FAQ — Autharize

Question 1

How do I apply for a merchant account?

Accepted Answer

Click "Apply Now" on any page and complete our online application. It takes about 5 minutes. Most merchants are approved within 24 hours — many the same day.

Question 2

What documents do I need to apply?

Accepted Answer

You will need your business EIN or SSN, a voided check for your deposit account, a government-issued ID, and basic business information. High-risk merchants may need additional documentation.

Question 3

How long does approval take?

Accepted Answer

Standard merchant accounts are typically approved within 24 hours. High-risk accounts may take 2–5 business days. You will receive an email notification as soon as a decision is made.

Question 4

Is there a setup fee?

Accepted Answer

No. There is never a setup fee with Autharize. You only pay processing fees when you actually process transactions.

Question 5

Are there long-term contracts?

Accepted Answer

No long-term contracts. You can cancel your merchant account at any time with no early termination fee.

Question 6

What are your credit card processing rates?

Accepted Answer

Our Starter plan is 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction with no monthly fee. Our Growth plan is 2.3% + $0.10 with a $25/month platform fee. Enterprise merchants get interchange-plus pricing with custom rates based on volume.

Question 7

What is interchange-plus pricing?

Accepted Answer

Interchange-plus (also called cost-plus) pricing passes the actual interchange rate charged by Visa/Mastercard directly to you, plus a small fixed markup. It is the most transparent pricing model and typically saves high-volume merchants significant money.

Question 8

Are there any hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

No. We publish our complete fee schedule on our Pricing page. The only fees you will ever pay are the ones listed there — processing rates, the optional monthly platform fee, and standard industry fees like chargebacks.

Question 9

What does ACH processing cost?

Accepted Answer

ACH bank transfers are priced at 0.5% per transaction with a maximum fee of $5.00. Same-day ACH is available for a flat $1.00 fee per transaction.

Question 10

Is there a monthly minimum?

Accepted Answer

No monthly minimums on any plan. You only pay when you process.

Frequently Asked Questions

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