MCA field guide
Restricted industries by MCA lender
How to research industry restrictions without treating a generic list as a permanent lender policy.
Restrictions are lender-specific and change
Commonly restricted categories can include gambling, adult businesses, firearms, cannabis, financial services, nonprofits, transportation segments, and businesses with regulatory or receivables complications. The exact policy varies by lender and product.
Classify the merchant precisely
A broad label can route a file incorrectly. Include the actual business model, NAICS or SIC when known, licensing, revenue source, and whether the merchant operates in a related but distinct category.
Confirm before submitting sensitive data
Use the lender profile’s dated restriction record as a starting point, then confirm the current policy. Lender List shows unknown restrictions as unknown rather than assuming every unlisted industry is eligible.
Methodology and corrections
This guide distinguishes calculations, common industry practice, and lender-specific policy. Criteria should be confirmed from the dated source on each lender profile. Report an error through the correction policy.