Migration playbook · from Authorize.net

Migrating from Authorize.net to multiflow — the 10-day playbook

Authorize.net is a gateway — not a processor. When you migrate "from Authorize.net" you're usually migrating from Authorize.net + a legacy acquirer (First Data, TSYS, Harbortouch, EVO, etc). multiflow is gateway + processor + orchestration in one layer, so we replace both. CIM vault ports via PCI-compliant token re-authorization, ARB subscriptions recreate on identical billing days, and the acquirer relationship consolidates to multiflow's direct-to-network rails.

Timeline10 business days
DowntimeZero
Data portabilityFull — A.net releases CIM vault, ARB subscriptions, transaction history, and FDS rules
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Before & after
what actually changes day 1.

On Authorize.net today

  • Two separate relationships (gateway + acquirer) with two separate support queues and two billing cycles
  • A.net billing is $25 monthly gateway fee + $0.10 per transaction on top of whatever the acquirer charges — double-layered costs
  • CIM vault pricing ($20/mo baseline + usage) rarely appears in sales conversations; merchants discover it on the second statement
  • ARB subscriptions are rigid — retry logic, dunning, and grace periods are gateway-defined with no override

On multiflow after migration

  • +One relationship, one contract, one support line for gateway + processor + risk
  • +No separate gateway fee — rails cost is baked into IC+ pricing
  • +Vault is included at no extra per-month cost
  • +Configurable dunning: retry cadence, grace period, and email template are all editable per product

Side-by-side
rate & capability comparison.

What you pay forAuthorize.netmultiflow
Gateway fee$25/mo + $0.10/txn$0 — included
CIM (vault) fee$20/mo + $0.10/txn$0 — included
ARB (subscriptions) fee$10/mo + $0.10/ARB$0 — included
Processing rateVaries by acquirer (IC+0.8-1.5%)IC + 0.35-0.55% + 10¢
Chargeback fee$25-35 (acquirer)$15 refunded on win
Batch closeout fee$0.05-0.10/batch$0
PCI compliance fee$10-25/mo (acquirer)$0
Monthly minimum$25-50 acquirer$0 under $50k vol
Gateway fee
Authorize.net $25/mo + $0.10/txn
multiflow $0 — included
CIM (vault) fee
Authorize.net $20/mo + $0.10/txn
multiflow $0 — included
ARB (subscriptions) fee
Authorize.net $10/mo + $0.10/ARB
multiflow $0 — included
Processing rate
Authorize.net Varies by acquirer (IC+0.8-1.5%)
multiflow IC + 0.35-0.55% + 10¢
Chargeback fee
Authorize.net $25-35 (acquirer)
multiflow $15 refunded on win
Batch closeout fee
Authorize.net $0.05-0.10/batch
multiflow $0
PCI compliance fee
Authorize.net $10-25/mo (acquirer)
multiflow $0
Monthly minimum
Authorize.net $25-50 acquirer
multiflow $0 under $50k vol
Key takeaway

Flat-rate processors optimise for onboarding friction, not P&L. Every line above that reads "flat" on the left and "IC +" or "tiered" on the right is a line where multiflow returns margin that was previously opaque to you.


The 7-step migration
from kickoff to full cutover.

What this buys you

Seven days, one operator ceremony per day, zero weekend overtime. Each step is reversible through day 30 — you do not fly one-way until the Authorize.net drain window closes.


Day-1 data export checklist
pull these before you sign anything.

Everything below is yours under Authorize.net's ToS. Export now, before underwriting opens — it's faster while you're still a customer in good standing.

Why you pull first

Once you submit notice-of-migration, some processors throttle export API limits. You want these files in your S3 bucket before anyone at Authorize.net knows you're leaving.


Gotchas operators hit
learn from their scars.

Operator-reported pitfalls

Gateway + acquirer are separate relationships. When you email "Authorize.net" support, you reach Cybersource (owns A.net). When you call about a reserve or payout delay, you reach your acquirer (First Data, TSYS, Harbortouch, etc). Both must be wound down. Skipping acquirer notification leaves you on an "empty" acquirer contract with monthly minimums continuing to bill.

Early termination fees. Most acquirer contracts have 3-year terms with liquidated damages. If you're mid-contract, calculate the ETF vs multiflow savings — often the savings pay back the ETF in 2-4 months. multiflow will credit up to $5,000 of ETF against your first 6 months of processing fees as a buyout.

CIM fingerprint age. CIM tokens older than 36 months may fail the re-authorization step. These customers get a one-time "update your card" email during day 3.

E-commerce platform plugins. WooCommerce Authorize.net plugins are numerous (official, Skyverge, WooPayments). Each has a different config surface. Plugin swap is straightforward but requires verification that metadata fields preserve.

ACH/eCheck on A.net. If you use A.net's eCheck.Net, migration is trickier — ACH processing has a separate NACHA compliance layer. Talk to us first if ACH is more than 10% of your volume.


Rollback plan
if something goes sideways.

30-day reversibility window

Rollback on an A.net migration is 2-3x harder than single-layer migrations because you're unwinding both a gateway swap and an acquirer swap. Within the first 5 days, rollback is feasible: reactivate the A.net gateway (still technically open), restart the acquirer relationship if it hasn't been terminated yet.

After day 10, the acquirer relationship is closed and rollback requires re-underwriting at the acquirer — effectively starting over. We strongly recommend confirming the migration path with a 20-transaction parallel run on day 4 before committing.


Why A.net is unusually sticky

Authorize.net has been around since 1996, and integrations exist everywhere — every shopping cart, every custom-built e-commerce stack from 2005-2020 has an A.net code path. The gateway itself is excellent at its job: mature API, reliable uptime, deep fraud features. The migration pain isn't A.net the gateway; it's the acquirer lock-in that A.net implies. Most A.net merchants are on ISO-sourced acquirer deals with 3-year terms and no negotiated rate reviews.

multiflow collapses the layer. Gateway + processor + risk in one rail means one contract, one statement, and one support queue. The operators who benefit most from this migration run more than one brand and have felt the pain of coordinating a fraud rule update or reserve appeal across two different customer service organizations.

The operators who benefit most from this migration run more than one brand and have felt the pain of coordinating a fraud rule update or reserve appeal across two different customer service organizations.

From the Authorize.net migration field notes

What stays the same on checkout

multiflow's Hosted Payment Page UX closely mirrors Authorize.net SIM. Direct Post Method users swap one POST URL. Accept.js users swap one script tag + one API key. Custom API consumers get a compatibility shim that accepts A.net-shaped request bodies and returns A.net-shaped responses. The goal is that your shopping cart, custom code, or ERP integration sees near-identical request/response patterns post-migration.


FAQ

Questions operators ask
before they sign.

01 Do we keep our Merchant ID?
No — A.net Merchant IDs are acquirer-specific. multiflow issues a new MID at underwriting.
02 Do our customers have to re-enter cards?
No, except the 2-5% with CIM tokens >36mo old who may see a one-time CSC challenge.
03 What about our ARB subscriptions?
Full export and recreation with identical next-billing-date. Customers see no gap, no duplicate.
04 Can we keep Authorize.net open?
Technically yes at $25/mo + CIM fee, but it's wasted cost once you're on multiflow. We recommend closing on day 45.
05 Does this change our PCI compliance obligations?
multiflow is Level 1 PCI — your SAQ scope typically reduces from SAQ A-EP to SAQ A (fewer controls to attest to).
06 What about eCheck.Net ACH volume?
ACH migrates through multiflow's NACHA-certified bank partner. 48-hour extra setup required.

Ready to migrate off Authorize.net?
We scope the switch in 48 hours — free.

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