Prepare a product matrix before comparing providers.
For each item, record its format, ingredients, cannabinoid composition, supplier and intended destination. Match available certificates of analysis to the batch or product they describe. Include bundles and products you plan to launch, so an offer is not based on only part of the business.
Keep packaging, website descriptions and application information consistent. Ask the prospective provider to confirm the accepted products and customer markets in writing. Acceptance for one CBD formulation should not be treated as permission to add another.
US and Canadian eligibility are separate questions.
Health Canada states that CBD is regulated under the Cannabis Act, including CBD derived from industrial hemp. Its guidance describes authorized sales channels and tightly limited cross-border movement. A US hemp description or a low THC figure does not establish Canadian permission to sell.
Identify the actual legal entity, licences or authorizations relevant to the business, and customer destinations. Have qualified advisers address regulatory requirements and the payment provider address account eligibility. Present Canadian and US activities separately if your business spans both markets.
A restricted category is not a universal rejection.
Stripe’s policy distinguishes restricted CBD within applicable THC limits from prohibited cannabis-related activity. This calls for a specific eligibility decision, not a claim that every CBD business is approved or that every one is banned.
Shopify’s hemp payment guidance says Shopify Payments does not support hemp, CBD or THC sales and directs merchants to compatible third-party providers. The storefront, the gateway integration and the provider’s product policy each need to fit; a provider listing alone does not confirm acceptance.
Settlement options to ask about.
Hemp and CBD stores are often already on e-Transfer or crypto and want a card button beside that. The card payment and the currency you settle in are separate questions for the partner.
- Direct card settlement in fiat, through a traditional merchant account.
- Card checkout with USDC settlement through a partner. The shopper pays by card; you receive crypto on the partner’s schedule.
- The transfer or crypto checkout you already use.
Check recurring billing and the money available after sale.
For repeat orders, verify support for the exact subscription app, automatic renewals and customer payment-method changes. Ask how existing subscribers would move, including whether they must re-enter card details. A working one-time checkout is not a subscription migration plan.
Compare the full processing and platform costs, reserve terms, payout schedule and settlement currency. If you currently accept Interac e-Transfer, retain a clear record of those sales and describe how a card option would sit alongside it. Your processing partner provides the account and processes transactions; Alderwell’s role is guidance and referral.
Your preparation checklist
- Product formats, ingredients and batch-linked testing
- Entity location, relevant authorizations and sales destinations
- Full catalog and any planned product additions
- Platform, subscription app and required currencies
- Complete cost, reserve, settlement and refund terms
Common questions
Can Canadian CBD merchants use a US hemp processing offer?
Do not assume so. The entity, sales permissions, banking, settlement and provider support must fit the Canadian activity. Cross-border shipping needs its own review.
Does hemp-seed oil have the same review as CBD oil?
Describe its actual composition and how it is made and marketed. Health Canada distinguishes hemp-seed oil from CBD-containing cannabis oil; a broad hemp label does not establish product classification or payment acceptance.
Can I keep Shopify after a Shopify Payments restriction?
Yes. Keep Shopify and move to a provider that will review the hemp catalog. We place that introduction. Shopify Payments turning you away is not the end of the store.
Does product testing guarantee a merchant account?
No. Testing is one part of the product record. A provider also evaluates its policies, the entity, markets and business operations.