Florists' Supplies, Nursery Stock & Flowers.
Wholesale of horticultural and floral supplies.
- MCC
- 5193
- Category
- Retail Outlets
- Cardflo support
- Yes
What MCC 5193 covers
Merchant Category Code 5193 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for florists' supplies, nursery stock & flowers. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Wholesale of horticultural and floral supplies. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
MCC 5193 covers merchants involved in the wholesale of florists' supplies, nursery stock, and fresh flowers. This primarily involves B2B transactions with florists, garden centres, landscapers, and event planners.
Ticket sizes are typically moderate to high, varying with order volume and product seasonality. Purchase frequency can be very regular, especially for fresh flowers, or seasonal for nursery stock.
Chargebacks are not high but disputes can arise from issues with product freshness, quality, or incorrect species/quantities delivered. Given the perishable nature of some goods, 'Merchandise Not As Described' or 'Damaged Goods' are common reasons.
Timely delivery and clear photographic evidence of goods before dispatch are critical.
This MCC is generally considered low-risk. Cardflo's flexible payment gateway and acquiring solutions cater to seasonal volume fluctuations and provide robust dispute resolution tools for merchants in this sector.
Wholesale florists and nursery suppliers must optimise for both speed and accuracy in payment processing, given the perishable nature of many goods. Prioritise solutions that integrate seamlessly with inventory systems to prevent overselling and allow for rapid adjustments.
For B2B transactions, level 2/3 data capture for corporate cards can improve interchange rates. Due to seasonal peaks, ensure your payment infrastructure can scale quickly without disruption.
Consider multi-acquirer routing to guarantee processing uptime, especially during high-demand periods like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, and factor in potential acquirer-imposed reserves for seasonal fluctuations.
Acquirer and acquirer assessment stance.
Low-risk standard board. Standard processing terms apply with no expectation of enhanced monitoring or reserves.
Dispute and chargeback profile.
The most common disputes are 13.1 / 4853 (services not as described) and 13.2 / 4855 (damaged or defective merchandise), specifically tied to product freshness or condition upon arrival. These occur when flowers wilt quickly, or plants are damaged in transit.
To combat these, provide timestamped photographic evidence of product quality at dispatch, alongside signed delivery receipts. Temperature-controlled shipping logs and clear disclaimers on shelf life or care instructions are also highly effective.
Timely delivery confirmations are essential, given the perishable nature of the goods.
See also: chargeback management · payment response codes · Compelling Evidence 3.0.
Book a scoping call to see how Cardflo would set you up.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5193
- Placement with acquirers that actively board MCC 5193 businesses in your region.
- High-volume, low-ticket processing tuned for retail authorisation patterns.
- Omnichannel routing across in-store, e-commerce and click-and-collect.
- EMV, contactless and wallet acceptance enabled on a single integration.
- Refund, void and partial-capture flows aligned with retail operations.
- Dedicated onboarding manager experienced with multi-location retail brands.
Payment methods typically enabled.
Onboarding checklist.
What acquirers typically ask to see when boarding MCC 5193. Cardflo collects this once and reuses it across every acquirer we route you through.
- Business registration and beneficial-owner documentation (KYB, UBO).
- Six months of processing statements or bank statements demonstrating in-store and e-commerce split.
- Refund, exchange and returns policy visible at point of sale and on the website.
- PCI DSS SAQ appropriate to the environment (A, A-EP or D as relevant).
- Store-front address list for multi-location operators.
- Six months of processing statements or bank statements demonstrating trading pattern.
See also: Know Your Customer (KYC) · high-risk merchant · smart routing.
Talk to an acquiring specialist about your MID setup.
Common questions
How do merchants in MCC 5193 manage the risk of chargebacks due to perishable goods?
Managing chargebacks for perishable goods like fresh flowers is critical. Merchants should explicitly state their return and refund policies regarding perishables, including time limits for reporting issues.
High-quality photographic evidence of goods before shipment, temperature-controlled shipping documentation, and prompt customer service responses to complaints can significantly reduce 'Merchandise Not As Described' chargebacks.
What payment methods are most common for B2B florists' supplies and nursery stock?
For B2B transactions in MCC 5193, commercial credit cards are common for smaller or ad hoc orders. For larger or recurring orders, bank transfers (ACH, SEPA) and direct debits are frequently used due to lower fees.
Increasingly, APMs like digital wallets are also gaining traction as businesses modernise their payment processes. Cardflo supports a wide range of these payment options.
Are there particular peak seasons that affect payment processing for this MCC?
Yes, florists' supplies and nursery stock businesses experience significant seasonal peaks, particularly around holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and during spring planting season. Payment processors must be able to scale efficiently to handle these surges in transaction volume without service interruption.
Cardflo's infrastructure is built for high transaction throughput and elastic scaling to accommodate such demands.
How can we effectively manage claims of damaged or substandard fresh flowers or nursery stock upon delivery?
To manage claims of damaged or substandard fresh flowers or nursery stock, implement a strict quality control process before dispatch, capturing timestamped photographic evidence of the condition of goods. Ensure robust, protective packaging is used, suitable for the perishable nature of the items.
Partner with reliable couriers who offer temperature-controlled shipping and proof of delivery. For any claims, request photographic evidence from the buyer upon receipt, and cross-reference with your dispatch records.
Clearly outline your returns and claims policy, including reporting timeframes, in your terms and conditions to facilitate swift resolution and evidence collection.
What are the best practices for handling seasonal spikes in orders and payments, for example around peak holidays?
To handle seasonal spikes, ensure your payment processing infrastructure, including your gateway and acquirer partners, is robust and scalable to manage increased transaction volumes without downtime. Negotiate capacity limits and processing rates in advance.
Implement multi-acquirer routing to prevent single points of failure and to allow for dynamic load balancing across different acquirers. Pre-emptively communicate with your payment providers about anticipated surges to ensure they are prepared.
Additionally, consider offering flexible payment options like pre-orders with deferred payment capture or instalment plans to spread the processing load and enhance customer convenience during peak periods.
Other MCCs in Retail Outlets
Related industries.
Related features.
Related guides.
Ready to improve your payments setup?
Tell us about your business. We'll match you with the right acquiring partners and the right route, typically inside a week.