. A decline from an automated model tells you how the category was scored, not whether your business is approvable. The application is built around your controls, documents and trading, presented properly to specialist acquiring, and approved in 24 hours once your documents are in.
Online and eCommerce
Everyday online businesses, approved on the standard track with next working day settlement.
eCommerce and online retail
Clothing, homeware, electronics, gifts and general online stores
Custom made clothing and accessories
Bespoke, made to order and long lead time items with deposits or full payment up front
Online marketplaces and platforms
Multi seller sites and service platforms
Digital entertainment
Video games, in-app purchases, streaming and digital downloads
Online ordering and booking
Restaurants, takeaways, salons, tours and appointments
Subscriptions and direct marketing
Newsletters, memberships, continuity billing and subscription boxes
Pay monthly websites and software
Web design, SaaS and IT services sold online
Health, pharmacy and wellbeing
Underwritten by a specialist with first hand pharmacy experience.
Online pharmacies and chemists
GPhC registered pharmacies selling P and POM medicines with a prescriber in the loop
Health and beauty retailers
Skincare, cosmetics and beauty products sold online
Clinics, dental and medical services
Private clinics, dentists, physios and aesthetic practices
CBD products
Oils, topicals, creams, lotions and balms with lab reports
Supplements and nutraceuticals
Vitamins, sports nutrition and wellness products, including subscription models
Wholesale pharmaceuticals
Licensed wholesale of prescription and proprietary drugs, online
Counselling and therapy services
Private counselling, coaching and therapy practices
Body care services
Salons, spas, barbers, personal training and diet or hair consultancy
Specialist and regulated sectors
Each of these has its own page and its own approval path, shaped by experienced underwriters.
Crypto exchanges, wallets and on-ramps
Card to crypto and crypto related services with GBP settlement
Forex, CFD and trading platforms
Client deposits for licensed brokers, with instant account funding
Financial services
Licensed lending, brokerage, insurance intermediaries and money services
Gaming and gambling
UK licensed operators, esports, skill gaming and iGaming platforms
Competition websites and prize draws
Skill competitions, prize draws and raffles run within UK rules
Vape, e-cigarettes and e-liquids
Online and in store, with age verification built into the account
Cigars, cigarettes and tobacco products
Online tobacco retail with age verification
Legal cannabis businesses
Cultivation, production and sale where it is legal in the merchant's jurisdiction, and prescription cannabis based medicines
Adult content platforms and dating
Registered companies operating content, subscription, chat, dating and directory platforms
Dating services
Dating sites and apps with membership billing and ID verification
Direct selling and MLM
Product led direct selling companies with retail customers
High value goods
Jewellery, watches, precious metals, art and antiques, including payments of £10,000 and above
General trading companies
Import, export and multi category traders
Travel, hospitality and venues
Deposits, balances, no-shows and late night trading, all understood before the application is written.
Travel agents and tour operators
ATOL and ABTA aware underwriting for package and tailor made travel
Airlines and charter operators
Scheduled and charter flights with multi currency processing
Cruise lines and boat hire
Cruises, yacht charter, marina services and boat rental
Hotels, B&Bs and accommodation
Pre-authorisations, deposits, no-show charges and pay by link
Restaurants, bars and takeaways
Pay at table, QR ordering, kitchen displays and online ordering
Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues
Late night venues with a bar, taking payments face to face
Camps and experiences
Children's, recreational and sporting camps, events and experiences
Taxis, transport and transfers
Taxi firms, airport transfers and transport services
Education and services
Deferred delivery is understood, and startups are welcome.
Training providers, academies and tuition
Non degree education, courses, bootcamps, beauty and trade academies and tutors
Cleaning and home services
Cleaning, laundry, carpet and car cleaning, phone and online payments
Consulting, agencies and professional services
Consultancy, marketing, legal, accounting and payroll services
IT and communication services
Managed IT, telecoms and communication services sold online
Real estate and lettings
Agents, lettings and property services
Repair services
Appliance, phone, computer and general repair businesses
Charities and social services
Registered charities and regulated non governmental organisations
Wholesale and B2B
Office equipment, furniture, computer services, medical supplies, durable goods and fuel wholesale
Fuel and forecourts
Petrol stations and fuel retailers, in person and pay at pump
Automotive
Garages, repairs, tyres, servicing and car sales, online and in person
How approval works, whatever the sector
Tell us what the business does
Products, channels, volumes and where you are with documents. A specialist comes back the same working day with a straight answer on the route.
The application is shaped, not just submitted
Experienced underwriters present your business the way acquiring needs to see it, so nothing bounces back.
Approved in 24 hours
Once your documents are in, approval lands in 24 hours. The only thing that moves the date is how quickly the paperwork arrives.
Live, with a person behind you
Gateway, card machines or both on one account, a dedicated account manager, a Risk Analyst on specialist accounts, and next working day settlement from day one.
Industries and approval, frequently asked
Does eCom Pay approve startups?
Yes. Startups are welcome in every sector on this page. A well planned new business with clear products, a compliant website and the right documents is approved on the same 24 hour timeline as an established one.
What if my industry is not on this list?
Ask. The list covers the sectors approved most often, not every sector that can be approved. Tell us what the business does and a specialist gives you a straight answer, usually the same working day, with no obligation.
Are there industries eCom Pay cannot approve?
Yes. Unlicensed gambling, individual escort or companionship services, products that are illegal in the merchant's jurisdiction and anything the card schemes prohibit outright. If you are unsure which side of the line a business sits, ask before applying.
Does being on this list mean I am automatically approved?
No. It means the sector is one eCom Pay underwrites. Approval still depends on the business, its documents and its controls, which is exactly what the specialist helps you present. Approval lands in 24 hours once your documents are in.
Is the process different for high risk sectors?
The paperwork is fuller and the questions are more specific, but the timeline is the same. Experienced underwriters shape the application, a dedicated Risk Analyst is assigned to specialist accounts, and settlement is next working day from the first transaction.
Can I take payments online and in person on one account?
Yes. Gateway, card machines, Pay by Link, virtual terminal and ePOS all sit on one merchant account with one settlement and one team to call, whichever sector you trade in.
Your industry, approved properly
Experienced underwriters process your application and guide you step by step, approved in 24 hours once your documents are in.