And services like Stripe aren't an option for me due to their restrictions on use as well https://stripe.com/us/prohibited_businesses
My work covers multiple items on that list. Compare that to PayPal's https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full#9
Edit: I should mention, of Strip's list of "prohibited businesses", nothing I do is illegal or unethical. Just in case I gave that impression.
The list runs the gamut from "risky" to "value judgement", and I can't help but wonder how all those items ended up on the same list.
If you have any questions about any of this or want to see if we can work with your business, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at support@stripe.com.
Some of the items are extremely vague, even to the point of contradiction, or to the point of sweeping in huge amounts of activity that nobody should consider high-risk. For example:
"3. Virtual currency that can be monetized, re-sold or converted to physical or digital products or services or otherwise exit the virtual world"
So, implicitly, then, virtual currency that can't be easily converted back to real cash is fine. But:
"43. Quasi-cash or stored value"
This could describe a virtual currency that doesn't violate #3. But then:
"52. Selling video game or virtual world credits (unless you are the operator of the video game or virtual world)"
Make up your mind, Stripe.
Meanwhile, #2, "Weapons and munitions". Under US law, a PlayStation can be treated as a munition.
#4, "Sexually-oriented or pornographic products or services". So, no sex-ed materials, bad romance novels, or condoms.
#15, "Age restricted products or services", can be read to preclude any business that restricts signup by under-13s in order to be sure they meet the requirements of US federal law.
#31, "Extended warranties". So, this precludes pretty much everybody who offers a product customers might want long-term support for. Like, say, every computer manufacturer in history.
#41, "Prepaid phone cards, phone services or cell phones". This means a hypothetical electronics store can't sell cell phones -- even simple unlocked phones without plans.
#48, "Telecommunications equipment and telephone sales", would preclude the sale of any sort of networking equipment. Or, really, any piece of equipment capable of connecting with a network, including any general-purpose computer.
Companies should put the same care into the design and usability of their terms and conditions as they do into their products, because the former has a direct impact on the latter, and often makes for huge PR messes.
As for your specific case, please email me at anurag@stripe.com and we can try to figure out if Stripe can somehow work for you.
But the real problem with Stripe is simply that it's not available in almost any country. They're too small to have the resources to read the laws and open bank accounts outside America.
