Stripe’s list has two parts. Prohibited businesses can’t use Stripe at all, such as adult content, gambling, debt relief and commercial airlines. Restricted businesses, such as CBD, telehealth, dating, crypto exchanges and crowdfunding, need extra review or Stripe’s approval first. Stripe updated the list on September 22, 2026, and says it is representative, not complete.
By Maria Sparagis · 20+ years in payments · Last updated October 28, 2026
Most merchants never read Stripe’s list until something goes wrong. Signing up takes minutes, so it feels like approval. It isn’t.
I get calls every week from merchants who say, “But we’re not high risk. We deliver, and our customers are happy.” Then Stripe sends a review email, freezes payouts or closes the account. In my 20 years in payments, the pattern is almost always the same: the business was on, or near, the list from day one.
The review usually comes when you grow. When volume jumps 50% to 100% in a month or two, Stripe’s system flags the account. Someone then looks at your website, and that is when Stripe judges your product category, your claims and your billing model
This guide explains what is on Stripe’s list, what changed in 2026, and what to do if your business is on it.
How do Stripe’s prohibited and restricted businesses differ?
Prohibited means Stripe won’t support the business at all. Restricted means Stripe may support it, but only after extra checks, and sometimes only with its explicit approval.
Stripe’s own wording is short. Prohibited businesses are “industries that can’t use Stripe, and products Stripe doesn’t support.” Restricted businesses are “industries and products that require additional due diligence.”
Due diligence means Stripe may ask for licenses, details about your business model or proof that you follow your industry’s rules. Stripe says it may not approve a restricted business, and that it can change or revoke an approval later.
If you sell in either group, you need a plan beyond Stripe. A high-risk merchant account fits these categories, and you agree your terms before you process.
Which businesses does Stripe prohibit?
Stripe prohibits more than a dozen broad categories, from illegal products to gambling, adult content, debt relief, some travel and some financial services. Many of these businesses are fully legal in the US; Stripe simply won’t carry the risk.
| Prohibited category | Examples from Stripe’s list |
|---|---|
| Adult content and services | Sexually explicit material, escort-type services, strip clubs, AI-generated adult content |
| Gambling | Casino-style games, lotteries, bidding-fee auctions |
| Debt relief | Debt settlement, negotiation and consolidation |
| Lending and credit | Paying off loans with credit cards, credit repair, credit counseling |
| Some financial services | ATMs, check cashing, person-to-person money transfers, shell banks |
| Some legal services | Bail bonds, bankruptcy attorneys |
| Identity services | Identity theft monitoring and recovery |
| Travel | Commercial airlines, cruises, timeshares |
| Marijuana | Cannabis products, dispensaries, CBD above local THC limits |
| Nonfiat currency | Crypto mining and staking, initial coin offerings, secondary NFT sales |
| Nutraceuticals and pseudo-pharmaceuticals | Supplements that are unsafe or make harmful claims |
| Unfair or deceptive practices | Pyramid schemes, recruitment-based multi-level marketing, get-rich-quick schemes |
| Government services | Unauthorized government services, disbursing government grants |
| Intellectual property violations | Counterfeit goods, unlicensed media |
| Illegal weapons and dangerous materials | Illegal weapons, explosives, toxic materials |
| Illegal products and services | Illegal drugs, signal jammers, fake IDs |
This is a summary. Always check Stripe’s current list for the exact wording, because Stripe changes it.
Which businesses does Stripe restrict?
Restricted businesses include content creation platforms, crowdfunding, dating, file-sharing sites and regulated industries such as CBD, crypto, firearms, telehealth and tobacco. Stripe also restricts some travel businesses.
| Restricted category | Examples from Stripe’s list |
|---|---|
| Content creation platforms | Platforms where creators take tips or sell exclusive content |
| Crowdfunding and fundraising | Crowdfunding platforms, nonprofit and political fundraising |
| Dating | Online dating and matchmaking |
| Cyberlockers | File-sharing services |
| Regulated industries | Low-THC CBD, crypto exchanges and wallets, legal firearms, pharmaceuticals and telehealth, tobacco, payment aggregation |
| Elevated financial risk: travel | Reservation services and travel clubs, in-flight purchases, domestic charter flights |
A few details matter in practice:
- Content creators selling their own content on their own site don’t need preapproval, but Stripe may monitor them. The platforms they sell on do need approval.
- Peptides: pharmacies and sellers of prescription-only peptides need Stripe’s preapproval.
- Telehealth: Stripe says it doesn’t require LegitScript certification, a third-party check for online pharmacies and health businesses, but it may ask for licenses.
Does Stripe allow supplements and nutraceuticals?
On paper, Stripe only prohibits supplements that are unsafe or make harmful claims. In practice, Stripe reviews supplement brands closely and often adds reserves, so plan as if you’re high risk.
A reserve is money the processor holds back from your payouts to cover future refunds and chargebacks. A chargeback is when a customer asks their bank to reverse a payment.
In my experience, the trigger is rarely the product itself. It’s the claims. “Lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks” or before-and-after photos that look too good will draw attention at the first review.
Does Stripe allow adult content?
No. Stripe prohibits adult content and services, and its list says this includes AI-generated content that meets the same criteria.
That covers sexually explicit material and related services. Content creation platforms are a separate, restricted category, and they must show Stripe how they monitor what creators sell.
What changed on Stripe’s list in 2026?
Stripe last updated the list on September 22, 2026. It clarified its stance on tobacco products in the US and moved credit monitoring services from prohibited to supportable in the US.
Stripe doesn’t announce a schedule for changes. Check the page every few months, and again before you launch a new product line.
What happens if my business is on Stripe’s restricted list?
Stripe may approve you, but you’re on notice. Stripe reviews every account at activation and keeps monitoring it, and it can change or revoke an approval later.
The common outcomes of a review are a request for documents, a reserve, a payout hold or a closure. Stripe’s Reserves FAQ says it may extend a reserve if risk stays high. When Stripe closes an account, it can hold the funds for months.
Most often, I see an account sail through signup, then face a review after a growth spurt. One AI marketing client of mine was doing eight figures a month with low chargebacks. Stripe reviewed the account because users could generate trademarked content, not because of disputes.
If Stripe rejected your account over specific products, it will reconsider once you remove them. Send Stripe a link showing the change, by replying to its email or through support.
What should I do if my business is prohibited or restricted on Stripe?
If Stripe prohibits your business, move your main processing to a merchant account built for your industry. If Stripe restricts your business, you can apply to Stripe, but don’t let it carry most of your sales.
These are the three options I give clients:
- Open your own merchant account (recommended). A merchant account is an account with a bank-backed processor that underwrites your business before you start. You agree your volume limits and any reserve in writing, so a growth spurt doesn’t trigger a surprise review.
- Use another all-in-one processor only as a bridge. Services like Stripe pool many merchants under one account. They are quick to open, but they review the same way, so use them only while you wait for your merchant account.
- Keep Stripe as a minor channel if Stripe approves your restricted business. I advise keeping it to no more than about 20% of your volume, with your own merchant account carrying the rest.
Whichever you choose, keep a backup merchant account ready. If you bill subscriptions, make sure your customers’ card data can move with you without customers re-entering their cards.
Stripe vs your own merchant account for restricted businesses
| Stripe (restricted business) | Your own merchant account | |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Minutes, reviewed later | About 5 business days with a complete application, in my experience |
| When the business is judged | At activation and again when you grow | Up front, before you process |
| Reserve terms | Can be added or extended after a review | Agreed in writing at approval |
| Who you talk to | Mostly support tickets | A named account manager |
| Risk of sudden closure | Higher | Lower, if you stay within the agreed terms |
Check your business against Stripe’s list in 15 minutes
Run this check before you scale, launch a new product or start a big ad push. If you answer yes to any item, plan a second processor now.
- Product: does anything you sell appear on either list, even as an add-on or upsell?
- Claims: do your ads or product pages promise fast health, money or body results?
- Billing: do you use free trials, subscriptions or long money-back guarantees?
- Delivery: do customers pay long before they receive the product, such as preorders, travel or events?
- AI tools: can users generate anything at all, including trademarked or adult content?
- Numbers: over the last 3 months, are chargebacks above about 0.5% or refunds climbing?
- Brand match: does the name on your customers’ card statements match your website and emails?
For more on how processors label businesses, see my guides on what a high-risk merchant account is and whether Stripe is safe for risky businesses. If Stripe has already closed you, start with what to do when Stripe closes your account.
UK and EU merchants
Stripe’s page also lists country-specific prohibitions, so Stripe may accept a category in the US but not in your country. Check the jurisdiction section of Stripe’s list for your country before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Stripe’s official restricted businesses list?
It’s on Stripe’s “Prohibited and Restricted Businesses” page at stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses. Stripe says the list is representative, not exhaustive, and last updated it on September 22, 2026.
Can Stripe close my account if I’m in a restricted category?
Yes. Stripe says approval for a restricted business can be changed or revoked under its services agreement. Reviews often come after fast growth, so have a second processor ready before you scale.
Does Stripe allow CBD?
It depends on THC content. CBD above local THC limits is prohibited, while CBD with only negligible THC is restricted and needs extra review.
Does Stripe allow subscription businesses?
Yes, but negative option billing and aggressive free trials draw extra scrutiny. Clear pricing, renewal reminders and easy cancellation lower your risk.
What should I do if Stripe rejects my business?
If specific products caused the rejection, remove them and ask Stripe to reconsider. If your whole category is prohibited, apply for a merchant account built for your industry.
Sources
- Is Your “Normal” Business Actually High-Risk? (Maria Sparagis, YouTube)
- Stripe Is Shutting Down AI Businesses — Is Yours Next? (Maria Sparagis, YouTube)
- What Happens If Stripe Shuts You Down Tomorrow? (Maria Sparagis, YouTube)
- High-risk merchant accounts (DirectPayNet)
- Backup merchant account (DirectPayNet)
- Prohibited and Restricted Businesses (Stripe, updated September 22, 2026)
- Prohibited and Restricted Businesses List — FAQs (Stripe)
- Reserves: frequently asked questions (Stripe)
- Credit account review process FAQ (Stripe)
