Nightclub and bar merchant category code 5813
Bars, pubs, cocktail lounges and nightclubs use merchant category code 5813. Ticketing and event promoters use 7922. Late night venues take a lot of payments in a short window, run tabs and take table deposits, so the terminals and account need to keep up.
Merchant category codes for nightclubs and bars
The codes businesses in this sector come across most. Your provider sets the code when your account is opened, based on what you tell them about how you trade.
| Code | Industry | More |
|---|---|---|
| 5813 | Bars, pubs and nightclubs | Nightclub payment processing |
| 7922 | Theatres, promoters and ticket agents | Industry guide |
| 7929 | Bands, DJs and entertainers | Nightclub payment processing |
| 7932 | Pool and snooker halls | Nightclub payment processing |
| 5812 | Restaurants | Hospitality payments |
Fast card payments at the bar
A busy bar takes hundreds of contactless payments an hour. Reliable terminals with 4G behind WiFi, and enough of them, matter more than anything else on a Saturday night.
Tabs, tables and deposits
Pre-authorisations for tabs, deposits for table bookings by link, and tickets sold online before the night all need to run on the same account.
Late night disputes
Disputes in nightlife are usually about a tab the customer does not remember. Itemised receipts, a recognisable venue name on the statement and door policies that are clear all help.
Card payments for nightclubs and bars, opinions from our specialists
Short views from our specialists, published to start a conversation. Agree or disagree, tell them on LinkedIn.
A nightclub with good door staff and itemised receipts is not a payments risk. A nightclub with one card machine for a 500 capacity room is.
More card machines helps, but so does a clear tab policy. Customers who see their tab total before they leave rarely query it the next morning.
What to check in a card payments setup for nightclubs and bars
Three questions worth asking any provider, and the eCom Pay answer.
Terminals that keep up
PAX handhelds with 4G and all night battery.
Table deposits by link
Bookings secured before the night.
Next working day settlement
Weekend takings in the bank on Monday.
Questions about merchant category codes for nightclubs and bars
What is the MCC for a nightclub?
Bars, pubs and nightclubs use 5813. Ticketing and event promoters use 7922.
Can a bar run tabs on a card machine?
Yes. Pre-authorisations hold an amount on the card and the final bill is captured at the end of the night.
What MCC does a restaurant use?
Restaurants use 5812 and fast food and takeaways use 5814.
More industry guides
Card payments for nightclubs and bars, set up properly
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