# Prohibited and Restricted Business Information

> Prohibited Business List   The following categories of businesses and business practices are prohibited from the Zip platform If you are uncertain as to whethe

Source: https://merchant-help.us.zip.co/en_us/prohibited-and-restricted-business-information-B1o0YF63lg

Last updated: 2025-10-03T17:37:40.903Z

**Prohibited Business List**

The following categories of businesses and business practices are prohibited from the Zip platform. If you are uncertain as to whether your business is restricted or prohibited, please contact our [Partner Support](mailto:partners@us.zip.co) team.

1.  Investment and credit services 
2.  Financial products or services and money services 
3.  Legal services
4.  Digital currencies 
5.  Intellectual property or proprietary rights infringement
6.  Gambling
7.  Firearms and ammunition
8.  Research chemicals
9.  Adult services 
10.  Products and services that are unfair, predatory or deceptive
11.  Telecommunications 
12.  Click farms
13.  High risk businesses, products and services
14.  High reputational risk businesses
15.  Any business or organization that engages in, encourages, promotes or celebrates violence or physical harm to persons, animals or property, discrimination, exploitation, corruption, human or animal trafficking, terrorism or the funding of terrorism, or money laundering activities

**Restricted Business List**

The following categories of businesses and business practices are restricted from the Zip platform. These businesses may be subject to additional conditions. Restricted Business categories may not be allowed in certain jurisdictions. 

1.  eLearnings and educational courses
2.  Cannabidiol (CBD)
3.  Tobacco products
4.  Adult sexually-oriented businesses and adult content
5.  Gift cards and stored value
6.  Pyrotechnic chemicals and fireworks
7.  Travel
8.  Pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and telemedicine
9.  Insurance service providers and brokers
10.  Outdoor recreation and tactical gear
11.  Live broadcasting and streaming
12.  Alcohol
13.  Ticketing
14.  Ongoing services
15.  Prepaid services
16.  High value items
17.  Other age restricted businesses

**Prohibited Business List - General Guidance**

The following categories of businesses and business practices are prohibited from the Zip platform. If you are uncertain as to whether your business is a Prohibited Business, please contact our [Partner Support](mailto:partners@us.zip.co) team. This list provides general guidelines and examples, but is not exhaustive.

**Category**

**Example**

Investment and credit services 

Investment and brokerage services; credit repair and credit protection business; credit counseling

Financial products or services and money services

Money transmitters; money service businesses (traveler checks, money orders, check cashing, foreign exchange); lending services; debt collection agencies/settlement agencies; insurance products/services including benefit packages; crowdfunding; forwarding brokers; cash advances

Legal services

Bail bonds; law firms collecting funds for any  purpose other than to pay fees owed to the firm for services provided by the firm; bankruptcy lawyers; fines or penalty collections of any kind

Digital currencies

Virtual and cryptocurrencies; non-fungible tokens (NFTs); mining services

Intellectual property or proprietary rights infringement

Sales, distribution, or access to counterfeit or unauthorized goods; copyright/trademark/patents infringements

Gambling

Lotteries; fantasy sports leagues; bidding fee and penny auctions

Firearms and ammunition

Certain firearm parts; certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law; antique weapons; ammunition

Research chemicals

Research chemicals; radioactive materials

Adult services

Escort agencies; sex work services; pay-per-view; sexually oriented massage parlors; adult live chat features; gentleman's clubs, topless bars, and strip clubs

Products and services that are unfair, predatory or deceptive

Get rich quick schemes; multi-leveling marketing and pyramid schemes; no value added services; referral marketing programs; disproportionate rebates; sweepstakes

Telecommunications

Jamming and interference devices; telecommunications manipulation equipment; telemarketing; offering substantial rebates or special incentives as an inducement to purchase products or services

Click farms

Cost per click/pay per click ads; purchase of fake likes or followers to channel traffic to fraudulent sites to increase rankings, domain authority or to collect payouts on display ads

High risk businesses, products and services

Remote technical support; essay mills; chain letters; door-to-door sales; medical benefit packages; negative response marketing; timeshares; credit card and identity theft protection; embassies; foreign consulates; pawn shops; any businesses that we believe poses elevated financial risk, legal liability, or violates card network or bank policies

High reputational risk businesses

Political and non-profit organizations, parties or initiatives; religious, civic organizations, products or services that attract negative general public perception; charities

Any business or organization that engages in, encourages, promotes or celebrates violence or physical harm to persons, animals or property, discrimination, exploitation, corruption, human or animal trafficking, terrorism or the funding of terrorism, or money laundering activities

**Restricted Business List - General Guidance**

The following categories of businesses and business practices are restricted from the Zip platform. These businesses may be subject to additional conditions. Restricted Business categories may not be allowed in certain jurisdictions. This list provides general guidelines and examples, but is not exhaustive.

**Category**

**Examples**

eLearnings/ educational courses

Online courses; On campus courses; MBA and management education; distance education; workshops; tutoring services

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Hemp; CBD 

Tobacco products

Drug equipment such as bongs, vaporizers, hookahs; e-liquids; electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDs); drug accessories; vaping

Adult sexually-oriented businesses and adult content

Adult toys and lingerie; adult video stores; certain adult content including literature, imagery and other media

Gift cards and stored value

Open loop gift cards; closed loop gift cards; businesses where gift cards account for a significant portion of total sales

Pyrotechnic chemicals and fireworks

Potassium Perchlorate; Potassium Nitrate

Travel

Travel agencies and agents; tour operators; hotels and other accommodations

Pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and telemedicine

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs); online pharmacies; telehealth; counseling; mental health services; health practitioners; nutraceuticals including dietary supplements and nutritional supplements

Insurance service providers and brokers

Brokers or underwriters of any type of personal, vehicle, property, liability or life insurance

Outdoor recreation and tactical gear

Crossbows; camping supplies; paintball guns; gel blasters; body armor; holsters

Live Broadcasting/ Streaming

Specifically platforms with individual contributors

Alcohol 

Online alcohol sales; bottle shops; wineries; bars pubs and clubs

Ticketing

Events (does not include travel)

Ongoing Services

Memberships; subscriptions

Prepaid Services

Mobile and SIM plans; surgical and dental operations that are performed over an extensive period and require upfront payment; home renovations

High Value Items

Jewelry, precious metals and stones; electronics; art dealers and galleries; fine art antiques and collectibles

Other Age Restricted Businesses

Tattoo; piercings 

  
If your business type does not appear on the restricted or prohibited list you can sign up for Zip at [Zip for Business](https://zip.co/us/for-business).
