Why your website choice matters (especially for payments)
For most UK/EU SMEs, your website is the storefront. With a large share of retail now happening online, the platform you choose today shapes how easily you can take card payments, add local payment methods, negotiate fees, and avoid getting stuck with a gateway that doesn’t fit your industry.
This guide covers the main web builder types, how they affect payment gateway choice, the pros & cons of each, and the industry-specific requirements you should consider—so you can scale without lock-in.
Key Takeaways
- Open platforms (WooCommerce/Magento) = gateway choice & lower fees; best for high-risk sectors.
- Shopify = fast to launch; external gateways can add ~0.5–2.0% platform fees.
- Closed builders (Wix/Squarespace) = easiest, but limited gateways & lock-in risk.
- Check acceptance policy, aim for 30-day rolling, add Apple Pay/Google Pay + local EU methods.
Web builder types at a glance (and what they mean for payments)
Open platforms
Examples: WooCommerce (WordPress), Magento 2, PrestaShop, OpenCart, bespoke/API-first
What it means: You (or your agency) host and control the stack. You can connect any suitable gateway/acquirer and switch later.
Partially closed (hosted ecommerce)
Example: Shopify
What it means: Hosted and polished with a huge app ecosystem. Gateway flexibility exists, but Shopify Payments (via Stripe) is the default and external gateways can incur extra fees depending on plan.
Closed site builders
Examples: Wix, Squarespace, Hostinger builders
What it means: Fast, simple, hosted “walled gardens.” Limited payment options; migrations to other platforms usually mean a rebuild.
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Open platforms (WooCommerce, Magento 2): Pros & Cons
Pros
- Payment freedom (no lock-in): Connect multiple payment gateways/acquirers; easier to switch or negotiate rates.
- Higher approval odds in tricky sectors: Specialist acquirers support high-risk/emerging verticals (e.g., CBD, vape, gaming, travel) more readily than closed builders.
- Wallets & local methods: Add Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, plus EU locals like iDEAL, Trustly, BLIK, SEPA.
- Own your data & UX: Custom checkout, subscriptions, B2B pricing, multi-currency, and fine-tuned fraud/risk rules.
- Scales with you: Big plugin ecosystems; easy to move hosts, go headless, or extend.
Cons
- More hands-on: You (or your agency) manage hosting, performance, updates and security.
- More moving parts: Gateway modules, plugins and themes can conflict—budget for testing/maintenance.
- Admin overhead: Separate logins/reporting for gateway, acquirer and fraud tools; plan reconciliation and ops.
Partially closed (Shopify): Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fast to launch; reliable hosting & security.
- Huge app ecosystem (SEO, marketing, subscriptions, B2B).
- Dropshipping & integrations are well supported.
Cons
- Gateway flexibility is conditional: Default is Shopify Payments (Stripe); third party gateway integrations incur fees of (0.6%–2.0%) depending on plan.
- High-risk tolerance is limited: Some industries face onboarding friction or declines.
- Costs vary by plan: Entry plans can be more expensive per transaction than negotiated acquirer pricing.
Closed builders (Wix, Squarespace, etc.): Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lowest barrier to entry: Build it yourself; no developer needed for basics.
- All-in-one pricing: Hosting, SSL and support bundled; annual plans can reduce subscription cost.
- Great for simple brochures or very small shops.
Cons
- Payment lock-in risk: Limited gateway choices (e.g., Wix Payments, Stripe, PayPal). Switching later often means a full rebuild.
- Potentially higher fees: Per-transaction costs can be higher than negotiated acquirer rates.
- Time investment is still real: You build and troubleshoot via support.
- High-risk support is minimal: Increased chance of onboarding declines or post-review shutdowns. Compliance issues can harm future processing options (e.g., Visa/Mastercard risk lists).
Avoid lock-in: payment tips before you build
- Check acceptance policies for your industry (platform + gateway + acquirer).
- Know the fees: Per-transaction %, fixed fees, external gateway surcharges (on hosted platforms), chargeback fees.
- Contract terms: Look for 30-day rolling where possible; watch exit fees and volume commitments.
- Integration path: Confirm the exact plugin/module for your acquirer; ensure it’s maintained and SCA-ready.
- Methods that convert: Add Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, plus local EU methods where relevant.
- Plan migration options: If starting closed/hosted, keep content/data portable to ease a move to WooCommerce/Magento later.
Key industry-specific requirements (UK/EU)
Traditional verticals (retail, hospitality)
- Generally free to choose any builder with minimal restrictions.
- Closed/hosted platforms often provide automated onboarding; approvals can be fast (if your business matches acceptance policy).
- Still verify industry categories and prohibited items before applying.
- Many mainstream acquirers don’t support CBD; approvals are concentrated among a smaller set of specialist banks in the UK/EU.
- Talk to a payments expert first to confirm you can be approved, expected rates, and any gateway costs before you pick a platform.
- Some products (e.g., flower, resin, seeds) have extra compliance depending on country of registration and sale.
- Best fit: Open platforms (e.g., WooCommerce, Magento 2) with a compliant specialist acquirer.
- More acquirers support vape, but there are scheme and compliance requirements (e.g., Mastercard registration ~US$500/yr).
- Dropshipping may be limited or blocked by some acquirers—check first.
- Best fit: Open platforms with a vape-friendly acquirer and the right policy settings.
- Since Covid, travel faces heightened risk; many acquirers want 3–6 months processing history before offering better terms.
- Flight sellers often need ATOL/IATA membership or a trust/escrow arrangement before approval.
- Best fit: Open platforms (or Shopify with care), plus a travel-experienced acquirer.
Gaming
- Direct gambling services require card-scheme registrations (Visa/Mastercard) that can exceed £1,500/yr—budget accordingly.
- Game-of-skill competitions use different MCCs and usually face lower registration costs (often £500+ upfront) but still need strict compliance.
- Best fit: Open platforms with specialist gateways/acquirers familiar with gaming KYC, AML and SCA considerations.
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What we recommend (quick decision guide)
- Speed to live, tiny team, simple catalogue: Shopify or Wix is fine—plan for a future migration if you scale.
- Expect to scale or want lower fees: WooCommerce/Magento 2 for negotiation power and gateway choice.
- High-risk/emerging sector (CBD, vape, gaming, travel): Prefer open platforms + a specialist acquirer that supports your industry.
- Selling across EU markets: Add local payment methods (iDEAL, Trustly, BLIK, SEPA) alongside cards and wallets, whichever platform you pick.
Summary
If you’re a new startup under ~£50k year-one revenue, a closed/hosted builder keeps costs low and gets you live fast—just check acceptance policies and payment fees.
If you’re in a high-risk/emerging vertical, or you expect to grow past £50k, an open platform gives you payment flexibility, approval pathways, and usually sharper fees as acquirers compete for your business. Factor in developer/agency time and keep your data portable to avoid future disruption.
We’re here to help!
We hope this guide was useful—whether you’re launching your first site or planning a rebuild. At Northern Payments, we help UK/EU SMEs (including high-risk sectors) pick the right web builder + payment gateway + acquirer combo, avoid lock-in, and keep fees sensible.
If you’d like to chat through anything here—no pressure, no jargon—reach out and we’ll walk you through your options.
— Andy @ Northern Payments
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