What is a merchant ID? The number that identifies your business in card payments
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
- 1Your card appears in your app
- 2Tap it to pay in a shop
- 3See every payment as it happens
A merchant ID, or MID, is a unique number your acquirer or payment provider gives your business when it opens a merchant account. It travels with each card payment so the card networks know which business was paid and where to send the money.
MID vs terminal ID
- The merchant ID identifies the business or merchant account.
- A terminal ID (TID) identifies one card machine or checkout.
- One MID can have many TIDs, such as a shop with five tills.
Why some businesses have several MIDs
A business may get separate MIDs for different brands, countries, currencies or for online and in-person sales. This keeps reporting and settlement tidy, and can matter for risk rules and pricing.
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Where you'll be asked for it
Your provider may ask for your MID when you contact support, report a problem or respond to a chargeback. It usually appears on your merchant statements and in your provider's dashboard. Treat it as business information and share it only with your provider and trusted partners.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay doesn't offer card machines, merchant accounts or acquiring. SendPay platforms let you get paid with payment links, invoices and subscriptions, alongside GBP, EUR and USD accounts and branded Visa cards, powered by licensed partners.
How it works
Your own money app- 1Name it and pick your colours
- 2Choose what it does
- 3Launch when you are ready
Why sign up
Create your free SendPay account
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- 🪪A free business accountOpen it in about a minute with your business name, email, password and mobile. No card and no documents to start.
- 💳Get paid from day oneTake card payments, and share your own payment link and invoices so customers pay in a click.
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- 🚀Your own financial platformDesign and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.
Questions people ask
What will my card fees be?
Work out the fee on any card payment from your own rate.
Card fee calculator →What is a merchant category code?
A four-digit code describing what kind of business you are.
Merchant category codes →Read next
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.