Fields
- Business name
- What the business says it does, from the application and its website
Context
Merchant category codes at Northfold Payments, a payment service provider that lets small businesses in the UK take card payments in person and online. At onboarding each merchant gets the merchant category code (MCC) that describes its business, and the code sets its pricing and the risk checks it gets. The codes on the list below are a subset of the card schemes' codes, with their Visa titles; replace them with the codes you accept.
Card scheme rule (Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual): a merchant that sells more than one type of merchandise or has more than one line of business uses the code that best describes the line with the highest sales volume.
How the answers are used: this check reads what the business says it does and suggests a code from our list and the group it belongs to. Code takes the suggested code when its probability is high, and falls back to the group when it is not; an underwriter confirms every code before the merchant goes live. Code compares the suggestion with the code the merchant chose on its application. Restricted and prohibited businesses are screened by other checks; nothing here approves or declines a merchant.
Questions
Is there enough in the description to tell what the business sells? Yes / No
Read the business name and the description.
Yes: The description says what goods or services the business sells, clearly enough to choose a code.
No: The description is empty, generic, such as "online retail" or "services", or too short to tell what is sold. The business name alone is not enough.
Which group of our code list does the business's main line of business belong to? Choice
Read the business name and the description. Choose the group for the line of business with the highest sales, as the card scheme rule in the context says. If the description does not say which line sells most, choose the group for the line it presents as its main business.
- Food and drink Food and drink sold in shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and takeaways, and by caterers and off-licences.
- Shops and retail goods Physical goods sold in a shop, online or by subscription: clothes, shoes, furniture, electronics, books, stationery, toys, gifts, flowers, pet supplies, hardware and cosmetics.
- Digital goods and software Downloads, apps, digital games, streamed media, and software written or run for clients.
- Travel and transport Travel agencies, hotels and other places to stay, taxis, local transport, car hire and couriers.
- Health and beauty Pharmacies, doctors, dentists, opticians and other health practitioners, hair and beauty salons, barbers and spas.
- Home and trade services Builders, plumbers, heating and electrical contractors, gardeners and landscapers, cleaners and car repair garages.
- Professional services Lawyers, accountants, consultants, advertising agencies and other professional services for a fee.
- Education and childcare Schools, tutors, courses and training, nurseries and other childcare.
- Entertainment and leisure Gyms and sports clubs, ticket agencies and producers of live shows, attractions and cinemas.
- Charities and religious organisations Charities, social service organisations and religious organisations taking donations or fees.
- Restricted sectors Betting and games of chance, dating services, currency, cryptocurrency and money order dealers, and tobacconists.
Which merchant category code on our list describes the business's main line of business? Choice
Read the business name and the description. Choose the code for the line of business with the highest sales, as the card scheme rule in the context says. If the description does not say which line sells most, choose the code for the line it presents as its main business. Choose a specific code over a code for businesses no more specific code covers, whenever a specific one fits.
- 5411 Grocery Stores and Supermarkets Supermarkets and grocers selling a full range of food and household goods. Food and drink.
- 5462 Bakeries Bakeries selling bread, cakes and pastries they make, mainly to take away. Food and drink.
- 5499 Miscellaneous Food Stores: Convenience Stores and Specialty Markets Convenience stores, mini markets and specialty food shops, such as delicatessens, fruit markets and health food shops. Food and drink.
- 5812 Eating Places and Restaurants Restaurants and cafés that prepare food and drink to eat on the premises, usually with table service. Food and drink.
- 5813 Drinking Places: Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs, Cocktail Lounges and Discotheques Pubs, bars, nightclubs and cocktail lounges whose main trade is alcoholic drinks served on the premises. Food and drink.
- 5814 Fast Food Restaurants Quick service food and drinks, ordered at a counter, to eat on the premises or take away. Food and drink.
- 5811 Caterers Caterers that prepare food and drink for events, served at a place the customer chooses. Food and drink.
- 5921 Package Stores: Beer, Wine and Liquor Off-licences and shops selling beer, wine and spirits to take away. Food and drink.
- 5311 Department Stores Large stores selling many kinds of goods, such as clothing, homeware and beauty, in separate departments. Retail goods.
- 5651 Family Clothing Stores Clothing shops for men, women and children. Retail goods.
- 5661 Shoe Stores Shops selling mainly shoes and boots. Retail goods.
- 5712 Furniture, Home Furnishings and Equipment Stores, Except Appliances Shops selling furniture, beds, rugs, curtains and other home furnishings, but not household appliances. Retail goods.
- 5732 Electronics Stores Shops selling televisions, audio equipment, phones, computers and other electronics. Retail goods.
- 5251 Hardware Stores Hardware shops selling tools, fixings, paint and building supplies. Retail goods.
- 5942 Book Stores Shops selling new or second-hand books, magazines, textbooks, maps and calendars, in store or online. Retail goods.
- 5943 Stationery Stores, Office and School Supply Stores Shops selling paper goods, office and school supplies and small office equipment. Retail goods.
- 5944 Jewelry Stores, Watches, Clocks and Silverware Stores Jewellers and shops selling watches, clocks and silverware. Retail goods.
- 5945 Hobby, Toy and Game Shops Shops selling toys, board and card games, and hobby and craft supplies. Retail goods.
- 5941 Sporting Goods Stores Shops selling sports equipment and camping and outdoor gear. Retail goods.
- 5947 Gift, Card, Novelty and Souvenir Shops Shops selling greeting cards, gifts, novelties and souvenirs as their main line. Retail goods.
- 5977 Cosmetic Stores Shops selling make-up, skincare and fragrance. Retail goods.
- 5992 Florists Florists selling cut flowers, plants and arrangements. Retail goods.
- 5995 Pet Shops, Pet Foods and Supplies Stores Shops selling pets, pet food and pet supplies. Retail goods.
- 5968 Direct Marketing: Continuity/Subscription Merchant Businesses whose trade is selling subscriptions for goods delivered to the customer, such as book clubs or monthly boxes, through direct mail, email, apps or salespeople. A shop that also offers a subscription takes the code for its main line instead. Retail goods.
- 5262 Marketplaces Online marketplaces that bring together many sellers of different kinds of goods or services under one brand. Retail goods.
- 5999 Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Shops Shops selling specialised goods that no more specific code on this list covers. Retail goods.
- 5815 Digital Goods Media: Books, Movies, Digital Artwork/Images, Music Downloaded or streamed books, films, images and music. Digital goods and software.
- 5816 Digital Goods: Games Downloaded or online games and in-game purchases. Digital goods and software.
- 5817 Digital Goods: Applications (Excludes Games) Downloaded apps and software, other than games. Digital goods and software.
- 7372 Computer Programming, Data Processing and Integrated Systems Design Services Businesses that write software for clients, host or process data, or design computer systems. Digital goods and software.
- 4111 Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, Including Ferries Local buses, trams, commuter trains and ferries. Travel and transport.
- 4121 Taxicabs and Limousines Taxis, minicabs, chauffeur and limousine services. Travel and transport.
- 4215 Courier Services: Air and Ground, and Freight Forwarders Couriers delivering parcels and documents, and freight forwarders. Travel and transport.
- 4722 Travel Agencies and Tour Operators Travel agents booking transport and accommodation for travellers, tour operators and coach tour companies. Travel and transport.
- 7011 Lodging: Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Central Reservation Services Hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, holiday cottages and other short stays of less than 30 days. Travel and transport.
- 7512 Automobile Rental Agency Car and van hire. Travel and transport.
- 5912 Drug Stores and Pharmacies Pharmacies and chemists dispensing medicines and selling health products. Health and beauty.
- 8011 Doctors and Physicians Licensed doctors in general or specialist practice with no more specific code. Health and beauty.
- 8021 Dentists and Orthodontists Dental practices and orthodontists. Health and beauty.
- 8043 Opticians, Optical Goods and Eyeglasses Opticians and shops selling glasses and contact lenses. Health and beauty.
- 8099 Medical Services and Health Practitioners Health practitioners and medical services with no more specific code, such as physiotherapists or clinics. Health and beauty.
- 7230 Beauty and Barber Shops Hairdressers, barbers, nail and beauty salons. Health and beauty.
- 7298 Health and Beauty Spas Day spas offering massage, treatments and wellness services. Health and beauty.
- 1520 General Contractors: Residential and Commercial Builders who build, extend or renovate homes and commercial buildings. Home and trade services.
- 1711 Heating, Plumbing and Air Conditioning Contractors Plumbers and heating, air conditioning and drainage engineers. Home and trade services.
- 1731 Electrical Contractors Electricians installing and repairing wiring and electrical systems. Home and trade services.
- 0780 Landscaping and Horticultural Services Gardeners, landscapers and tree surgeons. Home and trade services.
- 7349 Cleaning, Maintenance and Janitorial Services Cleaners of homes, offices and buildings, and building maintenance services. Home and trade services.
- 7538 Automotive Service Shops (Non-Dealer) Independent garages servicing and repairing vehicles. Home and trade services.
- 8111 Legal Services and Attorneys Solicitors, barristers and other legal services. Professional services.
- 8931 Accounting, Auditing and Bookkeeping Services Accountants, auditors and bookkeepers. Professional services.
- 7392 Management, Consulting and Public Relations Services Management consultants and public relations firms. Professional services.
- 7311 Advertising Services Advertising agencies and businesses that sell or place advertising. Professional services.
- 8999 Professional Services Professional services for a fee that no more specific code on this list covers. Professional services.
- 8299 Schools and Educational Services Schools, tutors, courses and training with no more specific code. Education and childcare.
- 8351 Child Care Services Nurseries, childminders and other childcare. Education and childcare.
- 7997 Membership Clubs (Sports, Recreation, Athletic), Country Clubs and Private Golf Courses Gyms, sports and leisure clubs and private golf courses that charge membership. Entertainment and leisure.
- 7922 Ticket Agencies and Theatrical Producers (Except Motion Pictures) Ticket agencies and producers of plays, concerts and live shows. Entertainment and leisure.
- 7991 Tourist Attractions and Exhibits Museums, galleries, exhibitions and tourist attractions that charge entry. Entertainment and leisure.
- 7832 Motion Picture Theaters Cinemas. Entertainment and leisure.
- 8398 Charitable Social Service Organizations Charities and social service organisations. Charities and religious organisations.
- 8661 Religious Organizations Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other religious organisations. Charities and religious organisations.
- 7995 Betting, including Lottery Tickets, Casino Gaming Chips, Off-Track Betting and Wagers at Race Tracks Betting, lotteries, casinos and other games of chance to win money. Restricted sectors.
- 7273 Dating Services Dating agencies, apps and introduction services. Restricted sectors.
- 6051 Non-Financial Institutions: Foreign Currency, Liquid and Cryptocurrency Assets, Money Orders Currency exchanges, cryptocurrency sellers and money order dealers that are not banks. Restricted sectors.
- 5993 Cigar Stores and Stands Tobacconists and shops selling cigars, tobacco and smoking supplies. Restricted sectors.
Does the business describe more than one line of business that would take different codes on our list? Yes / No
Read the description and compare what it sells with the codes on our list.
Yes: The description names two or more kinds of goods or services that fall under different codes, such as a café that also sells groceries, or a shop that also runs ticketed events.
No: Everything it describes falls under one code, or the extras are only part of the main line, such as a shoe shop that sells shoe polish.
Does the description show which line of business brings in the most sales? Choice
Read the description. Judge only what it says about sales; do not work anything out from figures.
- Main line stated The business has several lines, and the description says or makes plain which one brings in most of its sales.
- Main line unclear The business has several lines, and nothing in the description shows which one brings in most of its sales.
- One line only The business describes one line of business.
Lens columns
enough_to_judge, enough_to_judge_probability, category_group, category_group_probability, merchant_category, merchant_category_probability, several_lines_of_business, several_lines_of_business_probability, main_line, main_line_probability