A guide to MCC 5137: Men's, women's and children's uniforms

What is MCC 5137? Learn its business impact and how to verify it. Get JIM for iOS/Android and accept phone payments in seconds for a low 1.99% fee.

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Mar 25, 2026

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2 min read time

MCC 5137 is a code the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) uses to classify businesses that sell men's, women's, and children's uniforms. This category applies to merchants whose primary business is the wholesale distribution of commercial clothing and uniforms. Transactions for workwear, school uniforms, or other specialized professional apparel will be categorized under this code when processed by these suppliers.

Which businesses fall under MCC 5137?

MCC 5137 applies to a broad range of commercial apparel establishments:

School uniform distributors: These businesses contract with educational institutions to supply standardized apparel for students. Companies like French Toast or Lands' End School Uniforms operate within this classification.
Medical uniform wholesalers: This includes suppliers of scrubs, lab coats, and other healthcare garments to hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Many local and national medical supply companies fall into this category.
Corporate apparel suppliers: These merchants provide branded clothing and uniforms for businesses across various industries. Large-scale providers such as Cintas and Aramark are prime examples of this business type.
Hospitality uniform providers: This category covers suppliers of specialized attire for hotels, restaurants, and food service staff. Businesses like Chef Works equip culinary and front-of-house teams with professional garments.
Industrial workwear suppliers: These companies distribute durable and protective clothing for trades like construction and manufacturing. Brands such as Red Kap and Carhartt's business-to-business division serve this market.
Public safety uniform wholesalers: These are specialized suppliers that provide uniforms and gear for police, fire, and EMS departments. Companies like Galls are a common example in this sector.

Business implications of MCC 5137

Payment networks including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover use MCC 5137 to categorize transactions, which affects several aspects of business operations. These networks evaluate the risk profile of a business based on its MCC. For uniform suppliers under MCC 5137, this classification influences the interchange rates charged for processing credit card payments.

Because these transactions are often business-to-business, they may have different risk factors and interchange fee structures compared to direct-to-consumer sales. Beyond risk assessment, the MCC code also serves other functions in financial management and reporting.

Expense tracking

Companies use MCC 5137 to automate the categorization of uniform and workwear purchases on their credit card statements. This simplifies expense management by automatically sorting these expenditures, which can support accurate accounting and potential tax deductions for business-related apparel.

Financial analysis

Businesses analyze spending data associated with MCC 5137 to identify patterns and control costs. This information allows finance teams to track departmental uniform expenses, forecast future apparel needs, and manage budgets more effectively by understanding where money is spent.

Compliance and auditing

The consistent application of MCC 5137 creates a clear audit trail for business expenses. This helps companies verify that uniform purchases are legitimate business expenditures, which supports internal controls and simplifies external audits.

Rewards and customer behavior

Credit card issuers may offer special rewards for purchases in specific business-related categories. MCC 5137 can make transactions eligible for these promotions, potentially influencing a company's choice of supplier to maximize its card benefits on corporate accounts.

How to verify your business's MCC

Uniform supplier owners should confirm their MCC classification for proper transaction processing and to avoid customer confusion about rewards eligibility. If you discover your business is incorrectly classified, for example, a uniform supplier coded as a general apparel retailer, 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 outlined 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 located in the account information or business profile details section of the document to find your current classification.
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 and provide additional details about your account setup.
Test Transaction Method: Some merchants process a small test transaction on a personal credit card and then check how the purchase appears on the statement. This method is less reliable than direct confirmation from your processor and may not always show the code.

How to choose a reliable payment service provider

Your MCC 5137 classification directly affects interchange rates and processing requirements, making your choice of payment processor a major business decision. Providers handle these B2B transactions differently, with variations in pricing models, settlement speeds, and support that can impact your bottom line. Consider these factors when selecting a partner.

Transparent pricing: Flat-rate pricing models offer predictability over complex interchange-plus or tiered structures that can hide fees. 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 modern customer expectations, your processor should accept all major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, along with popular digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Fast fund access: Instant access to funds is important for uniform suppliers who need consistent cash flow. Quick settlements allow you to restock inventory, cover supplier payments, and manage payroll without delays.
Security: Top processors protect customer data with methods like encryption and tokenization. JIM uses tokenization for every transaction, so card numbers are never stored on your device.
Reporting: Look for a provider that offers clear, accessible analytics. JIM’s AI assistant provides sales reports and transaction history through a simple chat interface, which helps with business analysis.

Streamline payments with JIM

JIM offers uniform supplier owners a straightforward payment processing solution. The JIM tap-to-pay app transforms your iPhone or Android device into a payment terminal with no extra hardware. It uses NFC technology to accept payments directly on your phone. You pay a flat 1.99% per transaction. There are no setup costs, monthly fees, or variable rates for premium cards, so your expenses remain predictable.

For remote transactions, you can create payment links for 4.99% + $0.30 per sale (ideal for invoices to schools or corporate clients). After a sale, funds become available instantly on your JIM Visa Prepaid Card. You can add this card to Apple Pay or Google Pay, which allows you to use your money right away for business purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

What is Merchant Category Code 5137?

Merchant Category Code 5137 is a four-digit classification number assigned to businesses that sell men's, women's, and children's uniforms by payment networks and the ISO. This code identifies transactions from wholesalers of commercial clothing, such as workwear and school uniforms. Payment processors use this code to categorize sales for interchange fees, financial reports, and customer rewards programs.

Is Merchant Category Code 5137 high-risk?

MCC 5137 is considered a standard-risk category by payment processors. This classification reflects the stable, business-to-business nature of uniform sales, which have low chargeback and fraud rates. As a result, merchants in this category receive moderate interchange fees and face straightforward underwriting requirements.

Can a business have multiple MCC codes?

A business typically receives a single MCC code for each merchant account, determined by its primary source of revenue. However, if a company operates distinct business lines, it can establish separate merchant accounts, each with a unique MCC to reflect that specific activity. For example, a large department store classified under MCC 5311 might also operate a separate division that supplies corporate uniforms. To properly categorize these B2B sales, the business would open a second merchant account for that division, which would fall under MCC 5137.

What happens if my MCC code is wrong?

An incorrect MCC code can create financial and customer-related problems. Corporate clients might not get the credit card rewards they anticipate for business purchases, which can influence their supplier choices and impact customer loyalty. A misclassification can also expose your business to improper interchange rates, either inflating your transaction fees or putting you in violation of network rules for receiving preferential rates you don't qualify for.

Can merchants choose their MCC code?

Merchants do not choose their own MCC code. Instead, payment processors assign it based on the business's main activities, in line with standards set by the ISO and card networks. If a business owner finds their code is inaccurate, they can ask their processor for a re-evaluation. This request can lead to a reclassification that better reflects the company's actual operations.

How does MCC 5137 affect my payment processing costs?

MCC 5137 directly influences the interchange rates you pay on every transaction. This code places uniform suppliers in a standard-risk category, which typically results in moderate rates—lower than high-risk industries but higher than sectors like grocery stores. The final cost to your business, 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 sale. In contrast, flat-rate processors like JIM absorb the variability and charge you a consistent fee regardless of card type.