Payment gateway and card processing for money services businesses with a US LLC

First, we review your checkout process, target markets, and desired payment methods. Based on your existing or required acquiring relationships, we match your business to a gateway partner that can support your MCC and transaction profile. We then define the integration scope, 3-D Secure strategy, and fraud prevention tooling required.

Our team compiles the onboarding file, including your MSB licence, AML programme, and corporate documents. We present this to the chosen gateway provider and coordinate the technical integration and go-live. We also help plan routing and cascading rules to ensure that a decline from one acquirer does not interrupt your ability to process payments.

Compliance teams focus on five key areas. They will review your technical integration, particularly your PCI-DSS scope and how you handle cardholder data. They analyse your traffic sources and marketing claims to ensure they align with your approved business model. Transaction descriptors are checked to ensure they are clear and reduce the risk of customer disputes.

Underwriters will scrutinise your fraud controls, especially your implementation of 3-D Secure, to mitigate unauthorised transaction risk. Finally, they verify that your target markets and remittance corridors are consistent with your licensing and the acquirer's own risk appetite. A well-prepared file anticipates these checks.

A US LLC is a flexible vehicle, commonly formed in states like Wyoming or Delaware. While easy to set up, its success with payment providers hinges on demonstrating operational substance. FinCEN registration is a federal requirement for MSBs, alongside any state-level licences. While a local office is not mandatory, a real US business address and evidence of operations are critical for underwriting.

The primary processing currency will be USD. Accessing EUR and GBP processing typically requires relationships with EEA or UK-licensed EMIs. For tax purposes, foreign-owned single-member LLCs have specific IRS reporting obligations, including Form 5472. We find that while many fintechs can serve a clean US LLC, high-risk MCCs like 6051 require specialist acquirers prepared for the regulatory oversight involved.

Gateway applications for MSBs are often rejected for reasons tied to licensing, AML, or perceived operational risk. A common failure is not holding the correct licences for all operating jurisdictions or remittance corridors. Underwriters will also decline files with weak or poorly documented AML/CFT programmes. Another red flag is a lack of substance; an LLC with no clear ties to the US or evidence of real operations appears high-risk.

We prevent these issues by ensuring your file is complete before submission. We verify that your licensing matches your stated corridors and that your AML programme is well-documented. By demonstrating the legitimacy and compliance of your US operations, we frame your business as a professional, regulated entity, not a high-risk shell company. We decline to work with any unlicensed remittance operators.

For a US LLC MSB with acquiring relationships already in place, establishing a new gateway connection is typically fast. The process, from submission to technical go-live, usually takes between one and four weeks. This timeline depends on the complexity of the integration and the responsiveness of the technical teams on both sides.

Staying live requires ongoing compliance. This includes maintaining your MSB licensing, conducting regular AML audits, and adhering to the gateway and acquirer's terms of service. Proactively managing your fraud and dispute ratios and keeping your compliance documentation updated is key to maintaining a stable processing relationship long-term.