Accepting credit cards requires a payment processor like Square or Stripe, a merchant account, and hardware like POS terminals. Fees range from 1.5% to 4%.

A payment gateway encrypts and transmits customer data; a processor moves funds between accounts. Both are essential for online credit card transactions.

Many mainstream processors treat nicotine pouches as high-risk and block them under "acceptable use" rules. That often leaves websites with frozen deposits and interrupted cash flow. Tower Payments' ...