A guide to MCC 5945: Hobby, toy or games stores

MCC 5945 explained: learn its business impact and how to verify your code. Download JIM (iOS/Android) to accept phone payments for a low 1.99% fee.

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Mar 25, 2026

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2 min read time

MCC 5945 is a merchant category code used to categorize hobby, toy, or game stores by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This classification applies to businesses that primarily sell items such as model kits, collectibles, board games, and children's toys. Payment processors assign this code to transactions that occur at these specific types of retail shops. It identifies sales from stores dedicated to hobbies and amusements.

Which businesses fall under MCC 5945?

MCC 5945 applies to a broad range of hobby and amusement establishments:

Toy Stores: These retailers specialize in toys for children, from dolls and action figures to educational games. Purchases at chains like The LEGO Store or independent toy shops receive this merchant code.
Hobby Shops: Businesses that sell supplies for hobbies like model building, remote-control vehicles, and rocketry use this code. Examples include local model train shops or stores focused on radio-controlled cars and planes.
Game Stores: This category covers shops that focus on board games, tabletop role-playing games, and trading card games. Your local board game cafe or a store selling Dungeons & Dragons supplies falls here.
Comic Book Shops: Establishments that primarily sell comic books, graphic novels, and related merchandise process payments under MCC 5945. Well-known examples include Midtown Comics as well as thousands of local neighborhood shops.
Collectible Stores: These shops deal in items like sports memorabilia, collectible card games, and pop culture figures. A store specializing in Funko Pops or vintage baseball cards would use this MCC.
Magic Shops: Retailers dedicated to selling magic tricks, props, and instructional materials for magicians are classified under this code. These specialized stores cater to both amateur and professional illusionists.

Business implications of MCC 5945

Payment networks including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover use MCC 5945 to categorize transactions, which affects several aspects of business operations. These networks use the code to assess a business's risk profile, which influences interchange rates. For hobby and toy stores, this MCC generally corresponds to standard retail risk levels, resulting in predictable processing fees.

Beyond transaction fees, this code also has implications for other financial and operational functions, from expense management to customer incentives.

Expense tracking

Companies use MCC codes to automate expense management. Purchases from hobby or game stores appear on credit card statements with MCC 5945, allowing accounting software to categorize them automatically. This simplifies tracking employee spending on items like team-building games or office decorations.

Financial analysis

This MCC code supports detailed financial analysis. Businesses can filter transaction data by MCC 5945 to analyze spending on non-core items. This information helps managers track departmental budgets, identify spending patterns, and forecast future expenses with greater accuracy.

Compliance and auditing

Consistent MCC application strengthens internal controls. The code creates a clear audit trail, which helps companies verify that expenses align with corporate policies. This simplifies the process of reviewing and approving employee reimbursement requests.

Rewards and customer behavior

MCCs also shape customer spending habits through rewards programs. Credit card issuers may offer bonus points or cash back for purchases in specific categories. A hobby store's classification under MCC 5945 can make it an attractive place for cardholders to shop.

How to verify your business's MCC

Hobby, toy, and game store owners should confirm their MCC classification for proper transaction processing and to avoid customer confusion regarding rewards eligibility. If you find your business is incorrectly classified, for example a hobby shop coded as a general merchandise store, contact your payment processor immediately to request reclassification.

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

Contact Your Payment Processor: Your merchant services provider assigned the MCC code during account setup. To verify your classification, contact their customer service department or review the details in your original merchant agreement documents.
Review Processing Statements: Your monthly merchant statements typically display the assigned MCC code. Look for a four-digit number listed in the account information or business profile section of the document for confirmation.
Check with Your Acquirer: The acquiring bank or financial institution that processes your transactions maintains the MCC code in their system. Their merchant support team can confirm your current classification upon request.
Test Transaction Method: Some merchants process a small test transaction and check how it appears on a personal credit card statement. This method is less reliable than direct confirmation from your processor or acquirer.

How to choose a reliable payment service provider

Your MCC 5945 classification affects interchange rates, which makes your choice of payment processor important. Providers handle transactions for hobby stores with variations in pricing, settlement speed, and support that impact your business. Consider the following factors when you select a provider.

Transparent pricing: Flat-rate models offer predictability over complex structures that can hide fees. This simplicity helps you forecast expenses. 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: Your processor should accept all major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Support for digital wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, is also standard to meet customer expectations.
Fast fund access: Quick access to funds is necessary for healthy cash flow. Instant or next-day deposits allow you to restock inventory, make timely supplier payments, and cover payroll without delay.
Security: A secure processor protects customer data with encryption and tokenization. Tokenization replaces sensitive card numbers with a unique token for each transaction, so actual card details are never stored on your device.
Reporting: Look for a provider that offers clear analytics. JIM's AI assistant provides sales reports and transaction history through a chat interface to simplify the review of business performance.

Streamline payments with JIM

JIM offers hobby store owners a straightforward payment solution. The JIM tap-to-pay app transforms your iPhone or Android into a payment terminal with NFC technology, so you need no extra hardware. You receive a flat 1.99% rate per transaction with no setup costs, monthly fees, or variable rates for premium cards. You can also use payment links for online sales (like pre-orders for a new board game) at 4.99% + $0.30 per sale.

After a sale, your funds become available instantly on a JIM Visa Prepaid Card. You can add this card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for immediate use. This quick access to your money helps you manage cash flow, restock popular items, and pay suppliers on time. JIM gives you the financial flexibility to run your business effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

What is Merchant Category Code 5945?

Merchant Category Code 5945 is a four-digit classification number assigned to hobby, toy, and game stores by payment networks and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This code identifies transactions from retailers that specialize in items like board games, model kits, and collectibles. Payment processors use this classification to determine interchange rates, create financial reports, and manage customer rewards programs.

Is Merchant Category Code 5945 high-risk?

Merchant Category Code 5945 is classified as standard-risk by payment processors. This classification reflects the nature of hobby and toy store transactions, which are primarily in-person sales of physical goods. These sales have lower instances of fraud and chargebacks compared to high-risk industries. Consequently, businesses with this MCC receive moderate and predictable interchange rates for payment processing.

Can a business have multiple MCC codes?

A business is generally assigned a single MCC based on its primary revenue source. However, companies with diverse operations can maintain separate merchant accounts, each with a distinct MCC. For instance, a large bookstore, primarily coded under MCC 5942 for book sales, might operate a dedicated hobby and game section. To properly categorize those sales, the business could establish a second merchant account for that department, which would receive the MCC 5945 classification for hobby and toy stores.

What happens if my MCC code is wrong?

An incorrect MCC can lead to several negative outcomes for your business. Customers who expect credit card rewards for hobby purchases might not receive them, which can influence their shopping preferences and reduce repeat business. Furthermore, a wrong code could subject your business to higher interchange fees and increase your operational costs. If you receive a lower rate you do not qualify for, you could face compliance issues with payment networks and potential penalties.

Can merchants choose their MCC code?

Merchants cannot choose their own MCC code. Instead, payment processors assign a code based on a business's primary activities, following standards from the ISO and payment networks. This classification reflects the main source of revenue for the business. If you believe your assigned code inaccurately represents your operations, you can contact your processor to request a reclassification to the correct category.

How does MCC 5945 affect my payment processing costs?

MCC 5945 directly influences the interchange rates you pay on each transaction. As a standard-risk category, hobby and toy stores typically receive moderate rates. These fees are lower than those for high-risk industries but often higher than rates for businesses like grocery stores or gas stations, which have very low-risk profiles. The specific effect on your bottom line 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 used. In contrast, some providers offer a more predictable model, while flat-rate processors like JIM absorb the variability and charge you a consistent fee regardless of card type.