High risk business

MCC 8999

Professional Services, Not Elsewhere Classified

Merchants engaged in traditional “professions” that offer highly specialized services, and often require employees to obtain advanced or specialized education or training to provide the services. This MCC should be used only if the merchant’s business is not described by another, more specific MCC. Examples of such merchants include mortgage brokers, research firms, financial planners, graphic designers, guest speakers and lecturers, court stenographers, real estate appraisers, research firms, and auction houses.

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Disclaimer : The Merchant Category Code (MCC) provided is based on the official classifications from Visa and Mastercard, supplemented by insights from Risk & Compliance experts. The final determination and allocation of MCCs remain the responsibility of the payment service provider licensed by Visa and Mastercard. This recommendation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as definitive or binding guidance.

how it works

Merchant Category Code (MCC): Everything you need to know

What's an MCC?

A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number assigned to merchants by acquiring banks when a merchant account is created. This code categorizes your business based on the goods or services you offer and is recognized by payment networks like Visa and Mastercard.

Who assigns MCCs?

MCCs are assigned by your acquiring bank, following guidelines set by card networks such as Visa and Mastercard. While these guidelines are clear, assigning the right MCC often involves judgment by the acquirer. Misclassification - whether accidental or intentional - can lead to serious consequences, including penalties or disrupted payment processing.

Why do MCCs matter?

MCCs influence several critical aspects of your business operations, such as the interchange fee (amounts paid to card-issuing banks for transaction processing), merchant risk profile, spending restrictions or rewards. To determine your MCC, consider the following options: contact your payment processor, refer to payment network classification lists, or use our MCC lookup tool to find and verify your MCC.

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Browse the Merchant Category Code (MCC) database to discover they mean for your business.

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