Payment gateway and card processing for precious metals and bullion dealers with a US LLC

We begin by reviewing your existing checkout, target markets and desired payment methods. Based on this, we identify the type of gateway that best fits the acquiring and APM relationships your US LLC can access. Our team defines the integration scope, confirms PCI compliance requirements, and specifies the 3-D Secure and fraud prevention tools necessary for bullion sales. We then compile the complete onboarding file for submission to the chosen gateway provider, managing the technical coordination for go-live. We also help plan payment routing and cascading to ensure that a single declined transaction does not disrupt your entire payment flow.

Underwriters for bullion merchants focus on risk mitigation. They will examine your website's marketing claims and traffic sources to ensure they are transparent and not misleading. Your proposed integration method and PCI compliance scope are scrutinised to protect cardholder data. They will review your transaction descriptors to prevent ambiguity that can lead to chargebacks. Crucially, underwriters assess your fraud controls, particularly the mandatory use of 3-D Secure for online transactions. Your business must be registered for AML supervision where required, and we will decline any profile unable to prove the legitimate origin of the metals sold.

While forming a US LLC in states like Wyoming or Delaware is straightforward, using it for a high-risk industry like bullion requires careful planning. A US business address and clear evidence of operations are vital for credibility with underwriters. While many fintech platforms serve US entities, they often cannot support high-risk MCCs. Therefore, placement with a specialist US or international acquirer is usually necessary. Your entity must have its Articles of Organisation, EIN confirmation letter, and a comprehensive operating agreement. Foreign-owned single-member LLCs also have specific IRS reporting obligations, such as Form 5472, which your counsel can explain.

Applications for bullion dealers are often rejected due to factors related to the high-value nature of the goods. Underwriters are wary of unclear AML policies, pricing that is not transparently linked to market rates, and inadequate fraud controls. A history of high chargebacks, even if infrequent, can also lead to closure. We prevent these issues by building a file that preemptively answers these concerns. This includes a clear AML policy, documented supplier relationships, evidence of appropriate 3-D Secure implementation, and a clear refund policy that accounts for price volatility. This proactive approach demonstrates a low-risk, compliant operation from the outset.

For a US LLC bullion dealer, establishing the gateway itself is relatively fast, typically taking one to four weeks once the underlying acquiring facility is approved and in place. The main dependency is always securing the card processing account first. Onboarding involves submitting the file we prepare to the gateway provider and then working with their technical team to integrate the gateway into your sales platform. To maintain a healthy account, it is critical to monitor fraud scores, keep chargeback ratios low, and notify your providers of any significant changes to your business model, transaction volumes or average ticket value.