Shopify for Regulated Products

Selling tattoo supplies, body jewelry, alcohol, CBD, tobacco, or other regulated products on Shopify involves payment processor restrictions, age verification requirements, marketing channel limitations, and platform policies that do not apply to standard eCommerce. Getting any of them wrong after launch costs far more than building for them from the start.

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16+

Years in business

500+

Projects Delivered

65+

Team Members

98%

Client Retention

30%+

eCommerce businesses facing fines from inadequate age verification

Over 30% of eCommerce businesses selling age restricted products have faced fines or legal action due to inadequate age verification measures. For tobacco and vaping products, a checkbox asking buyers to confirm their age does not meet the federal PACT Act standard.

0

Regulated categories supported by Shopify Payments natively

Shopify Payments does not support CBD, THC, or certain other regulated product categories. Merchants in these categories need a third party high risk payment processor before taking their first order. This is not a workaround you add later.

2021

Year PACT Act age checks were extended to online vaping sales

Since 2021, the PACT Act requires online sellers of vaping products, like cigarette sellers, to check the buyer's age against a commercial database before the sale and collect an adult signature at delivery. A checkbox age gate does not meet that standard.

21+

Federal minimum age for tobacco and vaping products in the US

The federal minimum age for tobacco and all electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in the US is 21. State laws for alcohol, cannabis, and other categories vary. A compliant Shopify store must apply the correct threshold by product and jurisdiction, not a single sitewide gate.

40,000+ products migrated across to the new platform — Painful Pleasures
Shero Commerce handled the complexity of our high SKU catalog and regulated product categories with precision. The migration to Shopify Plus gave us a platform we could actually build on.

Painful Pleasures Team, Head of eCommerce, Painful Pleasures

What regulated product commerce on Shopify actually requires

Regulated product categories on Shopify include tattoo and body modification supplies, alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, CBD and hemp derived products, certain supplements, adult content, and controlled equipment. Each category comes with a different set of restrictions: some affect which payment processors will work with the store, some affect which ad platforms can be used, some require documented age verification at checkout, and some require specific platform attestations before Shopify will allow the account to operate.

Shopify Plus
Age Verification
High Risk Payments
PACT Act Compliance
B2B Accounts
Catalog Controls

Compared on	Shero Commerce	AgeChecker.Net set up by your team	A high-risk payment provider alone	A freelance developer
Age checks only where they apply	We set checks by product and location, so other orders stay quick.	Rules by location and product included.	Processor handles payments; age checks are yours.	Custom rules to build.
Sales stopping if a processor freezes	A second payment option set up as a backup.	Age app has no payment backup role.	One processor, one point of failure.	Possible, if they know the processors.
Restricted products blocked by destination	Checkout rules stop restricted items shipping where they are banned.	Checks age only; destination rules need other tools.	Processor does not block destinations.	Custom code to maintain.
Complex checkout logic done right	Regal: credit-based checkout logic rebuilt in a custom Shopify app.	Plugs into checkout as an app.	Payments only.	Depends on their checkout experience.
How you pay	A fixed price per project, agreed before work starts. Support on a monthly retainer.	AgeChecker.Net monthly plan.	Higher processing rates.	Freelancer hourly rate.

Shero Commerce

Age checks only where they apply We set checks by product and location, so other orders stay quick.

Sales stopping if a processor freezes A second payment option set up as a backup.

Restricted products blocked by destination Checkout rules stop restricted items shipping where they are banned.

Complex checkout logic done right Regal: credit-based checkout logic rebuilt in a custom Shopify app.

How you pay A fixed price per project, agreed before work starts. Support on a monthly retainer.

Compared with

AgeChecker.Net set up by your team

Age checks only where they apply Rules by location and product included.

Sales stopping if a processor freezes Age app has no payment backup role.

Restricted products blocked by destination Checks age only; destination rules need other tools.

Complex checkout logic done right Plugs into checkout as an app.

How you pay AgeChecker.Net monthly plan.

A high-risk payment provider alone

Age checks only where they apply Processor handles payments; age checks are yours.

Sales stopping if a processor freezes One processor, one point of failure.

Restricted products blocked by destination Processor does not block destinations.

Complex checkout logic done right Payments only.

How you pay Higher processing rates.

A freelance developer

Age checks only where they apply Custom rules to build.

Sales stopping if a processor freezes Possible, if they know the processors.

Restricted products blocked by destination Custom code to maintain.

Complex checkout logic done right Depends on their checkout experience.

How you pay Freelancer hourly rate.

01

Payment processor selection happens before anything else

Shopify Payments does not support CBD, THC, or several other regulated categories. A third party high risk processor must be in place before the store takes its first order. Processors that work for regulated categories include Authorize.net, NMI, and specialized high risk payment providers. Painful Pleasures and Archer Roose both required custom payment processor configuration as a first build requirement.

02

Age verification that meets current legal requirements

For tobacco and vaping products, self declaration checkboxes do not meet the federal PACT Act standard. Verifiable age verification for regulated products uses document verification, date of birth validation with auditable records, or AI based age estimation with escalation to ID check. The requirement varies by product category and state. The age verification app must meet the strictest standard in every jurisdiction you ship to.

03

Product level age and access controls, not sitewide gates

A sitewide age gate that blocks all visitors creates unnecessary friction for buyers of non restricted products and may not satisfy requirements for specific regulated categories. Product level controls gate only the restricted products. Buyers purchasing non regulated items proceed without interruption. Buyers adding restricted products to cart trigger verification at the appropriate point. See our Shopify B2B account management page for full detail.

04

Marketing channel constraints built into the strategy from day one

Facebook, Google, and TikTok restrict or ban advertising for regulated product categories including CBD, vaping, alcohol, and adult content. Paid social and paid search cannot be the primary acquisition channels for these stores. SEO, email, and direct channels need to carry more weight. Archer Roose operates almost entirely without standard paid channels due to alcohol commerce restrictions.

05

B2B controls for professional buyer accounts

Many regulated product categories have both consumer and professional buyers: tattoo artists and studios buying supplies, licensed alcohol retailers ordering wholesale, licensed practitioners purchasing regulated equipment. B2B account management with company profiles, catalog controls, and appropriate pricing and terms is a standard requirement for regulated commerce stores serving trade buyers.

06

Shopify platform attestations where required

For hemp and CBD products, Shopify requires merchants to complete an attestation for the sale of hemp derived products. Skipping this puts the account at risk of suspension regardless of the payment processor. Other regulated categories have equivalent requirements. These are confirmed and completed as part of the build, not discovered after the account is flagged. See our Shopify B2B page for full detail.

Sporting goods

+200%revenue growth since launch

~40%reduction in TCO vs Adobe Commerce

STXShopify

Read the case study

Industrial safety

4separate Magento stores unified into one multi-store

2xorganic traffic increase within months of launch

JustriteMagento

Read the case study

Specialty coffee

Deliverydelivered in 8 to 10 weeks, live before peak season

RoasterToolsRoasterTools and B2B fully integrated

Valentine Coffee Co.Shopify

Read the case study

Well-known American knife manufacturer

Benchmade

For more than three decades, Benchmade has been known for producing high-quality knives for everyday carry, hunting, rescue, and outdoor use. Launched on Magento Commerce Cloud in 2018, the brand partnered with Shero to expand online amid rising outdoor consumer demand. Since then, they have seen: +100% revenue growth, +68% transaction growth after relaunch, and a +20% increase in average order value.

Benchmade

Body jewelry and tattoo supplies

Painful Pleasures

Painful Pleasures is a long-standing supplier of body jewelry and tattoo supplies with a catalog of 40,000+ products. The brand partnered with Shero to complete a stalled Magento to Shopify migration and deliver the complex custom features their business depends on. They reduced ongoing maintenance costs and eliminated urgent site issues that had previously caused headaches by 40%.

Painful Pleasures

Luxury wines packaged in cans

Archer Roose

Archer Roose is a wine company known for producing high-quality, sustainably sourced wines in eco-friendly formats like cans and kegs. Their commitment to small, organic, and biodynamic vineyards has helped them stand out in a competitive market. They saw an increase of +18% in email marketing ROAS and 35% improvement in mobile browsing session duration.

Archer Roose

CCL - Center for Creative Leadership

Shero moved the Center for Creative Leadership, a global nonprofit, from iApps to Magento 2. We integrated Microsoft Dynamics 365 and VitalSource, set up international selling, and improved the store and checkout on every device.

CCL - Center for Creative Leadership

B2B and DTC in one store

Shopify now handles wholesale and retail from one admin. We set up the pricing, terms and ERP sync that make it work.

Price lists
Customer specific pricing and volume breaks.
Payment terms
Net terms, invoices and purchase orders.
Buyer portal
Reorders, quick order lists and company accounts.
ERP sync
Customers, pricing and orders synced with your ERP.

Compliance problems found after launch cost more than compliance built into the architecture.

Scope your regulatory requirements before any build decisions are made.

Get a quote

01

Product sort
We sort every SKU into groups like CBD, tobacco, alcohol, tattoo ink or body jewelry, since each group has its own rules.
02

Payments first
We line up a third-party processor that approves your product mix, since Shopify Payments does not take hemp sales.
03

Checkout rules
Age checks, state blocks and product warnings get set per product group, so unrestricted items check out normally.
04

Test orders
We place test orders to blocked states and confirm each one gets stopped at checkout.
05

Rule changes
After launch we track carrier, processor and state rule changes and update the store controls when they move.

Frequently asked questions.

Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out to our team.

01

Does Shopify Payments support CBD or other regulated products?

No. Shopify Payments does not support CBD, THC, or several other regulated product categories. Merchants in these categories need a third party high risk payment processor before taking their first order. Suitable processors include Authorize.net, NMI, Bankful, and other providers that work with regulated eCommerce. Payment processor setup is the first step in any regulated product store build, not something added after launch.

02

What age verification is legally required to sell regulated products online?

Requirements vary by product category and state. For cigarettes and vaping products, the federal PACT Act requires online sellers to check the buyer's name, birth date and address against a commercial database before accepting the order, and to collect an adult signature at delivery. A checkbox asking buyers to click 'Yes, I am 21' does not meet that standard. Alcohol and other categories follow state law and carrier rules, which usually require an adult signature at delivery. Building to the strictest applicable standard across all shipping jurisdictions is the recommended approach.

03

Can I sell both regulated and non regulated products from the same Shopify store?

Yes. Product level age and access controls gate only the restricted products. Buyers purchasing non regulated items proceed through the standard checkout flow without interruption. Buyers who add regulated items to cart trigger the appropriate verification at checkout. A sitewide age gate that blocks all visitors is not necessary and creates friction for buyers of unrestricted products.

04

What are the paid advertising restrictions for regulated products?

Facebook, Google, and TikTok restrict or prohibit advertising for CBD, vaping, THC, alcohol, adult content, and other regulated categories. The restrictions vary by platform and jurisdiction but are significant enough that paid social and paid search cannot be primary acquisition channels for most regulated product stores. SEO, email marketing, direct traffic, and community based marketing typically carry more weight. Archer Roose operates with almost no standard paid channels because of alcohol advertising restrictions.

05

What is the Shopify attestation for hemp and CBD products?

Shopify requires merchants selling hemp and hemp derived products to complete an attestation confirming the products meet legal requirements for hemp commerce. This is a platform level compliance requirement, not optional. Stores that skip it risk account suspension regardless of payment processor or legal compliance. The attestation is completed in Shopify admin. It is confirmed and completed as part of the store build for any client with CBD or hemp products in their catalog.

06

Can Shopify handle B2B professional accounts alongside retail consumers for regulated products?

Yes. Shopify B2B company accounts support professional buyer accounts with separate catalog access, pricing, and checkout terms alongside the consumer storefront. Painful Pleasures uses this to serve professional tattoo artists and studios at wholesale pricing and terms while retail consumers use the standard store. The professional account login gates the trade pricing and catalog without affecting the consumer experience.

What our clients say.

We design experiences that make a difference. See what our clients have to say about working with us.

Benchmade Knife Co.

"Working with Shero Commerce for the past three years has been a game-changer for our B2B eCommerce business.Their expertise in email marketing, website support, and eCommerce strategy has significantly improved our online presence and optimized our B2B operations.The team’s dedication to our success is evident, and we’re excited to continue our partnership with them. If you’re looking for a reliable and results-driven eCommerce agency, look no further than Shero."

Joe Prebich

VP of Marketing / Benchmade Knife Co.

STX

"Since partnering with Shero Commerce, our eCommerce revenue has grown by 200%. Their 24/7 support and innovative solutions have been game-changers for our business."

James McKenna

Senior Commerce & CX Manager / STX

GEN-Y Hitch

"This has been the most impressive vendor partnership I have experienced. Every meeting felt purposeful, every milestone was clear, and the process was incredibly well-supported from start to finish. Shero delivered a seamless Shopify migration."

Kendra Borkholder

Kendra Borkholder - Operations Support / GEN-Y Hitch

Justrite Safety Group

"The collaboration between us and Shero Commerce on the Justrite multi-store site went beyond what we had hoped for. They are a terrific partner to work with. Their team’s dedication to understanding our unique requirements and delivering a high-quality, customized solution has greatly enhanced our online presence. The new website not only showcases our products effectively but also streamlines the shopping experience for our customers. We couldn’t be happier with the results and look forward to working with Shero Commerce on future projects."

Douglas J. Stang

VP of eCommerce / Justrite Safety Group

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Shopify for Regulated Products

Book a free call with a Shopify strategist

What regulated product commerce on Shopify actually requires