As the 2025 holiday season approaches, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) everywhere are gearing up for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Whether you're a boutique retailer, a local service provider, or an online merchant, the stakes are high—but so are the opportunities.
This holiday season, Authorize.net can help you scale confidently with secure payment solutions that are tailored to your business needs. Here are seven fresh strategies to help you prepare.
1. Capture every sale you can
To ensure you’re capturing the most sales possible, streamline your checkout process to avoid customers abandoning their carts at checkout. Ensure your payment methods are mobile-friendly, offer multiple payment options, and minimize the information that customers need to enter. Authorize.net’s hosted payment forms and customizable APIs can help you easily deliver a frictionless experience that converts.
2. Get real-time insights from smart data
Use real-time analytics to monitor transaction trends and customer behavior. Authorize.net’s reporting tools help you identify peak shopping times, popular products, and potential fraud indicators—empowering you to make data-driven decisions quickly.
3. Automate recurring and subscription billing
If your business offers memberships, subscriptions, or seasonal services, automating billing for these services can help you ensure consistent cash flow. Authorize.net’s Automated Recurring Billing (ARB) simplifies the process, freeing up your time to focus on your customers.
4. Boost fraud prevention without sacrificing sales
To balance security with an enjoyable customer experience, customize your fraud filters. Authorize.net’s Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS) lets you tailor your fraud rules to your business model so you can reduce false declines while still keeping bad actors at bay.
5. Prep your team and your tech for peak volume
Ensure your employees are trained and your systems are tested for increased traffic. Run stress tests on your website, review your inventory management, and confirm your payment gateway is ready. For reliable infrastructure with uptime when you need it most, Authorize.net’s payment gateway is trusted by thousands of businesses.
6. Communicate clearly with customers and partners
You should ensure you set reasonable expectations for order shipping and delivery times, return policies, and customer support availability. To build trust with your customers, use automated email confirmations and real-time order tracking. Keep your communications seamless with Authorize.net, which can integrate easily with your CRM and eCommerce platforms.
7. Streamline subscriptions and gift services
As more consumers seek convenience and personalization, subscription boxes and gift memberships have become popular offerings. Whether you're a local coffee roaster offering monthly deliveries or a boutique selling curated gift sets, automating recurring payments can simplify your operations and give your customers what they want.
Authorize.net’s Automated Recurring Billing (ARB) tool lets you set up and manage subscription-based services with ease. You can customize billing intervals, securely store payment information, and reduce manual tasks like creating invoices—freeing up time to focus on fulfillment and customer engagement. By integrating ARB into your holiday strategy, you not only create seamless experiences for repeat customers, but you can also build predictable revenue streams that extend beyond the season.
Let’s get prepped
Ready to make this your most successful holiday season yet? Get Authorize.net’s 2025 Peak Shopping Season Guide for expert insights, actionable strategies, and tools tailored to help SMBs thrive. Whether you're looking to streamline operations, boost conversions, or protect against fraud, our guide has you covered.
The holiday season is a pivotal time for SMBs, and preparation is key. With Authorize.net as your payment partner, you can scale securely, serve customers seamlessly, and make the most of every transaction.
You can also reach out to us at 1-877-447-3938 if you have questions or would like to learn more, or check out our Support Center for answers to frequently asked questions.
