Payment gateway that understands supplements
Stripe rejects 85% of supplement brands for 'health claims.' We specialize in nutraceuticals with 82% acceptance and subscription optimization.
- 82% Acceptance Rate
- Subscription Optimization
- Claim Compliance Support
First response within 48h. Subscription optimization included. No setup fees.
- 10,000+ merchants trust us
- PCI DSS
- Payouts in 3 business days
- First response within 24-48h
- Global nutraceuticals market 2025
- $500B
- Annual Growth (CAGR)
- +8%
- Bridge Pay Acceptance
- 82%
- First response
- 24-48h
Why Stripe, PayPal, and Banks Reject Supplement Brands
Generic 'health claim' fears mask a lack of industry expertise.
Blanket Bans Instead of Real Underwriting
Payment processors cite several concerns when rejecting supplement companies: 'health claims' (even legal structure/function claims), 'subscription chargebacks' (even with industry-normal rates), and 'regulatory uncertainty' (even for fully compliant products).
The real issue is expertise. Evaluating supplement companies requires understanding EFSA regulations in Europe, FDA guidelines in the US, the difference between structure/function claims and disease claims, and the legitimate subscription models that drive the industry.
Rather than invest in this expertise, processors apply blanket bans. Stripe's prohibited business list includes 'pseudo-pharmaceuticals': a term so vague it could apply to vitamins. PayPal's acceptable use policy effectively prohibits any health-related claims.
The result: legitimate, regulated supplement brands are forced to work with predatory processors charging 7-10%, or scramble for alternatives while their business suffers.
- Vague 'health claim' concerns (even for legal claims)
- Subscription model perceived as high chargeback
- Confusion between supplements and pharmaceuticals
- Regulatory uncertainty in different markets
- Lack of expertise to evaluate product compliance
- Negative associations with weight loss products
Bridge Pay: Nutraceutical Payment Expertise Since 2018
We've invested in understanding the supplement industry. Our underwriting team evaluates product formulations, COAs (Certificates of Analysis), supplier certifications, and marketing claims individually. We know the difference between 'supports immune health' (legal) and 'cures disease' (illegal). Our 82% acceptance rate proves that proper expertise beats blanket bans.
- Claims reviewed individually: 'supports immune health' is not 'cures disease'
- COAs and supplier certifications evaluated by a specialist team
- Pre-renewal reminders on subscriptions: fewer forgotten cancellations
- Market-by-market regulatory review of your product range
- Weight-loss products assessed on evidence, not reputation
Before and after Bridge Pay
See the difference with traditional payment processors
85% rejection rate from Stripe, PayPal
82% acceptance for compliant supplement brands
Vague 'health claim' rejections with no explanation
Claim compliance review and specific feedback
15-20% subscriber loss to failed payments
40% failed payment recovery, cutting churn in half
Account closure risk at any time
Stable partnership with clear compliance expectations
No understanding of supplement business models
Subscription optimization built for nutraceuticals
Your supplements are legal. Your payment gateway should understand that.
- Supplement brands rejected by Stripe
- 85%
- Bridge Pay acceptance rate
- 82%
- First response
- 24-48h
The $500B nutraceuticals industry is booming, but payment processors are stuck in the past. Stripe sees 'vitamin' and thinks 'health claim risk.' PayPal sees 'subscription supplements' and thinks 'chargeback nightmare.' Neither understands the legitimate, regulated market.
Bridge Pay built specialized infrastructure for supplement brands. We evaluate formulations, not stereotypes. Our subscription optimization recovers 40% of failed payments. And our claim compliance support helps you market effectively without triggering processor concerns.
- EFSA/FDA claim compliance review
- 40% failed payment recovery for subscriptions
- COA and supplier documentation support
- Multi-country shipping and billing
Why Bridge Pay?
- 01
82% Acceptance Through Real Expertise
We don't apply blanket bans. Our team evaluates each supplement brand individually:
- product formulations,
- COAs,
- supplier certifications,
- marketing claims,
- target markets.
Compliant brands get approved; problematic products get declined with specific feedback on why.
- 02
Subscription Optimization for Nutraceuticals
Supplement subscriptions face unique challenges:
- vitamin fatigue,
- lifestyle changes,
- seasonal fluctuations.
Our smart dunning system recovers 40% of failed payments with optimized retry timing, card updater integration, and branded recovery emails that convert.
- 03
Claim Compliance Review
The line between legal structure/function claims and prohibited disease claims is nuanced. Our compliance team reviews your claims during file verification and flags wording that would trigger processor or regulatory concerns.
- 04
Multi-Country Supplement Commerce
Selling vitamins in the UK, Germany, and France means navigating different regulations. We understand EFSA claims for Europe, FSA requirements for UK, and FDA guidelines for US, and factor the payment implications of each market into our review.
- 05
COA and Documentation Support
Certificates of Analysis, GMP certifications, and supplier documentation are your proof of compliance. Documentation support during file review shows what to provide and how to present it, demonstrating legitimacy.
- 06
Competitive Rates, Not Predatory Pricing
Supplement brands often pay 7-10% to processors who barely tolerate them. Our rates start at 3.9% (competitive for the category) with volume discounts. You shouldn't sacrifice margins just because mainstream processors don't understand your industry.
Key features
Supplement Expertise
We understand nutraceuticals: formulations, claims, and regulations. Not blanket bans.
Subscription Optimization
40% failed payment recovery with smart dunning designed for supplement subscriptions.
Claim Compliance
Review of your marketing claims to avoid triggering processor concerns.
Multi-Market Support
EFSA, FSA, FDA: we understand regulations for your target markets.
Shipping Integration
Sync your shipping data: duties and customs at checkout, tracking as delivery evidence in disputes.
Chargeback Protection
Dispute tools and prevention strategies for supplement-specific issues.
How it works
- 0115 min
Application
Submit your supplement brand details: product range, ingredients, target markets, and business model. Upload COAs and marketing samples.
- 0224-48h
Compliance Review
Our nutraceutical specialists evaluate your products, claims, and documentation. You'll receive specific feedback on any compliance concerns.
- 0324h
Account Setup
Configure subscription billing, integrate with your e-commerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, custom), and set up payment flows.
- 04Immediate
Go Live
Start accepting payments with subscription optimization active. Our team monitors initial transactions to ensure smooth performance.
Typical use cases
Illustrative examples of merchant profiles accepted in this sector.
Subscription Vitamin Brand
- Situation
- A subscription vitamin brand faced account closure by a previous provider and significant subscriber loss due to failed payments.
- Setup
- Bridge Pay opened a merchant account and implemented a dunning solution.
- Outcome
- 35% improvement in subscriber retention
Sports Nutrition E-commerce
- Situation
- An e-commerce business in sports nutrition struggled with varying compliance requirements for product claims across multiple EU countries.
- Setup
- Bridge Pay reviewed the claims for their protein supplements, ensuring compliance for international sales.
- Outcome
- Expanded to 12 EU markets
Herbal Supplement Brand
- Situation
- A brand selling traditional herbal supplements faced multiple rejections from payment providers due to scrutiny over product classification.
- Setup
- Bridge Pay evaluated their formulations and COAs, validating their status as food supplements.
- Outcome
- 72-hour approval after 5 rejections
Accepted products
- Vitamins & minerals
- Protein & sports nutrition
- Herbal supplements
- Probiotics & gut health
- Weight management
- Anti-aging & beauty
- Subscription vitamin boxes
- Wholesale/B2B supplements
Supplement Regulatory Framework
Regulatory overview
Nutraceuticals operate under specific regulatory frameworks that payment processors often misunderstand.
- EU
In the EU, supplements are regulated as food products under the Food Supplements Directive.
Health claims must be authorized by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and appear on the EU Register of authorized claims.
Structure/function claims like 'vitamin C contributes to normal immune function' are permitted when based on approved claims.
- UK
In the UK post-Brexit, the FSA (Food Standards Agency) maintains similar regulations with some variations.
The UK has its own list of permitted claims that largely mirrors the EU but may diverge over time.
- US
In the US, the FDA regulates supplements under DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act).
Structure/function claims are permitted with proper disclaimers; disease claims require FDA approval as drugs.
Bridge Pay requires documentation proving regulatory compliance for your specific products and target markets.
Key requirements
- Authorized health claims only (EU Register for Europe)
- Structure/function claims with proper disclaimers
- No disease claims without pharmaceutical licensing
- GMP manufacturing certification
- Product COAs (Certificates of Analysis)
- Compliant labeling for each target market
Regulatory authorities
Competitive pricing
Volume discounts available. Subscription optimization included.
- No hidden fees
- €0 setup fee
- First response within 24-48h
Starting rate, medium risk
3.9%+ €0.55
- Subscription optimization
- Claim review included
- Multi-currency
- No setup fees
Why do Stripe and PayPal reject supplement brands?
Stripe and PayPal apply blanket policies based on vague 'health claim' concerns. Their prohibited business lists include terms like 'pseudo-pharmaceuticals' that could apply to any vitamin. They lack the expertise to distinguish between legal structure/function claims ('supports immune health') and prohibited disease claims ('cures flu').
The subscription model adds concerns: processors see recurring supplement billing and assume high chargebacks, even when rates are normal. Rather than invest in category expertise, they reject the entire industry.
Bridge Pay has built this expertise. We evaluate products individually, review claims for compliance, and approve legitimate supplement brands that mainstream processors reject.
What health claims can I make on my supplement website?
This depends on your target market:
EU/UK: Only claims from the EU Register of authorized health claims are permitted. These are structure/function claims like 'Vitamin C contributes to normal immune function' that have been scientifically assessed by EFSA.
US: Structure/function claims are permitted with the standard disclaimer: 'These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA...' Disease claims require FDA drug approval.
Our support:
We review your marketing claims during onboarding and provide specific feedback on compliance. This protects both you and us: compliant claims don't trigger processor concerns or regulatory issues.
How does subscription optimization reduce churn?
Supplement subscriptions typically lose 15-20% of subscribers annually to failed payments: credit cards expire, accounts have insufficient funds, or banks decline transactions for fraud prevention.
Our approach:
- Smart retry timing: We analyze failure patterns and retry at optimal times
- Card updater: Automatically refreshes expired card details
- Branded recovery emails: Professional communications that convert
- Pre-dunning: Proactive card expiration warnings before failures
Results: Our clients recover 40% of payments that would otherwise fail. For a subscription brand losing 18% to failed payments, this means recovering 7%+ of annual revenue.
What documentation do you require?
We need documentation that demonstrates product legitimacy:
Essential:
- Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for key products
- GMP certification for manufacturing
- Business registration
- Website access for claim review
Helpful:
- Supplier certifications
- Additional lab testing
- Regulatory filings (if applicable)
Documentation support: We list what is genuinely needed versus what is excessive, so your file is complete from the first submission.
How fast can I get approved?
You get a first response within 24-48h of submitting your application.
How it works:
- Step 1: Submit your application and product documentation
- Step 2: Our compliance team reviews your products and health claims
- Step 3: Account setup, integration and go-live
What speeds things up:
- A complete file from day one
- EFSA-compliant claims on your product pages
- A focused product range
You always know where your file stands and what is still needed.
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