If you’re operating a tobacco or cigar business, you may face difficulty obtaining a tobacco merchant account. At Avid Merchant Services, we proudly offer payment solutions to tobacco and cigar merchants!
 A tobacco vendor account allows merchants to accept credit and debit card payments for their merchandise. Nevertheless, establishing a tobacco vendor account may pose challenges because of the industry’s high-risk profile.
At Avid, our team members specialize in the tobacco sector and are ready to help you secure a vendor account. We offer tailored payment options that cater to the unique requirements and processes of your business.
Tobacco merchants pose a reputational risk to financial institutions due to various factors including health concerns, addictive properties, and strict government regulations. Fortunately, Avid Merchant Services excels in facilitating connections between businesses and high-risk merchant accounts. Irrespective of the industry, we are dedicated to providing credit card processing services for your business.
Online
Due to the challenges associated with verifying the authenticity of online customers, eCommerce is considered the most stringent payment processing method for tobacco retailers. This is primarily due to the increased risk of transaction fraud that online stores face, resulting in higher credit card processing fees imposed by card brands and processors. However, Avid Merchant Services offers highly competitive rates for online payment solutions tailored specifically for e-commerce merchants in the tobacco industry.
Retail
Among all tobacco merchant accounts, retail merchant accounts are considered the least risky. This is because card-present transactions provide an extra layer of security, as store clerks can verify the age and identification of customers. Moreover, the retail environment allows for the sale of almost every type of tobacco product, including flavored vape pods. As a retail merchant, you have a wide range of point-of-sale options to choose from for your tobacco business.
Over the phone
Manually-entered card transactions for tobacco products are subject to higher costs and must adhere to the same shipment regulations as online transactions. By obtaining an over-the-phone or MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order) merchant account from Avid Merchant Services, your tobacco business can benefit from a secure payment gateway that provides additional security measures.
By considering the numerous external influences that can affect the tobacco industry’s profitability, it is prudent to position yourself to capitalize on revenue opportunities. Embracing credit card payments eliminates possible obstacles, enabling you to increase tobacco sales, regardless of whether your business is well-established or newly launched.
Moreover, accepting card payments extends your business’s reach to the online market, significantly broadening its pool of potential customers.
Given the numerous external factors impacting the profitability of the tobacco industry, it is wise to position yourself to maximize revenue potential.
By accepting credit card payments, you can eliminate barriers and increase tobacco sales, whether your business is established or new.
Furthermore, accepting card payments provides access to the online marketplace, opening up opportunities to reach a wider customer base.
At Avid Merchant Services, we match you with the payment solution that best supports your tobacco business requirements. Our merchants tailor personalized solutions to minimize risk and ensure reliable processing.Â
These solutions encompass brokering changes mandated by acquiring banks, secure MOTO and in-house integrated payment gateways, compliance maintenance with onsite modifications, risk monitoring tools for fraud detection and prevention, chargeback mitigation services, and tobacco payment processing integrations.
 Whether you seek recurring payment options, contactless and mobile payment solutions, or integration with your CRM software, we offer a seamless experience. Our in-house procedures expedite the application process by customizing payment processing applications for each tobacco and cigar merchant, allowing us to integrate solutions according to your specific needs.
Â
Copyright 2025 Avid Merchant Services. All Rights Reserved
