Checklist for AI Adult Merchants to Onboard a Reliable Payment Partner

The adult AI industry is growing at lightning speed. Platforms are blending conversational AI, character creation, and fantasy into a new wave of online intimacy. But here’s the truth no one tells you upfront: getting a reliable payment partner on board isn’t easy.

If you’re in this space, you’ve probably already faced the rejections, the endless compliance questions, and the silence from PSPs who don’t “get” your business. That’s exactly why I put this checklist together — so you don’t waste months doing it wrong.

This is everything your platform needs to lock in a payment provider who actually understands your business — and sticks with you.

1. Your Terms of Service Can’t Be an Afterthought

This is your first checkpoint. If your Terms of Service (ToS) page looks like it was thrown together in 5 minutes, payment partners won’t even make it to your homepage.

Clearly outline:

- That your platform is AI-based, with no human involvement.

- User responsibilities and age requirements.

- Content restrictions and moderation policies.

- Your refund and cancellation policies.

Remember, payment providers aren’t just protecting themselves — they’re also checking whether you’re protecting your users. A well-drafted ToS is proof that you take compliance seriously.

2. Use Explicit, Mandatory Checkboxes at Checkout

This sounds small, but it matters. When a user checks out, the following options should each be a separate, unticked checkbox:

- I agree to the Terms and Conditions.

- I understand this is a recurring subscription.

- I give permission to store my card securely.

Don’t try to “opt them in” silently. PSPs see that as a red flag. It’s not just about legality — it’s about user clarity. And when things are clear, disputes go down.

3. Offer an Easy Way to Cancel and Manage Accounts

No one likes a trap. If a user has to open five tabs to find the cancel button, you’re not just annoying them — you’re increasing your chargeback risk.

Your platform should offer:

- Easy cancellation directly from the user dashboard.

- Transparent subscription status and billing history.

- Profile and payment settings that are simple to navigate.

Think about your UX like a user, not a founder. Can you cancel in 2 clicks? If not, fix it before applying to any PSP.

4. No Real Person Involvement — Not Even Resemblance

Let’s be clear: if your AI character “kind of looks like a celebrity” or seems human in a way that’s misleading, that’s a compliance nightmare.

Make it obvious on your platform:

- These are AI-generated characters.

- There is no human on the other side.

- This is fantasy, not reality.

Some acquirers will even check your branding and UI/UX to see if it’s too realistic. Better to be transparent upfront.

5. Never Allow Image Uploads

This one’s simple: don’t let users upload photos to your platform, not even for creating characters. Why? Because user-uploaded content opens a huge moderation liability.

Underage content, stolen identities, illegal material — it’s all a risk the moment you allow uploads. 

Stick to text-based prompts for AI character generation. It’s safer, smarter, and easier to defend.

6. Actively Monitor AI Chats or AI Adult Chats and Image Outputs

Whether your AI is generating text, images, or audio, you need monitoring in place. Some platforms use human moderation. Others use machine-learning filters. Either way, here’s the rule: set up guardrails.

Flag these types of content immediately:

- Anything involving minors.

- Violent or non-consensual themes.

- Hate speech or criminal behavior.

Don’t wait until something goes viral for the wrong reasons. Be proactive.

7. Don’t Let AI Respond to Dangerous Prompts

If a user types something related to suicide, rape, or extreme violence, your AI should NOT engage.

It should shut the conversation down immediately or redirect the user to a support message. Many PSPs test for this during due diligence. Fail here, and you’ll be blacklisted before you even go live.

8. Final Step — Work with People Who Know the Space

Let’s face it: you can do everything right and still hit a wall when it comes to onboarding. That’s where we come in.

At Pay Consults, we’ve helped dozens of adult AI platforms go from “no PSP will touch us” to processing millions monthly. We don’t just find you a payment provider. We match you with the right one, based on your business model, volume, target market, and risk profile.

We also help:

- Structure your KYC/KYB documents.

- Handle acquirer interviews and reviews.

- Optimize your site flow to meet compliance standards.

In short, we make sure your payment onboarding doesn’t break your business.

AI adult platforms are a new frontier. But payment compliance? That’s the same old game — and we help you to play it well. Use this checklist to build a strong foundation and reach out when you’re ready to scale.

Because with the right setup, your platform won’t just survive — it’ll thrive.