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Payment Gateway Services

Payment Gateway Services

Payment Gateway Services | Secure Online Payment Processing

Enterprise-Grade Payment Gateway at No Extra Cost

Accept online payments securely with Coastal Pay’s feature-rich payment gateway—included free with your merchant account. No monthly gateway fees, no per-transaction charges, just robust payment processing tools built for software companies, e-commerce businesses, and B2B platforms that need reliability, flexibility, and seamless integration. 

Full-Featured Payment Gateway: Tokenization, recurring billing, fraud tools, and API access

No Gateway Fees: $0 monthly fee, $0 per transaction gateway charge

Developer-Friendly: RESTful API, webhooks, comprehensive documentation

PCI Level 1 Certified: Highest security certification available

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What is a Payment Gateway?

A payment gateway is the technology that securely transmits payment information between your website or application and the payment processor. Think of it as the digital equivalent of a credit card terminal in a physical store—it captures payment details, encrypts them, sends them for authorization, and returns the approval or decline response. 

When a customer enters their credit card or bank account information on your checkout page, the payment gateway:

  1. Encrypts the sensitive payment data
  2. Transmits it securely to the payment processor
  3. Routes the transaction to the appropriate card network (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
  4. Receives the authorization response
  5. Returns the result to your website or application
  6. Facilitates the fund transfer to your merchant account

Why it matters: Your payment gateway directly impacts your customer experience, security posture, development time, and processing capabilities. The right gateway enables seamless transactions, prevents fraud, and scales with your business growth. 

Payment Gateway Features

Secure Payment Processing

Process credit cards, debit cards, and ACH payments through a single, unified gateway with bank-level encryption and security. 

Supported payment methods:

  1. All major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
  2. Debit cards with PIN or signature
  3. ACH bank transfers (debits and credits)
  4. Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  5. International cards with multi-currency support

Security features:

  1. TLS 1.2+ encryption for all data transmission
  2. PCI DSS Level 1 compliance (highest certification)
  3. Tokenization to replace sensitive card data
  4. 3D Secure authentication (SCA compliance)
  5. End-to-end encryption from capture to settlement

Transaction types supported:

  1. Authorization (hold funds without capturing)
  2. Sale (immediate authorization and capture)
  3. Capture (complete a previous authorization)
  4. Refund (return funds to customer)
  5. Void (cancel an unsettled transaction)
  6. Partial refunds and partial captures

Payment Tokenization & Secure Card Storage

Store customer payment information securely for recurring billing, one-click checkout, and subscription management without the PCI compliance burden of storing actual card numbers. 

How tokenization works:

  1. Customer enters payment information once
  2. Gateway creates a unique token (random string) to represent the card
  3. Token is stored in your database; actual card data stays with us
  4. Use the token for future transactions without re-entering card details
  5. Tokens work across all payment methods (cards and bank accounts)

Benefits:

  1. Reduce PCI scope: You never touch or store actual card numbers
  2. Enable recurring billing: Charge stored payment methods automatically
  3. Improve conversions: One-click checkout for returning customers
  4. Support subscriptions: Manage payment methods for subscription services
  5. Card updater included: Automatically update expired/replaced cards

Use cases:

  1. SaaS subscription billing
  2. Membership sites and recurring services
  3. One-click checkout for e-commerce
  4. Customer payment profiles
  5. Usage-based or metered billing

Recurring Billing & Subscription Management

Automate subscription payments with flexible scheduling, retry logic, and complete billing lifecycle management. 

Billing flexibility:

  1. Fixed or variable recurring amounts
  2. Any billing frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual)
  3. Trial periods with automatic conversion
  4. Setup fees and one-time charges
  5. Mid-cycle plan changes and prorations
  6. Discount codes and promotional pricing
  7. Add-ons and usage-based charges

Dunning management:

  1. Configurable retry schedules for failed payments
  2. Smart retry logic (distinguishes NSF from closed accounts)
  3. Automated customer notifications
  4. Escalation workflows for persistent failures
  5. Grace periods before service suspension
  6. Voluntary retry triggers (customer-initiated)

Subscription lifecycle:

  1. Automated billing on customer schedule
  2. Upgrade/downgrade handling with prorations
  3. Pause and resume subscriptions
  4. Cancel with immediate or end-of-period effect
  5. Refund processing and credits
  6. Billing history and upcoming charges

Results: Reduce involuntary churn by 15-20% through automatic card updates and intelligent retry logic.

Interchange Optimization

Automatically optimize every transaction for the lowest possible interchange rate through intelligent data submission and transaction routing.

Level 2 Processing (Commercial Cards) Qualify for lower rates on business and corporate cards by passing additional transaction data:

  1. Customer code or PO number
  2. Tax amount
  3. Shipping/freight amount
  4. Duty amount
  5. Destination postal code

Savings: 0.10-0.30% lower rates on commercial card transactions

Level 3 Processing (B2B & Government Cards) Pass detailed line-item data for even lower rates:

  1. Item descriptions and quantities
  2. SKU or product codes
  3. Unit costs and extended amounts
  4. Freight and duty details
  5. VAT tax information

Savings: 0.20-0.50% lower rates on corporate and purchasing cards

Automatic optimization:

  1. Gateway automatically formats and submits qualifying data
  2. Real-time card type detection and routing
  3. Downgrade protection (alerts when transactions don’t qualify)
  4. Detailed reporting on interchange qualifications

Fraud Detection & Prevention

Multi-layered fraud protection that stops fraudulent transactions before they process while minimizing false declines.

Address Verification Service (AVS) Match billing address with card issuer's records:

  1. Full address match = lowest risk
  2. Partial matches flagged for review
  3. No match = high risk, block or decline
  4. Configurable rules based on risk tolerance

Card Verification Value (CVV) Require 3-4 digit security code from back of card:

  1. Proves customer has physical card
  2. Not stored after authorization (PCI requirement)
  3. Significantly reduces card-not-present fraud
  4. Optional for stored card/recurring transactions

Velocity Controls Limit transaction frequency and amounts:

  1. Maximum attempts per card per hour/day
  2. Maximum dollar amount per card per day
  3. Multiple cards from same IP address alerts
  4. Rapid-fire transaction blocking
  5. Configurable thresholds by risk profile

3D Secure Authentication Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for EU and high-risk transactions:

  1. Customer authenticates with their bank
  2. Liability shift to card issuer for authenticated transactions
  3. Required for many European transactions (PSD2 compliance)
  4. Optional for domestic transactions
  5. Frictionless flow for low-risk transactions

Device Fingerprinting Track and identify devices used for transactions:

  1. Unique device IDs for repeat customers
  2. Flag new devices for additional verification
  3. Identify patterns across multiple transactions
  4. Blacklist high-risk devices
  5. Geolocation tracking

Machine Learning Fraud Scoring AI-powered risk assessment for every transaction:

  1. Real-time scoring based on hundreds of data points
  2. Adaptive learning from your transaction patterns
  3. Automatic blocking of high-risk transactions
  4. Configurable thresholds and rules
  5. Detailed risk explanations for each transaction

IP Geolocation & Proxy Detection Identify transaction origin and detect anonymization:

  1. Block transactions from high-risk countries
  2. Flag VPN and proxy usage
  3. Compare IP location to billing address
  4. Tor network detection
  5. Data center IP identification

Split Funding & Multi-Party Payments

Route payments to multiple bank accounts automatically—ideal for marketplaces, franchises, and platforms with complex payment flows.

Use cases:

  1. Marketplaces: Split between platform fee and seller payment
  2. Franchises: Route to franchisee with franchisor commission
  3. Affiliate programs: Pay commissions automatically
  4. Partnerships: Distribute revenue to multiple parties
  5. Agency billing: Split between agency and client accounts

Split configuration options:

  1. Percentage-based splits (e.g., 85% to merchant, 15% to platform)
  2. Fixed amount splits (e.g., $10 platform fee, remainder to merchant)
  3. Tiered splits (different percentages based on volume)
  4. Multiple recipients per transaction (split 3+ ways)
  5. Dynamic splits based on transaction attributes

Settlement options:

  1. Same-day settlement to different accounts
  2. Delayed settlement to specific parties
  3. Hold funds pending approval/completion
  4. Refund handling across split payments
  5. Detailed reconciliation reporting

Visa Platform Connect

Purpose-built for software platforms facilitating payments for their users—monetize payments while maintaining compliance.

What is Platform Connect?

A Visa program designed for software platforms that enable their users (sub-merchants) to accept payments. You become a Payment Facilitator (PayFac) or Payment Service Provider without the full compliance burden.

Benefits for software platforms:

  1. Faster sub-merchant onboarding (minutes vs. days)
  2. White-label payment experience (your brand, not ours)
  3. Monetize payments (charge processing fees to users)
  4. Simplified compliance (we handle much of it)
  5. Consolidated settlement and reporting

Sub-merchant management:

  1. Instant onboarding with streamlined KYC
  2. Individual merchant accounts under master account
  3. Risk monitoring and underwriting support
  4. Chargeback allocation by sub-merchant
  5. Individual limits and controls per merchant

Revenue opportunities:

  1. Mark up processing rates for sub-merchants
  2. Charge subscription fees for payment access
  3. Value-added services (premium features, support)
  4. Transaction-based revenue sharing

Compliance support:

  1. We handle card network registration
  2. Simplified PCI compliance for platform
  3. Risk and underwriting guidance
  4. Chargeback management tools
  5. Reporting and audit support

Compliant Surcharging & Dual Pricing

Pass credit card processing costs to customers legally and compliantly—offset 85-100% of your processing fees. 

Surcharging (Credit Card Fee) Add a percentage fee to credit card transactions:

  1. Disclose fee clearly before payment
  2. Apply only to credit cards (not debit)
  3. Maximum 4% surcharge allowed
  4. State-specific compliance rules applied automatically
  5. Card network compliance (registration, disclosure, receipts)

Dual Pricing (Cash Discount) Display two prices—cash price and card price:

  1. Lower price for cash/ACH payments
  2. Higher price for card payments
  3. Signage and disclosure requirements
  4. Often more consumer-friendly than surcharging
  5. Legal in all 50 states

Automatic compliance:

  1. State-by-state rule enforcement
  2. Card network notification and registration
  3. Proper receipt formatting
  4. Signage requirement tracking
  5. Regular compliance updates

Typical results: Offset 85-100% of processing costs while remaining compliant.

Payouts & Disbursements

Send funds to vendors, contractors, employees, or customers directly through the gateway.

Payout methods:

  1. ACH transfers to bank accounts
  2. Debit card disbursements (funds available in minutes)
  3. International wire transfers
  4. Check issuance (physical or virtual)

Use cases:

  1. Marketplaces: Pay sellers for completed transactions
  2. Gig platforms: Contractor and freelancer payments
  3. Affiliate programs: Commission disbursements
  4. Refunds: Return funds to customers
  5. Rebates: Customer reward programs
  6. Insurance claims: Fast claim payouts

Payout features:

  1. Same-day or scheduled disbursements
  2. Batch processing for multiple recipients
  3. Automatic split of incoming payments to payouts
  4. Payment status tracking and notifications
  5. Tax reporting support (1099 generation)
  6. Compliance with applicable money transmission laws

Settlement timing:

  1. Standard ACH: 3-4 business days
  2. Same-Day ACH: Hours (same business day)
  3. Debit card push: Minutes to hours
  4. Wire transfers: Same day to next day

QR Code Payment Processing

Generate dynamic QR codes for contactless, mobile-first payment experiences.

QR code types:

Static QR Codes
  1. Fixed amount or customer-enters-amount
  2. Reusable for multiple transactions
  3. Print on invoices, receipts, signage
  4. No internet connection required to display
  5. Good for tips, donations, fixed-price items
Dynamic QR Codes
  1. Generated per transaction with specific amount
  2. Single-use for security
  3. Include customer/order details
  4. Expire after set time period
  5. Track individual transaction QR codes
Use cases:
  1. Invoice payments (email or print QR on invoice)
  2. In-person contactless payments
  3. Event ticketing and admissions
  4. Donation collection
  5. Restaurant table-side ordering and payment
  6. Vending machines and kiosks
  7. Parking meters and transit
Customer experience:
  1. Customer scans QR code with smartphone camera
  2. Payment page opens in browser (no app download)
  3. Customer enters payment method
  4. Transaction processes instantly
  5. Digital receipt sent to customer
Benefits:
  1. No card reader hardware required
  2. Contactless and hygienic
  3. Mobile-optimized payment experience
  4. Works with any smartphone
  5. Reduced checkout friction

Text & Email Invoicing

Send payment requests directly to customers with embedded payment links—collect payments faster with less friction. 

Email invoicing:

  1. Professional branded invoice templates
  2. Embedded “Pay Now” button
  3. Itemized billing with descriptions
  4. PDF invoice attachment option
  5. Scheduled sending for recurring invoices
  6. Automatic payment reminders

Text/SMS invoicing:

  1. Payment link sent via text message
  2. Mobile-optimized payment page
  3. One-tap payment from smartphone
  4. Higher open rates than email (98% vs 20%)
  5. Read receipts and delivery confirmation
  6. Ideal for time-sensitive payments

Invoice features:

  1. Partial payment acceptance
  2. Multiple payment methods (card, ACH)
  3. Save payment method for future invoices
  4. Automatic receipt delivery
  5. Payment plan setup
  6. Overdue invoice reminders

Tracking & management:

  1. Real-time invoice status (sent, viewed, paid)
  2. Payment history per customer
  3. Aging reports for outstanding invoices
  4. Customer communication history
  5. Bulk invoice sending
  6. Integration with accounting software

Results: Text-to-pay invoices see 3-4x higher response rates than traditional email invoicing.

Customer Vault & Payment Profiles

Securely store customer payment information for repeat transactions, subscription billing, and improved checkout experiences.

Customer profile management:

  1. Store multiple payment methods per customer
  2. Primary and backup payment methods
  3. Billing address and contact information
  4. Custom metadata and tags
  5. Payment history and transaction log
  6. Notes and communication history

Payment method storage:

  1. Credit and debit cards (tokenized)
  2. Bank accounts for ACH (tokenized)
  3. Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  4. International payment methods
  5. Automatic card updater service
  6. Expiration alerts and reminders

Security & compliance:

  1. All data tokenized (actual card numbers never stored)
  2. PCI Level 1 compliant storage
  3. Encrypted at rest and in transit
  4. SOC 2 certified infrastructure
  5. Role-based access controls
  6. Audit logs for all access

Customer self-service portal:

  1. White-labeled payment method management
  2. Update payment information without support
  3. View payment history and upcoming charges
  4. Download receipts and invoices
  5. Manage subscriptions and billing
  6. Reduce support ticket volume by 30-40%

White Label Gateway

Fully rebrand the payment experience with your company’s look and feel—customers see your brand, not ours. 

Customization options:

Hosted Payment Pages
  1. Custom domain (payments.yourcompany.com)
  2. Your logo, colors, and branding
  3. Custom CSS for complete design control
  4. Branded confirmation and error messages
  5. Your company name on receipts
  6. Match your website design exactly
Customer Communications
  1. Branded email templates
  2. Custom email sender address
  3. Your company name in subject lines
  4. Branded SMS messages
  5. Custom payment receipts
  6. Notification preferences
Customer Portal
  1. White-labeled account management
  2. Branded login and dashboard
  3. Your support contact information
  4. Custom terminology and labels
  5. Embedded in your domain
API & Integration
  1. Your branding in API responses
  2. Custom transaction descriptors
  3. Branded webhook notifications
  4. Custom error messages
  5. Your company name on bank statements
Benefits:
  1. Build trust and brand recognition
  2. Seamless customer experience
  3. Professional, cohesive brand presentation
  4. Customers interact with your brand, not a third party
  5. Higher customer confidence and conversion rates

Payment Gateway Integration Options

RESTful API Integration

Full-featured API for complete control over the payment experience within your application.

API capabilities:

  1. Process credit card, debit card, and ACH payments
  2. Tokenize and store payment methods
  3. Create and manage customer profiles
  4. Set up recurring billing schedules
  5. Process refunds and voids
  6. Retrieve transaction history and reporting
  7. Manage disputes and chargebacks
  8. Real-time status checks

API features:

  1. RESTful architecture (industry standard)
  2. JSON request/response format
  3. OAuth 2.0 authentication
  4. Webhook notifications for async events
  5. Rate limiting and retry logic
  6. Idempotency for safe retries
  7. Sandbox environment for testing
  8. Versioned API (backward compatible)

Developer resources:

  1. Comprehensive API documentation
  2. Interactive API explorer
  3. Code examples in multiple languages (PHP, Python, Ruby, Node.js, Java, C#)
  4. SDKs and libraries
  5. Postman collection for testing
  6. Developer support team
  7. Community forum and knowledge base

Typical integration time: 1-2 weeks for experienced developers

Hosted Payment Pages

Quick-start option with customizable, PCI-compliant payment forms—fastest way to start accepting payments.

How it works:

  1. Customer initiates checkout in your application
  2. Your application redirects to our hosted payment page
  3. Customer enters payment information on secure page
  4. Transaction processes and returns result to your application
  5. Customer redirected back to your site with confirmation

Customization:

  1. Full branding (logo, colors, CSS)
  2. Custom form fields and validation
  3. Language and currency localization
  4. Mobile-responsive design
  5. Custom thank-you pages
  6. Embedded or redirect options

Benefits:

  1. No PCI compliance burden (payment data never touches your servers)
  2. Quick implementation (hours, not weeks)
  3. Mobile-optimized out of the box
  4. Maintained and updated by us
  5. Built-in fraud protection

Use cases:

  1. Quick payment gateway setup
  2. Lower PCI compliance requirements
  3. Businesses without developer resources
  4. Simple checkout flows
  5. Supplement to API for specific use cases

Typical setup time: 1-2 days

JavaScript SDK (Drop-in UI)

Pre-built payment form components that embed directly in your website with minimal coding.

How it works:

  1. Include our JavaScript library on your page
  2. Add a container div for the payment form
  3. Initialize with your API credentials
  4. Payment form renders with full functionality
  5. Handle token response in your application

Features:

  1. Pre-built, tested payment forms
  2. Automatic field validation
  3. Real-time card type detection
  4. Built-in error handling
  5. Automatic formatting (card numbers, expiration)
  6. Responsive design
  7. Accessibility compliant (WCAG 2.1)

Customization:

  1. Custom CSS styling
  2. Show/hide specific fields
  3. Custom placeholder text
  4. Language localization
  5. Validation rules
  6. Success/error callbacks

Benefits:

  1. Faster implementation than raw API
  2. Reduced PCI scope (tokenization handles sensitive data)
  3. Battle-tested UI components
  4. Mobile-responsive out of the box
  5. Regular security and feature updates

Typical implementation time: 2-3 days

Shopping Cart & E-commerce Plugins

Pre-built integrations for popular e-commerce platforms—install and configure in minutes.

Supported platforms:

  1. WooCommerce (WordPress)
  2. Shopify
  3. Magento
  4. BigCommerce
  5. PrestaShop
  6. OpenCart
  7. Wix
  8. Squarespace

Plugin features:

  1. One-click installation
  2. Configuration wizard
  3. Support for all payment methods
  4. Automatic order status updates
  5. Refund processing from admin panel
  6. Transaction reporting
  7. Test mode for safe setup

Setup process:

  1. Install plugin from marketplace
  2. Enter API credentials
  3. Configure payment methods and settings
  4. Test with sandbox credentials
  5. Switch to production and go live

Typical setup time: 1-2 hours

Virtual Terminal

Web-based interface for manually processing payments—ideal for phone orders, mail orders, or manual transaction entry.

Features:

  1. Process credit cards and ACH payments
  2. Save customer payment information
  3. Set up recurring billing schedules
  4. Process refunds and voids
  5. Look up transaction history
  6. Generate invoices and payment links
  7. Batch processing capability
  8. Email receipts to customers

Access control:

  1. Multi-user support
  2. Role-based permissions (admin, user, view-only)
  3. Individual transaction limits per user
  4. Activity logging and audit trails
  5. IP restrictions for added security
  6. Two-factor authentication

Use cases:

  1. Call center or phone order processing
  2. Mail order/catalog sales
  3. Manual invoice payment processing
  4. Event registration or ticket sales
  5. Service businesses taking deposits
  6. Emergency backup for website downtime

Access: Any web browser, desktop or mobile

Mobile SDK

Native mobile payment integration for iOS and Android applications.

Platforms supported:

  1. iOS (Swift/Objective-C)
  2. Android (Java/Kotlin)
  3. React Native
  4. Flutter
  5. Xamarin

Features:

  1. Native payment form UI components
  2. Device-optimized user experience
  3. Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint)
  4. Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  5. Offline transaction queuing
  6. Push notifications for payment status

SDK benefits:

  1. Native performance and UX
  2. Automatic updates and security patches
  3. Comprehensive documentation
  4. Sample applications and code
  5. Simulator testing
  6. Technical support

Payment Gateway Security & Compliance

PCI DSS Level 1 Compliance

Coastal Pay Gateway is certified PCI DSS Level 1—the highest level of payment card security certification. 

What this means for you:

  1. Your sensitive payment data is stored and transmitted securely
  2. We undergo annual third-party security audits
  3. Compliance with all card network requirements
  4. Reduced PCI burden for your business
  5. Lower risk of data breaches and fines

PCI compliance support:

  1. Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) guidance
  2. Compliance validation tools
  3. Network vulnerability scans (included)
  4. Security best practices documentation
  5. Compliance deadline tracking
  6. Annual compliance assistance

Your PCI requirements by integration:

  1. Hosted payment pages: SAQ A (shortest/easiest questionnaire)
  2. JavaScript SDK: SAQ A-EP (moderate questionnaire)
  3. Direct API integration: SAQ D (comprehensive questionnaire)

Data Encryption & Tokenization

Multiple layers of security protect sensitive payment data throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Encryption:

  1. TLS 1.2+ for all data transmission
  2. AES-256 encryption for data at rest
  3. Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) available
  4. Hardware security modules (HSMs) for key management
  5. End-to-end encryption from customer to processor

Tokenization:

  1. Replace card numbers with random tokens
  2. Tokens useless to hackers (not reversible)
  3. Reduce PCI compliance scope
  4. Tokens work across all payment methods
  5. Format-preserving tokens available

Data retention:

  1. Card numbers never stored in clear text
  2. CVV never stored (PCI prohibition)
  3. Tokens stored securely for recurring billing
  4. Transaction logs encrypted
  5. Automatic data purging per retention policies

3D Secure Authentication (SCA)

Strong Customer Authentication for European transactions and high-risk payments.

What is 3D Secure? An additional authentication layer where customers verify their identity with their card-issuing bank during checkout. Required for most European card-not-present transactions under PSD2 regulations. 

Authentication methods:

  1. One-time passcodes via SMS
  2. Mobile app authentication
  3. Biometric authentication (fingerprint, face)
  4. Security questions
  5. Bank app push notifications

Frictionless authentication:

  1. Low-risk transactions authenticate behind the scenes
  2. No customer interaction needed for trusted patterns
  3. Maintains conversion rates while meeting compliance
  4. Risk-based authentication decisions
  5. Machine learning improves over time

Benefits:

  1. Liability shift to card issuer for authenticated transactions
  2. Reduced chargebacks from fraud
  3. Required for EU and UK transactions
  4. Optional for domestic (reduces fraud)
  5. Lower dispute rates

Implementation:

  1. Automatic for qualifying transactions
  2. Configurable rules engine
  3. Exemptions for low-risk transactions
  4. Fallback handling for unsupported cards
  5. Real-time authentication responses

Fraud Detection Tools

Comprehensive fraud prevention that balances security with conversion rates.

Real-time screening:

  1. Every transaction screened in milliseconds
  2. Multi-factor risk scoring
  3. Block high-risk transactions automatically
  4. Flag medium-risk for manual review
  5. Approve low-risk instantly

Fraud detection methods:

  1. AVS (address verification)
  2. CVV verification
  3. 3D Secure authenticatio
  4. Velocity controls and limits
  5. Device fingerprinting
  6. Geolocation and IP analysis
  7. Email and phone validation
  8. Custom rules engine  

Machine learning:

  1. Adaptive fraud models
  2. Learn from your transaction patterns
  3. Identify emerging fraud trends
  4. Reduce false declines over time
  5. Automatic model updates

Chargeback prevention:

  1. Order Insight (share transaction details with issuers)
  2. Consumer Clarity (clear billing descriptors)
  3. Rapid Dispute Resolution (resolve before chargeback)
  4. Chargeback alerts (respond within hours)
  5. Compelling evidence generator

Payment Gateway Use Cases by Industry

Payment Gateway for SaaS Companies

Enable subscription billing, usage-based pricing, and seamless payment management for software businesses.

Key features:

  1. Recurring billing with flexible schedules
  2. Metered/usage-based billing
  3. Free trial management
  4. Plan upgrades/downgrades with proration
  5. Automatic retry for failed payments
  6. Customer self-service portal
  7. Dunning management
  8. Revenue recognition reporting

Benefits:

  1. Reduce involuntary churn by 15-20%
  2. Support complex pricing models
  3. Automate billing workflows
  4. Improve cash flow predictability
  5. Scale without adding billing staff

Common integrations:

  1. Accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero)
  2. CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot)
  3. Analytics platforms (Segment, Mixpanel)
  4. Customer support (Zendesk, Intercom)

Payment Gateway for E-commerce

Accept online payments securely with features that boost conversions and reduce cart abandonment.

Key features:

  1. One-click checkout for returning customers
  2. Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
  3. Multiple payment methods (cards, ACH, local payments)
  4. Mobile-optimized checkout
  5. Guest checkout option
  6. Saved payment methods
  7. International cards and currencies

Conversion optimization:

  1. Fast page load times
  2. Minimal form fields
  3. Real-time validation
  4. Progress indicators
  5. Clear error messages
  6. Security badges and trust indicators

Benefits:

  1. Reduce cart abandonment by 10-15%
  2. Accept payments globally
  3. Support multiple currencies
  4. Fast, reliable transactions
  5. Lower fraud rates

Payment Gateway for Marketplaces

Facilitate payments between buyers and sellers with split funding and sub-merchant management.

Key features:

  1. Split funding (automatic payment distribution)
  2. Sub-merchant onboarding and management
  3. Vendor payout scheduling
  4. Platform fee collection
  5. Individual vendor reporting
  6. Chargeback allocation
  7. Escrow and hold capabilities

Marketplace models supported:

  1. Product marketplaces (Etsy, eBay style)
  2. Service marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr style)
  3. Rental marketplaces (Airbnb, Vrbo style)
  4. Food delivery platforms
  5. Ride-sharing and transportation
  6. Freelance and gig platforms

Benefits:

  1. Monetize your platform
  2. Simplified compliance
  3. Fast vendor onboarding
  4. Automated accounting
  5. Built-in risk management

Payment Gateway for B2B Companies

Handle large transactions, invoice payments, and business customer requirements.

Key features:

  1. Level 2/3 processing for lower B2B rates
  2. NET terms and invoice payment
  3. ACH and card payment flexibility
  4. Purchase order integration
  5. Multi-user authorization
  6. Detailed transaction data
  7. Batch payment processing

B2B-specific benefits:

  1. Lower processing costs on large transactions
  2. Support complex approval workflows
  3. Detailed reporting for accounting
  4. Custom payment terms per customer
  5. International payment support

Use cases:

  1. Wholesale and distribution
  2. Professional services
  3. Manufacturing and suppliers
  4. Enterprise software
  5. Consulting and agencies

Payment Gateway for Healthcare

HIPAA-compliant payment processing for medical practices, hospitals, and healthcare providers.

Key features:

  1. HIPAA-compliant infrastructure
  2. Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
  3. Patient payment plans
  4. Insurance copay collection
  5. Balance billing after insurance
  6. Recurring treatment payments
  7. Secure patient portal

Healthcare compliance:

  1. Protected health information (PHI) security
  2. Audit logs and access controls
  3. Data encryption at rest and in transit
  4. Compliance reporting
  5. Regular security assessments

Benefits:

  1. Reduce billing costs
  2. Improve collection rates
  3. Offer flexible payment options
  4. Maintain HIPAA compliance
  5. Better patient experience

Payment Gateway for Nonprofits

Accept donations with features that maximize giving and reduce processing costs.

Key features:

  1. One-time and recurring donations
  2. Donor management and profiles
  3. Custom donation amounts
  4. Tribute and memorial gifts
  5. Peer-to-peer fundraising
  6. Event registration and ticketing
  7. Donation receipts for tax purposes

Nonprofit-specific benefits:

  1. Lower processing rates available
  2. Support for sustainer programs
  3. Branded donation pages
  4. Campaign tracking and reporting
  5. Integration with donor CRM systems
  6. Grant payment processing

Use cases:

  1. Online donation campaigns
  2. Monthly giving programs
  3. Event fundraising
  4. Capital campaigns
  5. Endowment fund management

Payment Gateway Pricing

No Monthly Gateway Fees

Unlike processors that charge $10-30/month for gateway access, Coastal Pay includes the payment gateway at no additional cost with your merchant account. 

What's included free:

  1. ✅ Full API access
  2. ✅ Hosted payment pages
  3. ✅ Virtual terminal
  4. ✅ Customer vault/tokenization
  5. ✅ Recurring billing engine
  6. ✅ Fraud detection tools
  7. ✅ Reporting and analytics
  8. ✅ Webhooks and notifications
  9. ✅ Sandbox testing environment
  10. ✅ Technical documentation
  11. ✅ Developer support

What we DON'T charge:

  1. ❌ No monthly gateway fee
  2. ❌ No per-transaction gateway fee
  3. ❌ No setup or integration fee
  4. ❌ No API call fees
  5. ❌ No reporting or data export fees
  6. ❌ No user seat fees
  7. ❌ No bandwidth or storage fees

You only pay:

  1. Processing fees (interchange + our markup)
  2. Standard transaction fees (per card/ACH transaction)
  3. Optional Same-Day ACH fee ($1 per transaction)

Gateway Cost Comparison

See how much you save with Coastal Pay’s free gateway:

Provider

Coastal Pay

Authorize.net

Stripe (cards only)

PayPal Pro

Braintree

Monthly Gateway Fee

$0

$25

$0

$30

$0

Per-Transaction Fee

$0

$0.10

Included in 2.9%

$0.30

Included in 2.9%

Annual Cost (1,000 trans/month)

$0

$1,500

$0 (but higher rates)

$4,020

$0 (but higher rates)

Annual savings: $300-4,000+ depending on current provider and volume

Payment Gateway Setup & Integration

Getting Started with Coastal Pay Gateway

Step 1: Application & Approval (1-3 days)

  1. Complete merchant account application
  2. Provide business documentation
  3. Risk assessment and underwriting
  4. Most businesses approved within 24-48 hours

Step 2: Gateway Configuration (1-2 hours)

  1. Set up payment methods (cards, ACH, digital wallets)
  2. Configure fraud rules and limits
  3. Set up user accounts and permissions
  4. Customize hosted payment pages (if using)
  5. Define webhook endpoints for notifications

Step 3: Integration & Testing (1-2 weeks) Choose your integration method:

  1. API integration (most flexible)
  2. Hosted payment pages (fastest)
  3. E-commerce plugin (easiest)
  4. Mobile SDK (for apps)
Test in sandbox environment:
  1. Process test transactions
  2. Verify webhooks and callbacks
  3. Test error handling
  4. Simulate various scenarios
  5. Load testing (if needed)

Step 4: Security & Compliance Review

  1. PCI compliance validation
  2. Security configuration review
  3. Fraud rule testing
  4. SSL certificate verification
  5. Final security checklist

Step 5: Go Live

  1. Switch to production credentials
  2. Process first live transactions with monitoring
  3. Verify settlement and reporting
  4. Confirm webhook delivery
  5. Begin full-scale processing

Total Timeline: Most businesses are processing payments within 2-3 weeks.

Integration Support

Developer resources:

  1. Comprehensive API documentation
  2. Interactive API explorer
  3. Code samples in 7+ languages
  4. SDKs and libraries
  5. Video tutorials
  6. Integration guides
  7. Best practices documentation

Technical support:

  1. Direct developer support (email and chat)
  2. Response within 4 business hours
  3. Experienced payment engineers
  4. Architecture and design consultation
  5. Code review (upon request)
  6. Troubleshooting assistance

Testing resources:

  1. Full-featured sandbox environment
  2. Test card numbers for various scenarios
  3. Webhook testing tools
  4. API log viewer
  5. Debug mode with detailed responses
  6. Postman collection

Payment Gateway FAQs

What is a payment gateway and how does it work?

A payment gateway is the technology that securely transmits payment information between your website/app and the payment processor. When a customer enters their credit card information, the gateway encrypts it, sends it for authorization through the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), receives the approval or decline response, and returns that result to your system. Think of it as the digital equivalent of a credit card terminal in a physical store.

How much does a payment gateway cost?

Coastal Pay’s payment gateway is included free with your merchant account—$0 monthly fee and $0 per-transaction gateway charge. Most other providers charge $10-30 per month plus $0.10-0.30 per transaction for gateway access. You only pay standard processing fees (interchange + our markup). This saves most businesses $300-4,000+ annually compared to standalone gateway providers. 

What's the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?

A payment gateway is the technology that securely transmits payment data from your website to the payment processor. A payment processor (also called merchant acquirer) is the company that actually handles the transaction authorization, settlement, and fund transfer. Coastal Pay provides both—an integrated payment gateway at no extra cost and full payment processing services under one provider. 

Do I need a payment gateway for my online business?

Yes, if you want to accept credit cards or ACH payments through your website, software, or mobile app, you need a payment gateway. The gateway securely captures payment information, encrypts it, and transmits it for processing. Without a gateway, you can’t process online transactions securely or maintain PCI compliance. Coastal Pay includes a full-featured gateway free with your merchant account.

Is the Coastal Pay gateway PCI compliant?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway is PCI DSS Level 1 certified—the highest level of payment security certification. This means we undergo annual third-party security audits and meet all card network requirements. Using our gateway reduces your PCI compliance burden significantly. With hosted payment pages or tokenization, your systems never touch sensitive card data, minimizing your compliance requirements to the simplest self-assessment questionnaire (SAQA). 

Can I use the gateway for recurring billing?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway includes comprehensive recurring billing features at no additional cost. Set up subscriptions with any frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual), manage trial periods, handle upgrades/downgrades with prorations, implement smart dunning for failed payments, and provide customer self-service portals. Automatic card updater service reduces involuntary churn by keeping expired cards current.

Does the gateway support ACH payments?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway processes both credit/debit card payments and ACH (bank transfer) payments through the same interface. Accept one-time ACH payments, set up recurring ACH billing, verify bank accounts before processing, and use Same-Day ACH for faster settlement. ACH processing costs just 1% compared to 2.5-3.5% for credit cards, making it ideal for large transactions and recurring billing. 

What payment methods does the gateway support?

Coastal Pay Gateway supports all major payment methods: all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards (PIN and signature), ACH bank transfers (debits and credits), digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and international cards with multi-currency support. Process multiple payment methods through a single, unified gateway.

Can I integrate the gateway with my existing website or application?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway offers multiple integration options: RESTful API for custom integrations (most flexible), hosted payment pages (fastest setup, PCI-friendly), JavaScript SDK for embedded forms (balance of control and ease), pre-built e-commerce plugins (WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, etc.), mobile SDKs (iOS, Android, React Native), and virtual terminal (web-based manual entry). Choose the method that best fits your technical requirements and timeline. 

How long does gateway integration take?

Integration time varies by method: Hosted payment pages can be set up in 1-2 days (just configure and redirect), e-commerce plugins typically take 1-2 hours (install and configure), JavaScript SDK integration takes 2-3 days (embed forms and handle tokens), and full API integration takes 1-2 weeks for experienced developers (complete custom control). Most businesses are accepting payments within 2-3 weeks including testing and compliance review.

Does the gateway include fraud protection?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway includes comprehensive fraud detection and prevention tools at no additional cost: Address Verification Service (AVS), CVV verification, 3D Secure authentication, velocity controls and limits, device fingerprinting and geolocation, IP address analysis and proxy detection, machine learning fraud scoring, and configurable rules engine. Multi-layered protection stops fraudulent transactions while minimizing false declines. 

Can I customize the payment pages with my branding?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway offers full white-label customization. Use custom domains (payments.yourcompany.com), add your logo, colors, and branding, apply custom CSS for complete design control, brand email templates and receipts, customize the customer portal, and ensure your company name appears on bank statements. Customers see your brand throughout the entire payment experience, not ours.

What is tokenization and why is it important?

Tokenization replaces sensitive card numbers with random tokens (secure strings) that can be safely stored in your database. The actual card data stays securely with us. Use tokens to process future transactions without re-entering card details. Benefits include: reduced PCI compliance scope (you never store actual card numbers), enable recurring billing and subscriptions, support one-click checkout for returning customers, and enhanced security (tokens are useless to hackers). All stored payment methods are automatically tokenized. 

Does the gateway support split payments for marketplaces?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway includes split funding capabilities for marketplaces and platforms. Automatically route payments to multiple bank accounts (platform fee to you, remainder to seller/vendor), support percentage-based or fixed-amount splits, handle multi-party splits (3+ recipients), configure dynamic splits based on transaction attributes, and manage refunds across split payments. Ideal for marketplaces, franchises, affiliate programs, and platforms with complex payment flows. 

Can I process Level 2 and Level 3 transactions for lower rates?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway automatically optimizes B2B and government transactions for Level 2 and Level 3 interchange rates. Pass additional transaction data (customer codes, tax amounts, line-item details) to qualify for rates that are 0.20-0.50% lower than standard rates. The gateway automatically formats and submits qualifying data, provides real-time card type detection and routing, and offers detailed reporting on interchange qualifications. 

What happens if the gateway goes down?

Coastal Pay Gateway maintains 99.9% uptime with redundant infrastructure and automatic failover. In the rare event of system issues, transactions automatically route to backup systems, stored payment methods remain accessible, and the virtual terminal stays available for manual processing. We provide real-time status monitoring, proactive alerts for any issues, and 24/7 technical support. Critical issues are resolved within hours, not days.

Can I export transaction data from the gateway?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway provides comprehensive reporting and data export capabilities. Export transactions via CSV, JSON, or API, filter by date range, payment method, or custom criteria, access real-time transaction data programmatically via API, receive daily/weekly/monthly automated reports via email, integrate with accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), and access detailed settlement reports. All reporting features are included at no additional cost. 

Does the gateway support recurring billing with dunning management?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway includes intelligent dunning management for failed recurring payments. Automatic retry for insufficient funds (configurable schedule), smart retry logic that distinguishes NSF from closed accounts, automated customer notifications at each stage, escalation workflows for persistent failures, grace periods before service suspension, and detailed failure tracking and analytics. Reduce involuntary churn by 15-20% through automatic card updates and smart retry strategies.

Can I use the gateway for mobile app payments?

Yes, Coastal Pay Gateway provides native mobile SDKs for iOS (Swift/Objective-C), Android (Java/Kotlin), React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin. Features include: native payment form UI components, device-optimized user experience, biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint), digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay), offline transaction queuing, and push notifications for payment status. Full documentation, sample apps, and developer support included. 

What customer support is included with the gateway?

Coastal Pay provides comprehensive gateway support: direct developer support via email and chat (response within 4 hours), experienced payment engineers (not outsourced call centers), integration assistance and code review, troubleshooting and debugging help, security and compliance guidance, and documentation and knowledge base. Technical support is included free—no premium support tiers or additional charges. 

Can I test the gateway before going live?

Yes, Coastal Pay provides a full-featured sandbox environment for testing. Use test card numbers for various scenarios (approvals, declines, fraud), test ACH transactions without real bank accounts, verify webhook notifications and callbacks, test error handling and edge cases, perform load testing for high-volume scenarios, and use debug mode with detailed responses. Sandbox access is unlimited and free—test thoroughly before going live. 

Get Started with Coastal Pay Gateway

Enterprise Features Without Enterprise Costs

Access a full-featured payment gateway with tokenization, recurring billing, fraud tools, and API access—all included free with your merchant account.

What happens next:

  1. Apply for merchant account (15 minutes)
  2. Approval within 24-48 hours
  3. Gateway configuration (1-2 hours)
  4. Integration & testing (1-2 weeks)
  5. Go live and start processing
View API Documentation
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Questions About Gateway Integration?

Our payment engineers are available to discuss your integration requirements, review your architecture, and provide technical guidance. 

No sales pressure. No obligation. Just expert technical advice.

Related Payment Solutions

  1. Credit Card Processing – Accept all major credit and debit cards
  2. ACH Processing – Bank payment processing at just 1%
  3. Recurring Billing – Subscription and membership automation
  4. Mobile Payments – Accept payments on smartphones
  5. Virtual Terminal – Process phone and mail orders
  6. Payment Links – Send payment requests via email/text
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