Prohibited and Restricted Businesses
Last updated: June 2024. This update clarifies our support for content creation platforms. No other sections of this document have been modified since the last update.
How to Use This Page
This page provides information on the types of businesses, products, and industries that can’t use PayWall's services. To use PayWall's services, you must remain compliant with these rules and restrictions. For more information about why we can’t work with every business, please see our article about business limitations.
High-Risk Jurisdictions and Persons
Use of PayWall's services for any dealings, engagement, or sale of goods or services either directly or indirectly with the following are prohibited:
High-Risk Jurisdictions
Persons located in, resident in, or a citizen of or products or services originating from jurisdictions that PayWall has determined for various reasons, including legal, contractual, and commercial reasons, to be prohibited, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.
High-Risk Persons
Persons PayWall has determined for various reasons, including legal, contractual, and commercial reasons, to be prohibited, such as those individuals or entities named to a restricted person or party list of, or otherwise restricted by, the US, United Kingdom, European Union, or United Nations, including the sanctions maintained by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control or the Denied Persons List or Entity List maintained by the US Department of Commerce.
Prohibited Businesses
You must not use PayWall’s services for any illegal activities or for the businesses or product types listed below. The types of businesses listed here are representative of prohibited categories, but this is not an exhaustive list.
- Any illegal products and services
- Illegal drugs, substances designed to mimic illegal drugs (including kava)
- Equipment and items intended to be used for making or using drugs
- Fake references or ID-providing services
- Telecommunications manipulation equipment including jamming devices
- Businesses that engage in, encourage, promote or celebrate unlawful violence or physical harm to persons or property
- Adult content and services (including pornography, escort services, and adult live chat features)
- Gambling, including games of chance and games of skill with monetary prizes
- Products and services that infringe on intellectual property rights
- High-risk financial services (including payday loans and high-interest rate loans)
- Cryptocurrency mining and staking
- Weapons, firearms, explosives, and dangerous materials
Restricted Businesses
You must not use PayWall’s services for the following activities, unless you have received prior written approval from PayWall. If you think your business falls into one of the restricted categories, please contact us.
- Content creation platforms
- Regulated industries (including CBD products, financial products and services, and pharmaceuticals)
- Non-fiat currency and stored value (including cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets)
- Travel (including travel reservation services and charter airlines)
- Multi-level marketing
- Crowdfunding and fundraising activities
Jurisdiction-Specific Prohibited Businesses
Certain countries have specific prohibitions. For example, in Brazil, genital prosthetics and sex accessories are prohibited; in Canada, mortgage consulting is prohibited; and in India, alcohol and dating services are prohibited.
Prohibited Uses of PayWall Products
PayWall products may never be used for certain activities, regardless of the industry. This includes using PayWall products with false or misleading information, for facilitating transactions on behalf of another undisclosed merchant, or for processing where there is no bona fide good or service sold.
Prohibitions for PayWall Issuing Products
You must not use PayWall Issuing for consumer use, international use, lending use, or other abusive uses such as using Issuing cards to abuse free trial products at scale.
If you have questions about prohibited and restricted businesses, you can contact us.
Frequently asked questions
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our support team for assistance.
Does PayWall handle VAT or taxes?
No, PayWall does not handle VAT or taxes at this time. You will need to manage them on your own.
Does PayWall have a monthly fee?
No, PayWall is free to use. You only pay a transaction fee when you receive a payment.
Can I have multiple PayWall accounts?
Yes, you can have multiple PayWall accounts. You can use different PayWall accounts for different purposes or businesses.
What is the maximum amount I can charge using PayWall?
PayWall does not impose any limits on the amounts you can charge. The maximum amount depends on the limits set by your own payment processor.
When will I receive funds in my bank account?
The timing of funds being deposited into your bank account depends entirely on your payment processor. PayWall does not hold or process funds.
What is the maximum amount I can charge per month?
PayWall does not impose any monthly limits. The maximum amount you can charge is determined by your payment processor's policies.
What type of payment methods can I accept?
PayWall supports integration with payment processors that accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The specific methods available depend on your payment processor.
Can I integrate PayWall with my accounting software?
If your accounting software has an API, PayWall can integrate with it. Please contact us to discuss the details and requirements.
I lost my password. How can I access my account?
You can reset your password by clicking on the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. Enter your email address, and we will send you an email with a link to reset your password.
Do I need a US bank account to use PayWall?
PayWall works with payment processors in 47 countries. You do not need a US bank account unless required by your payment processor. For the latest list of supported countries, please contact us.
Can PayWall work with multiple payment processors at the same time?
Yes, PayWall can integrate with multiple payment processors, allowing you to manage payments from different providers seamlessly.
Does PayWall support recurring payments or subscriptions?
PayWall integrates with payment processors that support recurring payments. The availability of this feature depends on your processor's capabilities.
Can I customize the checkout experience for my website or app?
Absolutely! PayWall allows you to fully customize the checkout process to match your brand, ensuring a seamless user experience.
Can PayWall integrate with my legacy systems?
Yes, PayWall can integrate with legacy systems using APIs or custom relays, ensuring compatibility across your existing workflows.
Does PayWall support order management systems?
PayWall can integrate with most order management systems, automating order creation and tracking after payment is completed.
How does PayWall handle accounting software integration?
PayWall can integrate with popular accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero via their APIs, automatically syncing transaction data for accurate bookkeeping.
Is PayWall compatible with mobile apps?
Yes, PayWall can integrate seamlessly into mobile applications through APIs, enabling smooth transactions across platforms.
Does PayWall provide APIs for developers?
Yes, PayWall offers developer-friendly APIs for easy integration with websites, apps, and backend systems.
What security measures does PayWall offer?
PayWall integrates with payment processors that use industry-standard security protocols such as PCI DSS compliance, tokenization, and encryption.
What kind of support does PayWall offer?
Our team provides 24/7 support to assist with integrations, technical issues, and general questions. Contact us at hello@paywall.app.