Authorize.Net Payment Gateway: Fees, Setup, and Shopify Integration for Small Businesses
Authorize.Net Payment Gateway: Fees, Setup, and Shopify Integration for Small Businesses
The authorize.net payment gateway is one of the most widely used payment solutions for small businesses, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood and incorrectly configured. Many SMBs sign up through their bank, attempt a DIY setup, and end up with broken checkouts, declined payments, or unnecessary fees.
This guide breaks down what Authorize.Net is, how its fees actually work, how to set it up correctly, and how to connect Authorize.Net to Shopify the right way—without headaches.
What Is the Authorize.Net Payment Gateway?
Authorize.Net is a payment gateway, not a merchant account. That distinction matters.
It acts as the secure middle layer between:
- Your website or ecommerce platform
- Your customer’s credit card
- Your merchant account or bank processor
Unlike modern all-in-one processors, Authorize.Net is often paired with traditional bank-issued merchant accounts, which is why it’s still popular with:
- Retailers with thin margins
- Businesses processing higher volumes
- Merchants who want more control over processing costs
👉 Official site: https://www.authorize.net/
Authorize.Net Fees Explained for Small Businesses
Authorize.Net pricing is not flat-rate, which is where most SMB confusion starts.
Typical Authorize.Net fees include:
- Monthly gateway fee (usually ~$25)
- Per-transaction fee (around $0.10)
- Batch fee (sometimes ~$0.10 per settlement)
⚠️ Important: These fees are in addition to your merchant account’s processing rates, which vary by bank.
How this compares to Stripe
- Stripe: simple flat pricing (2.9% + $0.30)
- Authorize.Net: lower margins can be cheaper at scale, but setup is more complex
For many SMBs, Authorize.Net makes sense only if configured correctly and paired with the right merchant account.
👉 Stripe pricing reference: https://stripe.com/pricing
How to Set Up the Authorize.Net Payment Gateway (Where SMBs Go Wrong)
Most issues with the authorize.net payment gateway happen during setup—not usage.
Common mistakes we see:
- Confusing sandbox vs production environments
- Using the wrong API or transaction keys
- Not enabling required payment methods
- Failing PCI compliance checks
- Incorrect webhook or response URLs
A correct setup requires:
- Active merchant account (bank or processor)
- Live Authorize.Net account (not sandbox)
- Correct API Login ID + Transaction Key
- Secure checkout configuration
- Platform-specific testing before launch
👉 Developer reference: https://developer.authorize.net/
This is why many SMBs “technically” have Authorize.Net—but can’t get payments to work reliably.
Authorize.Net With Shopify: What Merchants Need to Know
Connecting Authorize.Net to Shopify is possible, but not always straightforward.
When Authorize.Net + Shopify makes sense:
- You already have a bank-issued merchant account
- Shopify Payments is unavailable or too expensive
- You need more control over interchange rates
What merchants should know:
- Shopify supports Authorize.Net, but setup must be precise
- Not all bank configurations are compatible
- Testing must be done in live mode (sandbox ≠ Shopify checkout)
Real-world example
We implemented Authorize.Net for a Shopify merchant at Stand Your Grounds Coffee, helping them connect their bank-issued gateway properly so online orders could process reliably without inflated fees.
👉 Shopify payment gateway docs: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments
When Small Businesses Should Get Help Setting Up Authorize.Net
You should not DIY Authorize.Net if:
- You’re migrating from another processor
- Your business runs on Shopify or WooCommerce
- You’ve experienced declined payments
- You want to lower processing costs long-term
- You operate both online and in-store
The cost of a broken checkout is always higher than professional setup.
Need Help With the Authorize.Net Payment Gateway?
If you’re using (or considering) the authorize.net payment gateway and want it connected properly to Shopify or another ecommerce platform, we can help.
At Everyday Web, we’ve implemented Authorize.Net for real merchants—not demos—and we understand the bank, gateway, and platform side of the equation.
👉 Explore our ecommerce services:
https://everydayweb.co/ecommerce-stores/
We’ll make sure it’s set up right the first time.
Authorize.Net Resources & References
- Authorize.Net Official Site: https://www.authorize.net/
- Authorize.Net Developer Docs: https://developer.authorize.net/
- Shopify Payment Gateways: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments
- Stripe Pricing Comparison: https://stripe.com/pricing