Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose Elite 2A pay
- We are a 2A-friendly merchant services provider. Unlike the big banks and large payment processors, we are proud to support FFLs and all the associated types of businesses.
- We offer products and solutions that your business needs. Payment processing solutions, integration tools, and products, including financing products that support your business.
- Elite employs firearms enthusiasts and advocates. Our team specializes in understanding the firearms industry’s unique challenges and regulations.
- Best Price Guarantee. We offer competitive rates and fees and are confident that we can save you money. We guarantee it. If we can’t save you money, we will give you a $500 Gift Card.
- Support here in the USA. We are a local company based in the USA; our team provides our merchants with the highest level of customer service.
Don’t just take our word for it; read what our customers say!
Why is elite 2A Pay different from other merchant service providers?
here are the five main reasons:
- We believe in and 100% support our 2nd Amendment rights as a company.
- We specialize in providing gun-friendly credit card processing to online-only, brick-and-mortar, and omnichannel FFLs of all sizes.
- We work exclusively with private, Second Amendment-friendly banks, which enables us to provide the most reliable credit card processing solutions in the firearms industry.
- We work with gun-friendly credit card processors to ensure that we can provide a payment processing solution for every FFL and associated industry customer.
- We offer competitive rates, exceptional customer support, and easy integrations with firearm industry software and retail platforms.
What platforms is elite 2A pay compatible with?
Elite 2A Pay is compatible with most point-of-sale systems, but we have a few that we love to integrate with.
Elite 2A Pay payment processing is compatible with 99% of point-of-sale systems. Some just require a third-party connection tool for us to integrate with.
What are the types of firearms industry businesses that Elite 2A Pay accepts as clients?
We provide merchant accounts for all types of firearm industry businesses, including businesses considered “high risk” by other merchant services providers. We often provide services for companies that the big banks reject for “political” or ideological reasons. Our clients include local gun shops, gun and ammo retailers, sporting goods stores, shooting ranges, manufacturers of related accessory products, and specialty shops supporting the gun industry. Whether the business is a physical retail store, a manufacturing warehouse, an online business, or any combination, we have products and services to help your business with payment processing.
Do I need an FFL to obtain a merchant account?
Yes, if you are selling firearms. We provide services to a wide range of gun and firearm-related industry customers. If you sell firearms, you need a valid or pending FFL to accept credit and debit card payments. Ammunition and accessories sellers do not typically require a license.
Do I need a firearm-friendly payment processor to sell ammo?
Yes, businesses that sell ammunition have the same hurdles that other firearms dealers have processing credit and debit card payments. Those hurdles are solved by partnering with Elite 2A Pay.
How do I apply for a merchant account?
To apply, first, you need to complete the online application (which takes about five minutes) and upload any additional required documents (if you are selling firearms, you will need a valid or pending FFL). You will also be asked to provide a copy of your existing merchant services statement or estimate your average monthly sales volume with a breakdown by transaction type (e.g., e-commerce vs. phone order).
What and how long is the Application Process?
Our application process is as easy as 1-2-3; you’ll be accepting payments before you know it.
- Contact us by phone or online you will be assigned to a 2A dedicated account executive. They will walk you through the online application process (it takes just a few minutes).
- Provide us a copy of your current merchant statement, and within hours, you’ll receive a written quote with our pricing and terms.
- Once you sign the application, sit back, relax, and let the Elite team do all the work for you. We make it a quick and easy process the way it should be!
How long does it take until I get approved for my merchant account?
Once you apply, your merchant account will be pre-approved within 24 hours and fully approved (through underwriting) within three to five business days. Be assured that we will work diligently to get your account approved in a very timely manner. We aim to get your merchant account up and running as quickly as possible.
What is a “rolling reserve”?
A rolling reserve requires a percentage of the credit card volume processed (typically 5-10%) to be held in reserve. A rolling reserve is protection for the merchant account and bank from chargebacks. Typically, held funds are gradually released from the reserve after six to 12 months of consistent processing with low chargebacks.
Does Elite 2A Pay require a “rolling reserve”?
Sometimes, depending on business history and the type of business, we may require a rolling reserve to be established in order to obtain initial approval. This can be reconsidered after the company has established a positive processing history with the bank.
How do you prevent chargeback problems?
You can avoid excessive chargebacks on your merchant account by documenting transactions well and explaining any terms and conditions clearly. If you are shipping items, be sure to have the tracking details of the transaction in the files as well as all the details you collect about your customer showing it was a legitimate transaction. Being diligent about records helps protect your business and the people who have had their credit card numbers stolen. For online, you can add a few more protection tools that we assist with to mitigate online fraud, as most companies don’t know about these extra features.
Can you dispute a chargeback?
Yes, if you do get a chargeback, you will have a chance to dispute it and respond with all of the details showing that you did everything to ensure it was a legitimate transaction. Plus, with our exclusive system, you can also handle your chargeback before it even becomes a chargeback. That is what sets up apart.
Aren’t all Merchant service providers the same?
No, in fact, many of the largest payment processors actually specify in their legal terms they will not support the firearms industry.
The big three (Paypal, Stripe, and Square) won’t open a firearm merchant account because they consider the industry too “high risk.” For example, here’s the language that bans firearm sales from the three most popular online credit card solutions:
“You may not use the PayPal service for activities that: …violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation that relates to transactions involving … ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories, or (k) certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law.”
Terms of Service restrictions… “use the Services for the sale of firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, weapons or other devices designed to cause physical harm.”
Terms of Service restrictions… “Firearms, explosives, and dangerous materials: Guns, gunpowders, ammunitions, weapons, fireworks, and other explosives…”
Some “anti-gun” banks and credit card processors have issues with non-firearm shooting-related accessories (such as holsters). Regardless, even if some of the accessories you sell are allowed by a company, it makes much more sense to have only one credit card processor for ALL transactions.
Then, there are the companies that will open up a high-risk merchant account, but the costs are typically too high to make sense for most firearms retailers. While many companies promote themselves as “high-risk friendly,” they charge companies that would fall into the high-risk category a premium, which means their costs are higher than merchants in other industries.