u/Millsboii

Hi everyone,

​I’m in the process of launching a UK skill-based competition platform on WooCommerce.

Everything is almost ready to go; the website is built, branding complete, business bank account set up, and initial prizes secured.

​My main hurdle right now is finding a suitable payment provider/gateway for micro-transactions.

​The Problem:

Standard card processors charge \~20p–25p plus x% per transaction. On a £1 entry ticket, that wipes out 25%–30% of gross revenue instantly in processing fees alone.

So I’m looking for a provider/setup that keeps fees at or under 10% (sub-10p total fee) on a £1 transaction.

​What We’ve Tried:

We’ve approached providers like Atoa and TrueLayer, but hit roadblocks due to either high-risk sector classification or being a brand-new startup without trading history.

​My Questions:

1. ​For anyone running or operating in the UK competition/prize draw sector, which gateways or high-risk merchant acquirers actually accept new startups?

2. ​What payment setups or workarounds do you use to keep fees sustainable on £1 ticket sales?

3. ​Are there specific UK high-risk payment brokers or gateways you'd recommend for WooCommerce?

​Any advice, recommendations, or insights from experience would be hugely appreciated!

Hi everyone,

​I’m in the process of launching a UK skill-based competition platform on WooCommerce.

Everything is almost ready to go; the website is built, branding complete, business bank account set up, and initial prizes secured.

​My main hurdle right now is finding a suitable payment provider/gateway for micro-transactions.

​The Problem:

Standard card processors charge ~20p–25p plus x% per transaction. On a £1 entry ticket, that wipes out 25%–30% of gross revenue instantly in processing fees alone.

So I’m looking for a provider/setup that keeps fees at or under 10% (sub-10p total fee) on a £1 transaction.

​What We’ve Tried:

We’ve approached providers like Atoa and TrueLayer, but hit roadblocks due to either high-risk sector classification or being a brand-new startup without trading history.

​My Questions:

1. ​For anyone running or operating in the UK competition/prize draw sector, which gateways or high-risk merchant acquirers actually accept new startups?

2. ​What payment setups or workarounds do you use to keep fees sustainable on £1 ticket sales?

3. ​Are there specific UK high-risk payment brokers or gateways you'd recommend for WooCommerce?

​Any advice, recommendations, or insights from experience would be hugely appreciated!