For adult and dating merchants in the U.S., card acquiring is usually the primary rail—but ACH recurring adult subscriptions can be a smart secondary rail for certain segments: lower fees, fewer “card expired” failures, and sometimes better long-term retention.
The key is doing it in a Nacha-friendly way, with clear authorization language, mandate storage, and returns management.
1) Why add ACH for adult subscriptions
Common benefits:
- lower processing cost for recurring plans
- fewer card declines due to expiry / issuer blocks
- smoother renewals for long-term members
Nacha positions recurring ACH as a common fit for subscription businesses.
2) What makes recurring ACH “compliant enough” for underwriting
Acquirers and banks look for:
- clear authorization (what is debited, how often, how to cancel)
- mandate storage and audit trail
- consumer-friendly cancellation and support
- a plan for returns (insufficient funds, unauthorized, account closed)
Nacha Operating Rules are the foundation for ACH payments and define participant responsibilities.
3) The practical recurring ACH flow (merchant view)
- Customer chooses ACH at checkout
- You display authorization text and capture consent
- You store mandate metadata (timestamp, IP/device, version of terms)
- You run recurring debits on schedule
- You handle returns with a defined policy and customer support workflow
4) Returns management: the part that underwriters care about
Returns are normal in ACH. Underwriters care that you:
- don’t re-attempt debits in an abusive way
- communicate with customers
- have a clear cancellation and refund policy
5) Where ACH fits in an adult/dating stack
A common pattern:
- Cards for first payment + higher conversion
- ACH for long-term members or higher ticket
- Gateway routing to keep checkout consistent
- Risk controls across both rails