Rates, reserves and settlement
01
Commercial summary
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Highly compliant RUO peptide merchants. Domestic US processing. | Mid-compliant RUO peptide merchants. Offshore. | Mid-compliant RUO peptide merchants. Offshore. | Mid-compliant RUO peptide merchants. Offshore. |
| Minimum monthly volume | No startups — minimum $50k | No minimum | No minimum | Not specified |
| Card networks | Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Visa, Mastercard | Visa, Mastercard | Visa, Mastercard |
| Processing rateMiscellaneous fees in Schedule A | 8.95% | 12.95% | 7.99% | 8.95–11% depending on size. Room for a lower rate at high volume. |
| Descriptor | Custom | Generic | Generic | Custom |
| Monthly minimum fee | N/A | Overhead fees | $1,295 — onboarding $1,500 | N/A |
| Payouts | ACH — no cost | 1% | 1% | Wire cost |
| Compliance fee | $100/month + $0.10 per transaction | $100/month + $0.10 per transaction | $100/month + $0.10 per transaction | $100/month + $0.10 per transaction |
| Manual compliance review fee | $250 — mandatory on all accounts | $250 — mandatory on all accounts | $250 — mandatory on all accounts | $250 — mandatory on all accounts |
| Reserve | 5% rolling — 90 days | 10% rolling — 180 days | 5% rolling — 180 days | 10% rolling — 180 days |
| Settlement / funding | Domestic — daily T+2 | Weekly | ACH — daily T+3 | Twice a week |
| Payout currency | USD | USDT | USD | USD |
| Gateway | PWW gateway | PWW gateway | Aux gateway | In-house gateway |
| Platform support | All eCommerce platforms except Shopify * — WooCommerce preferred | All eCommerce platforms except Shopify * — WooCommerce preferred | All eCommerce platforms except Shopify * — WooCommerce preferred | All eCommerce platforms except Shopify * — WooCommerce preferred |
| MATCH list | Not accepted | Accepted | Not accepted | Not accepted |
| Owner and business | US | US & international | US & international | US |
| Affiliate programs | Not allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Not allowed |
| International shipping | US only — no PO boxes | Flexible | Flexible | US only — no PO boxes |
What it takes to get live
02
Approval and onboarding
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval rates | Standard domestic — higher than offshore, in the 90s | Low 70s | 60s, may vary. Phone number must match what the bank has on record for the card. | High 70s to low 80s |
| Onboarding time | Typically 2–4 weeks from complete submission | 48 hours | Typically 2–4 weeks from complete submission | Typically 2–4 weeks from complete submission; expedited for large merchants |
| Volume substantiation | Prior processing statements required (card, ACH, Zelle, crypto) | N/A | Prior processing statements preferred (card, ACH, Zelle, crypto) | Prior processing statements required (card, ACH, Zelle, crypto) |
| Financials required | P&L, balance sheet or tax returns required above $500k monthly volume | N/A | N/A | P&L, balance sheet or tax returns required above $500k monthly volume, in some cases |
| Documentation | Merchant Agreement · Reserve Form · Driver’s license or government ID · SS-4 · Articles of Incorporation · Voided check · Three months of bank statements · Processing statements · Safety / Material Data Sheet | Standard | Standard | Standard |
What has to be on the storefront
03
Website requirements
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age gate | Required — 21+ affirmation before any product is visible. Managed for you. | Required — 21+ affirmation before any product is visible. Managed for you. | Required — 21+ affirmation before any product is visible. Managed for you. | Required — 21+ affirmation before any product is visible. Managed for you. |
| Login gateRegistration wall | Required — account creation before any browsing or purchase. Complex setup ** | Not required | Not required | Required — account creation before checkout, not at landing. Simple setup *** |
| KYC form at checkout | Not required | Required | Not required | Required |
| Guest checkout | Prohibited | Allowed — information collected by the compliance layer | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Minimum purchase | $150 minimum order | Maximum ticket size $600 | No minimum | No minimum |
| E-signature on terms | Required — ‘I agree’ on the full terms and conditions, at registration and before checkout | Required — ‘I agree’ on the full terms and conditions, at registration and before checkout | Required — ‘I agree’ on the full terms and conditions, at registration and before checkout | Required — ‘I agree’ on the full terms and conditions, at registration and before checkout |
| Checkout checkbox | Research-professional acknowledgment required before an order can be placed. Managed for you. | Research-professional acknowledgment required before an order can be placed. Managed for you. | Research-professional acknowledgment required before an order can be placed. Managed for you. | Research-professional acknowledgment required before an order can be placed. Managed for you. |
| Record keeping | Research field stored with every order in the database | Not required | Not required | Research field stored with every order in the database |
| B2B eCommerce language | MPA must state 100% B2B eCommerce with controls documented | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Credit card logos on site | Can be displayed | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Contact info on site | Phone (non-mobile), email, physical business address. After login is acceptable. | Phone (non-mobile), email, physical business address. After login is acceptable. | Phone (non-mobile), email, physical business address. After login is acceptable. | Phone (non-mobile), email, physical business address. After login is acceptable. |
| Business email domain | Must match the website domain | Must match the website domain | Must match the website domain | Must match the website domain |
| Policy pages | Refund · Terms and conditions · Privacy · Shipping — each as an independent page | Refund · Terms and conditions · Privacy · Shipping — each as an independent page | Refund · Terms and conditions · Privacy · Shipping — each as an independent page | Refund · Terms and conditions · Privacy · Shipping — each as an independent page |
| Footer disclaimer | ‘For research and laboratory use only. Not for human or animal consumption.’ — on every page, legible, not hidden. Controlled for you. | ‘For research and laboratory use only. Not for human or animal consumption.’ — on every page, legible, not hidden. Controlled for you. | ‘For research and laboratory use only. Not for human or animal consumption.’ — on every page, legible, not hidden. Controlled for you. | ‘For research and laboratory use only. Not for human or animal consumption.’ — on every page, legible, not hidden. Controlled for you. |
What may be sold, and how it is described
04
Product requirements
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowed formats | Vials · Capsules (chemical name and CAS only, research-labeled) | Vials · Capsules (chemical name and CAS only, research-labeled) | Multiple formats permitted | Vials · Capsules (chemical name and CAS only, research-labeled) |
| Chewable tablets | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Liquids / nasal sprays | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Needles / syringes | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Alcohol wipes | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed | Prohibited |
| Reconstitution / BAC water | Prohibited — all forms | Allowed — no brands | Allowed — no brands | Allowed — no brands |
| HCG / HGH | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Lipo C / Lipo B | Prohibited | Allowed | Allowed | Prohibited |
| FDA Category 2 peptides | Excluded — see the FDA Category 2 list 1,2AOD-9604 · CJC-1295 · Ibutamoren mesylate (MK-677) · Kisspeptin-10 · Thymosin alpha-1 (TA1) · Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) | Excluded — see the FDA Category 2 list 1,2AOD-9604 · CJC-1295 · Ibutamoren mesylate (MK-677) · Kisspeptin-10 · Thymosin alpha-1 (TA1) · Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) | N/A | Excluded — see the FDA Category 2 list 1,2AOD-9604 · CJC-1295 · Ibutamoren mesylate (MK-677) · Kisspeptin-10 · Thymosin alpha-1 (TA1) · Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) |
| Complementary peptides | Site must also list non-GLP research peptides: antimicrobial, epigenetic, enzyme inhibitors, tagged peptides | N/A | N/A | Suggested, not mandatory |
| GMP sourcing | Products must be sourced from GMP-certified suppliers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Minimum purity | 98% minimum, backed by COA | N/A | N/A | 98% minimum, backed by COA |
| COA — batch-specific | Third-party accredited lab · Batch or lot number · Testing date · Compound identity · Purity % · Method (HPLC preferred) · Lab identified | — | — | Third-party accredited lab · Batch or lot number · Testing date · Compound identity · Purity % · Method (HPLC preferred) · Lab identified |
| COA update frequency | Every 60 days minimum — immediately on a new batch | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| COA on product page | Linked for download on each product page | — | — | Linked for download on each product page |
| Product naming | Exact chemical names onlyBPC-157 = ‘Body Protection Compound 157’ · TB-500 = ‘Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment’ · Semaglutide = GLP-1 | Exact chemical names onlyBPC-157 = ‘Body Protection Compound 157’ · TB-500 = ‘Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment’ | More flexibility | Exact chemical names onlyBPC-157 = ‘Body Protection Compound 157’ · TB-500 = ‘Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment’ |
| GLP naming rule | Use GLP-1 and GLP-2 only. No RETA. | Use GLP-1, GLP-2, GLP-3 | Use GLP-1, GLP-2, GLP-3 | Use GLP-1, GLP-2, GLP-3 |
| Brand names | Never use — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Rybelsus | Never use — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Rybelsus | Never use — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Rybelsus | Never use — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Rybelsus |
| Marketing names and stacks | Prohibited — ‘Lean Stack’, ‘Mass’, ‘PCT’, ‘CagriLean’, ‘Wolverine Peptide’, ‘Healing Stack’ | Prohibited — ‘Lean Stack’, ‘Mass’, ‘PCT’, ‘CagriLean’, ‘Wolverine Peptide’, ‘Healing Stack’ | Prohibited — ‘Lean Stack’, ‘Mass’, ‘PCT’, ‘CagriLean’, ‘Wolverine Peptide’, ‘Healing Stack’ | Prohibited — ‘Lean Stack’, ‘Mass’, ‘PCT’, ‘CagriLean’, ‘Wolverine Peptide’, ‘Healing Stack’ |
| Therapeutic categories | No weight loss, obesity, longevity, cognitive enhancement, joint healing or anti-aging. Use ‘metabolic research’ and similar. | No weight loss, obesity, longevity, cognitive enhancement, joint healing or anti-aging. Use ‘metabolic research’ and similar. | No weight loss, obesity, longevity, cognitive enhancement, joint healing or anti-aging. Use ‘metabolic research’ and similar. | No weight loss, obesity, longevity, cognitive enhancement, joint healing or anti-aging. Use ‘metabolic research’ and similar. |
| Safety / Material Data Sheet | Required — merchant-specific to the items sold | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Line-level copy limits
05
Product page content rules
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required on every product page | CAS number · Molecular formula · Molecular weight · Purity (COA-backed) · Storage conditions | — | — | CAS number · Molecular formula · Molecular weight · Purity (COA-backed) · Storage conditions |
| Health and disease claims | None — no reference to treating, curing, preventing or diagnosing any condition | None — no reference to treating, curing, preventing or diagnosing any condition | None — no reference to treating, curing, preventing or diagnosing any condition | None — no reference to treating, curing, preventing or diagnosing any condition |
| Dosing instructions | Never — no mg, frequency, route or injection schedule | Never — no mg, frequency, route or injection schedule | Never — no mg, frequency, route or injection schedule | Never — no mg, frequency, route or injection schedule |
| Injection / nasal spray labels | Cannot be labeled ‘injectable’ or ‘nasal spray’ | Cannot be labeled ‘injectable’ or ‘nasal spray’ | Cannot be labeled ‘injectable’ or ‘nasal spray’ | Cannot be labeled ‘injectable’ or ‘nasal spray’ |
| Study citations | Cannot cite studies implying human benefit or consumption — including via external links | Cannot cite studies implying human benefit or consumption — including via external links | Cannot cite studies implying human benefit or consumption — including via external links | Cannot cite studies implying human benefit or consumption — including via external links |
| Before / after, testimonials, and images of people that imply consumption | Prohibited — no transformation photos, testimonials or health-outcome reviews | Prohibited — no transformation photos, testimonials or health-outcome reviews | Prohibited — no transformation photos, testimonials or health-outcome reviews | Prohibited — no transformation photos, testimonials or health-outcome reviews |
Where the box may go
06
Shipping and fulfillment
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geographic restriction | US only — no PO boxes, no international | Flexible | Flexible | US only — no PO boxes, no international |
| Adult signature | Required — 21+ signature on all first-time orders | — | — | — |
| Prohibited destinations | Pharmacies · Med spas · Weight-loss and TRT clinics · Gyms · College dorms — address screening required | — | — | Pharmacies · Med spas · Weight-loss and TRT clinics · Gyms · College dorms — address screening required |
| Packing slip disclaimers | RUO disclaimer and research-professional acknowledgment in every shipment | — | — | — |
| Customer ban policy | Permanent ban for any customer hinting at human consumption — documented, no appeal | — | — | — |
Everything said off the storefront
07
Marketing, social media and communications
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social media claims | Same rules as product pages — no health, therapeutic or human-use content | Same rules as product pages — no health, therapeutic or human-use content | Same rules as product pages — no health, therapeutic or human-use content | Same rules as product pages — no health, therapeutic or human-use content |
| Testimonials and before / after | Prohibited on all platforms | Prohibited on all platforms | Prohibited on all platforms | Prohibited on all platforms |
| Influencer marketing | Prohibited | Allowed | Allowed | — |
| Affiliate programs | No affiliate or influencer program | Allowed | Allowed | No affiliate or influencer program |
| Sponsored content | No paid content describing research chemicals or human use | No paid content describing research chemicals or human use | No paid content describing research chemicals or human use | No paid content describing research chemicals or human use |
| Social media audits | Action required if human-use language is found | Action required if human-use language is found | Action required if human-use language is found | Action required if human-use language is found |
| Social media link policy | Not permitted | Not permitted | Allowed | Not permitted |
| Brand mention monitoring | Google Alerts and social monitoring recommended — send a cease and desist for third-party human-use posts | — | — | — |
| Customer support language | Zero tolerance for dosing or administration guidance. Script required:‘We are a research chemical supplier. We cannot provide dosing, administration, or usage advice. Our products are for research use only.’ | Zero tolerance for dosing or administration guidance. Script required:‘We are a research chemical supplier. We cannot provide dosing, administration, or usage advice. Our products are for research use only.’ | Zero tolerance for dosing or administration guidance. Script required:‘We are a research chemical supplier. We cannot provide dosing, administration, or usage advice. Our products are for research use only.’ | Zero tolerance for dosing or administration guidance. Script required:‘We are a research chemical supplier. We cannot provide dosing, administration, or usage advice. Our products are for research use only.’ |
Everything outside the card rails
08
Payments and processing
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| Requirement | 01Domestic (US)Domestic acquiring | 02MXOffshore | 03VCOffshore | 04LATAM ColombiaOffshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peer-to-peer apps | Not permitted | — | — | — |
| Crypto | Not permitted | — | — | — |
| Chargeback and refund policy | Clearly documented policy required | Clearly documented policy required | Clearly documented policy required | Clearly documented policy required |
| Plugin requirement | Risk-monitoring plugin required and running at all times | Risk-monitoring plugin required and running at all times | Risk-monitoring plugin required and running at all times | Risk-monitoring plugin required and running at all times |
The fine print the table points at
09
Notes and definitions
True on all four routes
Fifteen requirements land identically on every route in the table. They are the floor: meeting them does not get a merchant approved, but missing one closes every door at once.
- Age gate — a 21+ affirmation before any product is visible. Managed for you.
- E-signature — ‘I agree’ on the full terms, at registration and again before checkout.
- Checkout acknowledgment — research-professional confirmation before an order can be placed.
- Business email domain — must match the website domain.
- Four policy pages — refund, terms, privacy and shipping, each independent.
- Footer disclaimer — the RUO line on every page, legible and not hidden.
- No health or disease claims — nothing about treating, curing, preventing or diagnosing.
- No dosing — no mg, frequency, route or injection schedule, anywhere.
- No ‘injectable’ or ‘nasal spray’ — the format cannot be labeled that way.
- No study citations — nothing implying human benefit, including via external links.
- No before / after or testimonials — on the site or on any social platform.
- No brand names — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound and Rybelsus are never used.
- No stack or therapeutic naming — ‘metabolic research’ in place of weight loss, longevity and the rest.
- Support script — zero tolerance for dosing or administration guidance.
- Documented chargeback policy — and the risk-monitoring plugin running at all times.
* Platform
Shopify is not supported on any route. The preferred setup is WooCommerce; every other eCommerce platform is accepted.
** Registration wall — complex
Company name is required, even where that is just the person’s name. A Field of Qualified Research dropdown is required at account setup and cannot be bypassed. Options: Pharmacology / Drug Discovery · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology · Academic Research · CRO · Analytical Chemistry Lab · Other Qualified Research.
*** Registration wall — simple
Name, email and password only.
1, 2 FDA Category 2 references
The excluded-peptide list is the FDA’s Category 2 bulks list. Both sources are named here so the exclusion can be checked against the current list rather than against this document.
1 fda.gov/media/94155/download
2 restorehealthconsulting.com/news/fda-adds-several-peptides-to-category-2-bulks-list-restricting-them-from-compounding
2 restorehealthconsulting.com/news/fda-adds-several-peptides-to-category-2-bulks-list-restricting-them-from-compounding
Read before quoting a merchant
Rates, reserves and approval ranges are current as of this revision and move with volume, vertical risk and the merchant’s processing history. Confirm the current schedule before it goes into a proposal. Cells marked not specified were left open by that route, not omitted here.
Where the four routes pull furthest apart
Rate
The spread from cheapest to dearest is 4.96 points: 7.99% at VC against 12.95% at MX.
Reserve
Domestic holds 5% for 90 days. All three offshore routes hold for 180, and two of them hold 10%.
Approval
From the 60s at VC to the 90s domestically — the widest gap of any row in the table.
Product latitude
VC alone permits chewables, liquids and nasal sprays, needles and alcohol wipes. The other three prohibit all four.