Merchant Qualification Standards

Card associations – Visa and Mastercard in particular – have baseline requirements that merchants must meet in order to become network members. Their Merchant Qualification Standards are the minimum requisites for accepting that card brand.

The requirements are rather straight-forward, but can be detailed. For example, retailers must provide basic information such as name and mailing address, but also list any DBAs the company will be operating under, and all physical locations of their businesses.

The biggest qualification factor is proof that the merchant is financially responsible. Merchant qualification standards can also be used by an acquirer to determine the financial standing and stability of an entity wishing to accept Visa or Mastercard payments.