High-Risk Industries and MCC Codes

Some businesses are high-risk because of what they sell. Others are high-risk because of how they sell it.

Find your industry here, along with the merchant category codes the card networks watch most closely.

Telemarketing Merchant Account Basics

Selling by phone puts you in a watched risk group. Here is what banks see, what the rules require, and how to apply honestly.
What a Travel Merchant Account Is

Visa has rules that touch travel merchants. Here is what Visa's own rules say about travel merchants and how to get ready to apply.
What a Crypto Merchant Account Requires

Visa and Mastercard each publish rules for crypto sales. Here is what they say about definitions, MCCs, registration and underwriting.
Getting a Gambling Merchant Account

A gambling merchant account needs more than a bank's yes. Visa and Mastercard both set rules the acquirer must meet.
Online Pharmacy Merchant Account Rules

Visa and Mastercard both supervise card-absent pharmacy sales. Learn the MCCs, the registration step and the risks of a miscoded application.
What an Adult Merchant Account Really Is

An adult merchant account is not just a high-risk account. It is a registered category at Visa and Mastercard, with rules your acquirer must follow.
Businesses Processors Will Not Take

Prohibited and restricted lists come from card network rules and processor policy. Here is what they say and what to check before you apply.
Mastercard Merchant Registration

Mastercard makes some merchant categories register through their acquirer. Here is what the program is and how BRAM enforcement works.
Visa High Integrity Risk Merchants

Visa's Integrity Risk Program sets tiers, registration and due diligence rules for high integrity risk merchants. Here is what Visa's own standards say.
Who Keeps a High-Risk Merchant List

There is no single official high-risk merchant list. Card networks, banks and regulators each keep their own, and here is what each one does.
Debt Collection Merchant Account

Here is the MCC for debt collection, what Visa asks acquirers to check, and how to apply honestly.
Getting a Subscription Merchant Account

Selling on a recurring plan comes with its own card network rules. Here is what the card networks require of subscription billing and how to prepare.
Nutraceutical Payment Processing

Visa and Mastercard have their own rules for supplement sellers. Learn the MCC codes, registration steps and trial disclosures before you apply.
CBD Merchant Accounts: What to Expect

CBD is a restricted business at Stripe. Here is what Stripe and the card networks say about it.
What Visa Means by a High-Brand Risk MCC

Visa puts some merchant categories in a high-brand risk pile. Here is what that label means and what it triggers.
What High Risk MCC Codes Mean for You

High risk MCC codes are not a banned list. They are the codes Visa and Mastercard attach extra rules to, and here is what that means for you.
What Makes a Business High Risk

High risk is not a label you earn alone. Banks, acquirers and card networks judge it from your product, your sales method and your owners.
Billing Authorization on Phone Sales

If you sell by phone, the FTC rule on billing authorization decides what you can charge and how you prove it.