MCC 5719: Home furnishing specialty stores -- miscellaneous

Learn about MCC 5719, its business impact, and how to verify your code. Download JIM (iOS/Android) and accept payments for a low 1.99% fee.

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The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) uses MCC 5719 to categorize miscellaneous home furnishing specialty stores. This code covers transactions at retailers that sell specific home decor items not found in other, broader categories. For example, businesses specializing in products like lampshades, mirrors, picture frames, or decorative glassware use this classification. It identifies merchants with a narrow focus on particular home furnishing goods.

Which businesses fall under MCC 5719?

MCC 5719 applies to a broad range of specialty home furnishing establishments:

  • Picture frame shops: These retailers sell ready-made frames and provide custom framing services for art and photographs. Businesses like Framebridge or the framing departments within larger craft stores use this code.
  • Lighting stores: Merchants in this category focus on selling lamps, chandeliers, and other light fixtures. Specialty retailers such as Lamps Plus or local lighting showrooms fall under this classification.
  • Window treatment stores: These businesses specialize in custom and ready-made window coverings like blinds, shades, and curtains. Companies like The Shade Store or Budget Blinds are prime examples.
  • Home fragrance retailers: Shops that primarily sell candles, diffusers, and potpourri are included in this MCC. Well-known examples include stores like Yankee Candle or Diptyque boutiques.
  • Mirror and decorative glass shops: These establishments sell decorative mirrors and custom-cut glass for items like tabletops or shelving. Many local glass specialists and some larger decor stores use this code.
  • Fireplace and mantel stores: Retailers that focus on fireplace accessories, screens, mantels, and hearth decor use this code. These are often independent specialty shops found in local markets.

Business implications of MCC 5719

Payment networks including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover use MCC 5719 to categorize transactions, which affects several aspects of business operations. These networks use the code to assess a business's risk profile. Since specialty home furnishing stores typically represent a lower risk of fraud or chargebacks, merchants under MCC 5719 may receive more favorable interchange rates.

Beyond transaction fees, this classification also has implications for other operational areas. The code helps standardize financial data, which businesses and consumers can use for tracking, analysis, and rewards programs. These functions depend on the consistent application of the MCC by payment processors.

Expense tracking

Companies use MCC 5719 to automatically categorize business-related purchases on corporate card statements. This simplifies tracking expenditures for office decor or client gifts. For home-based businesses, proper categorization supports accurate tax deductions for qualifying home office furnishings, streamlining financial record-keeping.

Financial analysis

Businesses analyze spending data associated with MCC 5719 to understand expenditure patterns on specialty home goods. This information helps them track departmental costs, forecast future office furnishing expenses, and manage budgets more effectively by identifying trends in procurement.

Compliance and auditing

The consistent application of MCC 5719 creates a clear audit trail. This allows internal and external auditors to quickly verify that expenses claimed for home furnishings are legitimate and comply with company policy.

Rewards and customer behavior

Credit card issuers often offer bonus rewards for purchases in specific categories, such as home furnishings. When MCC 5719 qualifies for these promotions, it can influence customer behavior, encouraging shoppers to use a particular card to maximize their points or cashback.

How to verify your business's MCC

Specialty home furnishing store owners should confirm their MCC classification to guarantee proper transaction processing and avoid customer confusion regarding rewards eligibility. If you find out that your business is incorrectly classified—for example, a picture frame shop coded as a general furniture store—contact your payment processor immediately to request reclassification.

Here's how to verify your MCC classification is set up correctly:

  • Contact Your Payment Processor: Your merchant services provider assigned the MCC during account setup. To confirm your classification, contact their customer service department or review your merchant agreement documents for the listed code.
  • Review Processing Statements: Your monthly merchant statements often display the assigned MCC. Look for a four-digit number in the account information or business profile section of your statement to find your current code.
  • Check with Your Acquirer: The acquiring bank or financial institution that processes your transactions maintains the MCC in their system. You can call their merchant support team, and they can confirm your business's current classification.
  • Test Transaction Method: Some merchants run a small test transaction on a personal credit card to see how it appears on the statement. However, this method is less reliable than direct confirmation from your processor or acquirer.

How to choose a reliable payment service provider

Your MCC 5719 classification affects interchange rates, making your choice of payment processor important. Providers handle transactions for specialty home furnishing stores differently, with variations in pricing and settlement speed that impact your business. Consider these factors when you select a provider.

  • Transparent pricing: Flat-rate pricing offers predictability over complex models, which simplifies financial forecasting. The JIM tap-to-pay app for iPhone and Android charges 1.99% per transaction with no setup costs, monthly fees, or premium card surcharges.
  • Payment method support: To meet customer expectations, your processor should accept all major credit cards and popular digital wallets. This includes Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for convenient customer checkout.
  • Fast fund access: Quick access to funds helps manage cash flow. Faster settlement allows you to restock inventory, cover supplier payments, and meet payroll without delays, which supports business stability.
  • Security: Protect customer data with a processor that uses tokenization and encryption. Tokenization ensures sensitive card numbers are never stored on your device or in your system, which reduces your liability.
  • Reporting: Look for a provider with clear reporting tools. The JIM AI assistant provides sales reports and transaction history through a chat interface to help you track performance.

Streamline payments with JIM

JIM offers specialty home furnishing store owners a straightforward payment solution. The JIM tap-to-pay app converts your iPhone or Android into a tap-to-pay terminal through NFC technology, so you require no extra hardware. You pay a flat 1.99% per transaction with no setup costs, monthly fees, or variable rates for premium cards.

For remote sales, you can use link payments to collect payment for custom orders. These transactions have a rate of 4.99% + $0.30 per sale. After a transaction completes, your funds are available instantly on a JIM Visa Prepaid Card. Add this card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for immediate use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

What is Merchant Category Code 5719?

Merchant Category Code 5719 is a four-digit classification number assigned to miscellaneous home furnishing specialty stores by payment networks and the ISO. This code identifies retailers that sell specific decor items like picture frames, lamps, and window treatments. Payment processors use this classification to determine interchange rates, create financial reports, and manage customer rewards programs.

Is Merchant Category Code 5719 high-risk?

Payment processors classify Merchant Category Code 5719 as low-risk. This assessment is due to the low incidence of fraud and chargebacks common in specialty home furnishing transactions. Consequently, businesses under this code often receive favorable interchange rates from payment networks.

Can a business have multiple MCC codes?

Payment processors usually assign a business one primary MCC that reflects its main source of revenue. However, a company with distinctly separate business lines can set up multiple merchant accounts, each with its own appropriate code. For instance, an interior design firm might operate its main business under a professional services code. If that firm also runs a retail shop that sells specialty decor like custom mirrors and lighting, that part of the business could have a separate merchant account with MCC 5719.

What happens if my MCC code is wrong?

An incorrect MCC creates financial and reputational problems. Customers who anticipate rewards on home decor purchases may not get them, which influences their satisfaction and where they choose to shop next. Your business might also face improper interchange rates, forcing you to pay higher fees than necessary. Alternatively, an erroneously low rate could put you in violation of payment network rules, leading to potential penalties.

Can merchants choose their MCC code?

Merchants cannot select their own MCC code, as payment processors assign it based on a business's primary source of revenue. The assignment adheres to ISO standards and payment network rules. If a merchant finds their code inaccurately represents their business, they can contact their processor to request a reclassification to better align the code with their operations.

How does MCC 5719 affect my payment processing costs?

Your MCC 5719 classification directly influences the interchange rates you pay on every transaction. Since specialty home furnishing stores are considered low-risk, this code typically secures moderate rates that are lower than high-risk industries but often higher than categories like grocery stores. The final effect on your costs, however, depends on your payment processor’s pricing structure.

Processors with interchange-plus pricing pass these variable rates directly to you, so your costs fluctuate with each card type. In contrast, flat-rate processors like JIM absorb the variability and charge you a consistent fee regardless of card type.

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