Founded in 2006 in Ottawa, Shopify is an international eCommerce platform used by solo merchants and businesses worldwide.
The company offers multiple eCommerce services, such as customised online shops and store templates, sales and product management platforms, marketing campaigns, and multiple payment options for both physical and online stores.
Their services are suitable for businesses that sell goods and services in various industry niches, such as retail, health, cosmetics, food/beverage, travel, non-profits, education, etc. That said, businesses that engage in some activities prohibited by Shopify are not permitted to use the platform.
Let’s see what businesses cannot use Shopify and what will happen if you conduct any banned activities while using the eCommerce platform’s services.
Sections
What Businesses Are Not Allowed To Use Shopify & Why
All Shopify subscribers must comply with the company’s guidelines and regulations. Engaging in prohibited business activities can result in permanent account suspension, preventing you from using their services or creating a new account.
Moreover, if Shopify notices irregularities, unexpected payments, or suspicious money transfers, it can temporarily prohibit access to your account and analyse your business activities.
In case they don’t find any relevant proof of misconduct, your account access will be restored. However, if they conclude you’re using their services to conduct prohibited activities, you’ll be permanently banned from using the platform.
In addition to fully complying with their regulations and Acceptable Use Policy, you must also follow the laws and policies of the country in which your company is registered.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s learn more about Shopify’s prohibited products and activities.
Businesses That Offer Financial Services
Businesses that conduct any of the following activities are not allowed to use Shopify’s services:
Credit or money investment: Counseling on money investment, debt decrease or mortgage real estate services, lending activities, credit repair, etc.
Financial services: Specific financial services such as check creation, wire cash transfers and orders, cash collections, bail bonds, FX exchange, crowdfunding, etc.
Legal services: Firms that provide legal services such as fund collection or fee and rates payment activities.
Stored value and digital currency: Digital currency that users can convert, sell, or monetise. Cryptocurrency activities, such as mining or selling coins or cryptocurrency equipment, digital wallets, etc.
Businesses That Infringe IP Laws
Any business that violates intellectual property laws, such as trademark, copyright, or patent law, is entirely prohibited from using the company’s services.
Here’s a list of the forbidden activities:
Goods and services related to sexual activities: Pornography materials and media that portray explicit images, videos, and audio; web platforms for selling escort, dating and prostitution services; live chats with sexual content, adult sex toys, adult massage services; topless, strip and exotic dancing bars, dating apps, etc.
Fake or illicit services and goods: Illicit reselling of already-existing designer brands or illicit reselling of exported or imported items.
Gambling activities: Illicit bidding (sports or sport-related league biddings that include prizes), auctions, lotteries, monetary prize biddings, gambling, charity-related bidding and sweepstakes, raffles, but only for specific fundraising purposes, etc.
Infringement of IP and proprietary laws: Redistribution, selling, or free access to copyrighted items and services, and access to previously licensed goods and services without obtaining permit and consent by the rightful owners; services and items that can infringe implicitly or directly any type of IP and privacy laws; misuse of the logo, name or any other protected trademark owned by Shopify without obtaining permission from the company; misusing the company’s Trademark Usage Guidelines; Any other activity that can imply illegitimate affiliation association or partnership between a subscriber and Shopify.
Businesses That Sell Illicit or Regulated Services and Items
Shopify prohibits companies from selling illicit or regulated items that could harm its reputation. These include:
Illicit and regulated services and items: E-cigarettes and vaping equipment, tobacco, cannabis, pharmacies that sell items that require prescriptions, peptides or other specific chemicals, etc.
ID issuing services: Issuing identification documents or false references, selling goods to minors forbidden for individuals under 18, etc.
Weapons and additional accessories: Guns, munitions, explosives, gunpowder, pepper spray, knives, etc.
Fireworks: Flammable, radioactive, and toxic items or products regulated by national legislation
Unlawful selling of items and services: Products prohibited in the business’s registered country or target audience’s location; selling to support embargoed or sanctioned countries, territories, or entities.
Businesses that Sell Services and Items Restricted by Shopify’s Partners
Shopify subscribers are prohibited from selling services and items restricted by the company’s partners.
If you conduct any of the following business activities, Shopify has the right to ban your account:
Drug equipment: Paraphernalia used for producing drugs, hookahs, vaporisers, marijuana bongs, etc.
Illegal substances: Substances similar to drugs, such as kratom and salvia.
Substantial risk activities: Legal services and advice for bankruptcy, psychic prediction activities, digital chain email lists, medical advancement packages, telehealth or telemedicine activities, etc.
Aggregation: Payment, i.e. incoming or outgoing money transfer facilitation, licensed or illicit money aggregation, and any activity that aims to conceal the money’s actual origin or source.
Travelling services: Cruises and flight reservation services.
Phone activities: Prepaid cards, telemarketing, phone interference tools, illicit telecommunication and equipment, etc.
Illegal representation of governmental bodies: Activities in the name of consulates, embassies, and any type of foreign bodies.
Non-profit and charity: Any type of charity and NGO activities without obtaining the necessary licenses.
Card services: Issuing credit cards, policy violation of card issuers and banks, etc.
Discriminatory activities: Activities that promote any type of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, etc.
Counterfeit pharmaceuticals: Any type of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, including nutraceuticals and activities that claim health benefits but haven’t been verified by regulatory institutions.
Online likes and views: The illegal sale of likes, followers, and views on various social media outlets, such as YouTube, X, Instagram, Facebook, etc.
Illicit use of Shopify’s services: Using Shopify as a digital terminal, illegally sharing private cardholder data, debit and credit card assessment and testing, charity money processing without receiving a donation, etc.
Businesses that Offer Unethical and Misleading Practices
Shopify prohibits activities that promote unethical or misleading practices. These include:
Multi-layered marketing: Ponzy or Pyramid-based schemes, marketing campaigns that focus on company referrals.
Illegal investment activities: Business activities that guarantee fast money-making after investing in a specific service or promising rewards to customers.
Mugshot creation and pay-to-delete web platforms: Websites that promote unethical services and practices, such as mugshot creation, web platforms that offer content deletion (pay-to-delete), or content creation that can harm anyone’s reputation.
Other websites: Any website that Shopify determines sells deceptive, exploitative, or unlawful goods or services to customers.
Shopify Actions Against Businesses That Sell Prohibited Items or Services
Shopify has a department whose primary focus is risk assessment and continuously monitors each subscriber’s business activities. If they discover that any of the company’s subscribers are misusing their tools and features and violating Shopify’s policies, they can immediately ban the account.
To avoid account bans and potential profit loss, regularly check Shopify’s policy updates. If unsure about a product or service, consult customer service.