Merchant Category Code (MCC) Lookup Tool

Know Your Code. Optimize Your Payments.
A 2025 Resource from Dispute.com

What’s an MCC—and Why Should You Care?

A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number assigned to your business by your acquiring bank or payment processor. It tells the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) what kind of business you are.

Your MCC determines:

✅ Your interchange fees ✅ Risk exposure to chargebacks ✅ Eligibility for certain dispute rules ✅ How card issuers treat your transactions

Why MCCs Matter for Chargebacks

Chargeback ratios can skyrocket depending on your MCC. If you’re coded incorrectly or fall into a high-risk category, you’ll face stricter monitoring and fewer second chances from issuers.

At Dispute.com, we help you identify your MCC, validate its accuracy, and build a strategy around it.

🎯 MCCs are a chargeback cheat code—if you know how to use them.

Common MCCs by Industry

Here’s a list of high-visibility MCCs that impact ecommerce, subscriptions, digital services, and retail merchants:

MCC	Industry	Risk Profile / Notes
4814	Telecommunication Services	Subscription & recurring billing; moderate risk
4829	Money Transfer Services	High chargeback risk; flagged for fraud often
4899	Cable, Satellite, and Other Pay Television Services	Often disputed due to forgotten subscriptions
5045	Computers, Peripherals, Software	Software licensing and hardware sales
5111	Stationery, Office Supplies	Common for B2B merchants
5311	Department Stores	Includes online and brick-and-mortar operations
5399	Misc. General Merchandise	Watch for dispute triggers in bundled offers
5411	Grocery Stores and Supermarkets	Low chargeback risk
5541	Service Stations (Fuel)	Fraud monitoring required
5599	Misc. Automotive Dealers	Medium fraud risk
5611	Men’s and Boys’ Clothing	High in seasonal chargebacks
5631	Women’s Clothing Stores	Watch for sizing/return-based disputes
5651	Family Clothing Stores	Moderate chargeback potential
5732	Electronics Stores	High value = high risk
5734	Computer Software Stores	Includes boxed and digital software
5812	Eating Places and Restaurants	High volume; low chargeback ratios
5813	Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs	Risky if delivery or tips are involved
5814	Fast Food Restaurants	Card-present dominant, generally safe
5941	Sporting Goods Stores	Moderate risk for delivery and return issues
5964	Direct Marketing – Catalog	Watch for delivery and refund miscommunications
5968	Subscription Merchants (Continuity)	High-risk; closely watched by issuers
5999	Misc. Retail Stores	Used for “catch-all” ecommerce businesses
7311	Advertising Services	High-ticket B2B sales can be dispute magnets
7372	Computer Programming	SaaS companies often land here
7379	Info Retrieval & Data Processing	Includes cloud-based software tools
7392	Consulting Services	B2B services; depends on contract clarity
7399	Business Services, NEC	Watch contract fulfillment terms
7994	Video Game Arcades / Digital Game Providers	Recurring digital billing under scrutiny
7995	Betting / Casino / Gambling	Highly regulated and very high risk
8031	Doctors and Clinics	Typically low-risk unless involving telehealth
8099	Health Services, Misc.	May include telemedicine platforms
8999	Professional Services (Unclassified)	Risk varies widely

Pro Tip 💡

🧠 Check Your MCC Quarterly: Your processor may update your MCC silently, especially if your business model shifts. Make sure it reflects your actual activity.

📊 Analyze Disputes by MCC: Some chargeback reason codes spike under certain MCCs. At Dispute.com, we’ll show you the patterns—and how to prevent them.

Final Word: MCCs Are a Business Strategy

From risk profiling to dispute resolution, your MCC can impact everything. Whether you’re an ecommerce brand, SaaS platform, or subscription service, understanding your MCC is step one in mastering your payments.

👉 Want help identifying your MCC—or fighting back against the chargebacks that come with it?

Talk to Dispute.com today. We turn codes into clarity—and chargebacks into wins.