Fast Food Restaurants
Quick-service and fast-food restaurants.
What MCC 5814 covers
Merchant Category Code 5814 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for fast food restaurants. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Quick-service and fast-food restaurants. 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 5814 is designated for merchants operating fast food restaurants, quick-service eateries, and casual dining establishments where food is prepared rapidly for immediate consumption. Transaction frequency is very high, often with small to medium ticket sizes.
Customer interactions are typically brief, prioritising speed and efficiency.
Chargebacks are generally low but can arise from 'duplicate transactions' (e. g.
, ordering twice accidentally), 'food quality issues', or 'incorrect order received'. While not a primary scheme focus for high chargeback programmes like Visa VAMP or Mastercard ECP due to typical low-risk profiles, frequent operational issues can lead to increased disputes.
Payment processing must be fast and reliable.
Cardflo's local acquiring network and high availability ensures rapid transaction processing and robust uptime for these high-volume, low-value environments, which is critical for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Acquirer & underwriting stance
Low-risk standard board. These merchants typically present a very stable risk profile and do not usually require reserves.
Consistent monitoring for sudden spikes in chargebacks is standard, but historical data rarely shows this as a significant issue.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5814
- Underwriting with acquirers that actively board MCC 5814 businesses in your region.
- MCC review during onboarding to confirm the right code for your products.
- Reclassification support if scheme rules or product mix change post-launch.
- Multi-acquirer routing to keep approvals stable for broad merchant categories.
- Dispute support tuned to the mixed-product chargeback profile this MCC sees.
Payment methods typically enabled
Common questions
How do chargeback rates for fast food compare to full-service restaurants?
Fast food establishments (MCC 5814) typically experience lower chargeback rates than full-service restaurants (e. g.
, MCC 5812). This is due to the simpler order process, lower average ticket values, and immediate consumption of goods, leaving less scope for 'services not rendered' or complex disputes.
Disputes are often quickly resolved through customer service.
What role do NFC/contactless payments play in fast food environment processing?
NFC and contactless payments are crucial for fast food operations. They enable rapid transaction completion, reducing queue times and improving customer throughput.
For transactions below £100 (or equivalent local limit), no PIN or signature is required, contributing to speed. Cardflo supports a full suite of contactless and NFC payment options to cater to this need.
Are there any scheme programmes specific to high-volume, low-value transactions like those in MCC 5814?
While no specific scheme programmes target MCC 5814 for risk, Mastercard's "Small Ticket" interchange category (or similar from Visa) offers lower interchange fees for transactions below a certain value threshold (e. g.
, $15 in some regions). Merchants can benefit from these reduced costs, although qualification is automatic based on transaction value and not a specific programme.
Cardflo's systems ensure transactions are categorised optimally for interchange where applicable.
Other MCCs in Miscellaneous Stores
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