Payment Gateway Integration: What to Prepare and Cost
What payment gateways need before activation, what to send your developer without sharing your password, and how to test checkout before going live.
Key takeaways
- Hosted store platforms usually include payment methods you can enable from the dashboard. But a WordPress site or a custom-built site needs a payment gateway account and someone to connect it.
- Before you apply, prepare your business documents and a bank account in the same name, and add your return, shipping, privacy, terms, and contact pages to your site.
- Do not give the developer your gateway account password. Create integration keys from the gateway dashboard and give temporary access to your site, then remove it after delivery.
- On Hylance, connecting one payment gateway to a WooCommerce store starts at around SAR 80 (about $21), while a complete store with payment methods starts at around SAR 666 (about $178) at the time of writing.
To connect a payment gateway to your site or store, you need three things before you hire a developer: a payment gateway account that is already activated or in the process of being activated, your business documents and a bank account in the same name, and essential site pages such as your return and shipping policy. After that, the integration itself usually takes only a few days, and on Hylance it starts at around SAR 80 (about $21) for one gateway on a WooCommerce store at the time of writing.
This guide is for a store owner or service website owner who wants customers to pay by card online instead of bank transfer or cash on delivery. A payment gateway is the company that securely receives card details and transfers the money to your account. Integration means connecting your site to that gateway so payment goes through and the order status updates automatically.
Do you actually need a payment gateway integration?
That depends on what kind of site you have. Hosted ecommerce platforms often include payment methods you can enable from the dashboard after verifying your store, so you may not need a developer for that step. But a WordPress site, a WooCommerce store, or a custom-built website needs a payment gateway account and someone to connect it:
| Type of site | How payment is activated | Do you need a developer? |
|---|---|---|
| Store on a hosted platform | Enable payment methods from the dashboard after store verification | Usually no, unless you need an extra gateway the platform does not support |
| WooCommerce store or WordPress site | Install the gateway’s official plugin and configure it with integration keys | Usually yes, but it is a quick setup if the gateway already has a ready-made plugin |
| Custom-built website or app | Build the integration with the gateway API | Yes, and the work takes longer because it is written specifically for your site |
What documents does a payment gateway ask for before activating your account?
Your gateway account is activated in your name and with your documents, and a developer cannot do that part for you. Start there first because it is usually the longest step, and in most cases prepare:
- Proof of business activity: a commercial registration, freelance work certificate, or license, depending on the gateway and your country.
- ID for the business owner or the person authorized to sign on the business’s behalf.
- A bank account in the business name or in your name exactly as shown in the documents, because the gateway will transfer payments to it.
- Your website link and a short description of what you sell, because the gateway reviews your business type before approval.
Pages your site should have before you apply
Gateways review the website itself before they activate live payments, and missing pages are one of the most common causes of delay. Make sure your site shows:
- Clear products or services with prices and currency.
- A return and exchange policy, and a shipping policy if you ship products.
- A privacy policy and terms of use.
- Real contact details: email and phone, or the business address.
- A secure connection with the padlock shown in the browser (HTTPS), which means your site has an SSL certificate installed.
What should you send the developer? Do not send your password
The developer does not need your gateway account password. Gateways let you create API keys from the dashboard for your specific site, and those are what the integration actually needs. Send the developer:
- The name of the gateway you chose, and whether your account is active or still waiting for activation.
- Test keys first, then live keys after successful testing, through the order conversation on the platform.
- Temporary access to your site or store dashboard through a separate account that you delete after delivery.
- A list of what you want: the payment methods required, the currency, the message after payment, and where order notifications should be sent.
After delivery, delete the developer’s temporary account. And if you think the integration keys may have been seen by anyone who should not have them, create new keys from the gateway dashboard.
How do you test payments before opening them to customers?
Test mode lets you try the checkout without charging real money. Do not approve delivery until you personally see the result of these tests:
- Successful payment: the customer reaches the thank-you page and the order status changes to paid automatically.
- Declined payment: the customer sees a clear message and the order remains unpaid.
- Refund: you refund a test order from the gateway or store dashboard and confirm that the status changes.
- Payment notifications (Webhook): the order status updates even if the customer closes the page before returning to your site.
- Mobile: run the same test from a phone, because most customers pay from one.
Common mistakes that delay payment activation
- Requesting the integration before opening the gateway account, so the developer waits weeks while your documents are reviewed.
- Using a bank account in someone else’s name instead of the name on the business documents.
- A site with no return policy or contact details, so the review is rejected or sent back.
- Switching straight to live keys without testing declined payments and refunds.
- Forgetting to configure payment notifications, so paid orders stay marked as unpaid.
How much does payment gateway integration cost on Hylance?
There are two costs: the one-time integration fee you pay the developer, and the per-transaction fees charged by the gateway on its official pricing page. On Hylance, connecting one payment gateway to a WooCommerce store or WordPress site with full testing in test mode starts at around SAR 80 (about $21). A ready-to-sell store on Salla or WooCommerce starts at around SAR 666 (about $178), and a complete store with local payment and shipping methods starts at around SAR 2200 (about $587) at the time of writing. The exact price is shown on each service card.
Services for connecting payments to your site or store
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When you order the integration on Hylance, your payment stays held until you confirm delivery. So ask the developer for a test report before you confirm, and try at least one payment yourself from your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a commercial registration to activate a payment gateway?
Most payment gateways ask for proof of your business before they activate a live account, such as a commercial registration, a freelance work certificate, or a license, along with the business owner’s ID and a bank account in the same name. Requirements vary by gateway and country, so read the official signup page for the gateway you chose before you ask a developer to connect it.
What is the difference between test keys and live keys?
Test keys run payments in a trial mode where no real money is charged, so the developer can safely test successful payments, declined payments, and refunds. Live keys are used after testing is complete and your account is activated, and that is when you actually start accepting customer payments.
How much does a payment gateway charge per transaction?
Per-transaction fees are set by the gateway itself and vary by gateway and payment method, so we are not listing them here. Check the official pricing page for each gateway before choosing, and include those fees in your product cost. The integration service price on Hylance is separate from those fees.
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