As part of policies aimed to protect the security of our users, Sphere is required to collect additional information from customer businesses associated with certain categories of activities.
Selecting an accurate company category during onboarding is crucial for a smooth and efficient process. While our team will verify the category you select, we ask you to self-select to initiate the process.
If your business is not associated with any of these categories, please select "None of the Above."
Business Type | Description |
Auction or Auction Services Business | Business that facilitates auctions for the sale of property or services, either privately or to the general public |
Bail Bond Service Provider | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to post bail on behalf of individuals facing criminal charges to avoid meanwhile incarceration, in the form of a loan, bond, or any other financial instrument requiring repayment for the bail posted |
Business Operating Under a Government Grant | For-profit business that funds at least part of its operations using a grant received from a government entity or arm |
Commodities Trading or Derivative Business | Business dealing in or engaged as an intermediary in financial vehicles like futures, forwards, options, swaps, or other types of derivatives |
Credit Card Scheme Purveyor | Person operating any central or closed payments network that processes payments using credit cards or debit cards by accepting applications for membership from banks and other financial institutions to issue those cards directly to consumers |
Credit Restoration or Debt Relief Service Provider | Person offering to help consumers restore their credit or seek debt relief by (1) disputing accuracies or verifications of negative marks on credit reports on the consumer’s behalf and helping to monitor credit; or (2) negotiating with creditors on the consumer’s behalf for partial or total forgiveness of debts, often having the consumer enter a payment program for amounts not forgiven |
Crowdfunding Platform Provider | Business offering a platform that allows users (each, a crowdfunding host) to raise funds for personal expenses or business ventures, where those funds (1) are raised either a donation basis or in exchange for a promise for an equity stake in a business venture or other certain rewards; and (2) typically come to the crowdfunding host in small amounts from each of a large number of contributors to avoid application of securities regulations |
Cryptocurrency Business | Person that issues, administers, sells as agent or principal, or facilitates the exchange of decentralized cryptocurrencies or other, similar digital assets |
Currency Exchange Business | Person engaged in the business of exchanging sovereign currency, either physically or online, except as provided by or as a registered MSB or other financial institution through an OTC foreign exchange (“FX”) market |
Dealer in High-Value Tangibles | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business (with or without a physical location) to buy, sell, or trade high-value tangible goods like jewelry, diamonds, precious gems, fine art, or antiques, or precious metals or specie like gold or silver |
Debt Collection Agency | Company operating as a |
Digital Gaming or Wagering Platform Provider | Person offering any service or digital platform to facilitate gaming or wagering among participants or users, including for fantasy sports, tokenized athlete contracts, prediction markets, sweepstakes, lotteries, and other online games over which skill predominates chance (requires completing Reg GG Acknowledgement) |
Direct Marketing Catalog Merchant | Business that markets or sells retail products or services directly to consumers using primarily printed or digital catalogues |
Direct Marketing Subscription Merchant | Business that markets or sells retail products or services (including brands or digital or print content) directly to consumers and primarily on the basis of a subscription or recurring payments |
Door-to-Door Sales Organization | Business that markets or sells brands, products, or services, or collects commercial information by canvassing homes or public areas |
Flea Market, Bazaar, or Open-Air Market | Person operating any kind of organized street or off-street market providing space for vendors to sell consumers secondhand or aftermarket products, untaxed food or other goods, or pseudo products |
Gig Economy Platform Provider | Business that offers a marketplace to connect people to gig workers to perform certain services, either on a contract or freelance basis |
Government Services Provider | Business that contracts with a government arm to perform services or carry out government functions |
Government-Owned Lottery Operator | Company or government entity commissioned and controlled by a government arm to hold a lottery |
Home-Based Charity | Nonprofit organization under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code established to raise money for and help people in need or some societal cause, but that is operated primarily out of the homes of its principals |
Income Pooling Platform Operator | Business that facilitates a platform or multilateral contract that provides the means for users to pool income together to be used by certain participants when certain conditions are met, like a kind of insurance |
International Platform Provider | Business that facilitates international money transfer as part of its services offered to customers or end users by any means, whether as a platform application developer partnering with remittance companies or money transmitters in foreign jurisdictions or as an MSB or other |
Lending or Insurance Product Provider | Business that extends credit, lending, insurance, loan guaranties, or home warranties or that facilitates the extension of any of these products, either from other companies or peer to peer |
Life Insurance or Annuities Product Provider | Business or agent or broker of a business that offers, sells, or facilitates the offer or sale of life insurance, annuities, premium insurance bonds, or other insurance products that have a cash value, either as or in partnership with an insurance company or securities business |
Loan Servicing Company | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business that (1) is in the position of collecting interest, principal, or escrow payments from a borrower on any type of loan (i.e., student loan, mortgage loan, consumer loan, business loan, bond); (2) services the loan on its own behalf or on behalf of the record debt owner (i.e., a lender, bank, securities firm, security holder, government entity, bondsman); and (3) is not itself the lender of record |
Modeling or Talent Booking Agency | Business that represents content creators, models, athletes, or entertainers in their industries by helping them network or find work |
Money Services Business | Business defined as a Money Services Business under 31 C.F.R. § 1010.100(ff), including, as defined therein, (1) a Dealer in Foreign Exchange; (2) a Check Casher; (3) an Issuer or Seller of Traveler’s Checks or Money Orders; (4) a Provider of Prepaid Access; (5) a Money Transmitter;(6) the U.S. Postal Service; or (7) a Seller of Prepaid Access (and excludes any otherwise regulated financial institution) |
Nonprofit or Charity Fundraising Platform Provider | Platform offering a web or mobile platform to facilitate contributions to nonprofit or charitable organizations. |
Offshore Business | Business association formed in a jurisdiction where its beneficial owners are neither residents nor citizens that (1) is broadly not subject to any levy or indirect tax in that jurisdiction and separate U.S. laws or regulations apply; (2) does not have a physical office or registered agent in that jurisdiction; or (3) benefits from elements of anonymity with respect to filing obligations or require disclosure of limited to no owner or investor information |
Pawn Shop | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business (with or without a physical location), to issue over-collateralized loans by taking possession of a debtor’s items, precious metals, or other personal property, and will typically sell that collateral if the debtor fails to repay the loan |
Payday Lender or Short-Term Loan Provider | Non-depository financial institution or other company offering any loan product or extension of credit covered under the CFPB’s Payday Lending Rule, 12 C.F.R. part 1041, including short-term loans, loans in anticipation of a consumer paycheck or government-issued check, loans backed by a security interest in a vehicle title, and certain other high-cost borrowing products |
Political Fundraising Platform Provider | Business offering a web or mobile platform to facilitate contributions to political campaigns, candidates, or causes |
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) | One who has been entrusted with a prominent public function. |
Pooled Group Savings or Payments Platform | Platform application developer that provides individual users the ability to pool their funds together to save or spend for a mutual purpose, and which raises significant concerns regarding permissions for use of pooled funds |
Prediction Market Platform Provider | Business offering a platform that facilitates a user’s placement of money (much like a wager) in which (1) the placement of money carries an expectancy of an increased return based on an anticipated outcome or loss based on the reverse outcome; (2) the cost of each placement of money is determined exclusively by user-anticipated outcomes; and (3) the placement of money may or may not be regulated as a future or some other financial instrument or may or may not be considered a game of skill (excludes gaming and wagering on games of chance) |
Purveyor of “As Seen on TV” Products | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to market, sell, or distribute products (except as provided at physical retail stores) currently or previously advertised on television in “infomercials” for direct response mail order or phone order |
Purveyor of Nutraceuticals, Vitamins, or Supplements | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to market, sell, or distribute largely or primarily dietary supplements, food additives, or vitamins exempted from regulation by the FDA under 21 C.F.R. part 170 |
Purveyor of Pharmaceuticals | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to market, sell, or distribute prescription medications or OTC pharmaceuticals regulated under the DOJ’s Schedules of Controlled Substances, 21 C.F.R. part 1308 |
Raffle or Sweepstakes Organizer | Person organizing or facilitating a (1) sweepstakes (which is a legal contest or game where something of value is distributed by lot or chance, regardless of the conditions for entering the contest or game) or (2) raffle (which, similar to a lottery, is a legal contest or game where something of value is distributed by lot or chance that requires some kind of entrant fee, regardless of whether that fee is collected as part of a fundraiser for charity or benefit or for any other reason) |
Real Estate Platform Provider | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to buy or sell real property or to facilitate real estate transactions or investments for any purpose and by any means, including as an escrow agent, title agent, decentralized (“smart”) contract operator, or other |
Resort Land Promoter | Promoter or sponsor of investments or development opportunities in any domestic- or foreign-based resort market |
Securities Business | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business that engages in activities dealing with securities products or services regulated or unregulated by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), including but not limited to investment companies, investment advisors, business development companies, mutual funds, transfer agents, securities lenders, custodians, and securities broker-dealers |
Student Loan Assistance Company | Company offering or selling any services that it claims will help borrowers manage, repay, or seek forgiveness on any part of their student loans |
Surveillance Equipment Purveyor | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to market, sell, or distribute electronic devices, hardware, or software that is capable of recording, intercepting, sharing, or monitoring any activity, whether by audio or visual means, or location tracking, thermal imaging, or biometric or other informational imprinting |
Tattoo Parlor | Business or agent of a business offering tattooing as a service (excluding Henna or temporary tattoos) |
Telecommunications or Cable Services Provider | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to market, sell, or distribute telecommunications services, equipment, software, or otherwise provide connections to telephone, internet, or cable access |
Telemarketer | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to directly market or solicit the sale of goods, services, or extensions of credit to consumers by phone or text |
Third-Party Reservation or Delivery Service Provider | Person operating any web or mobile platform that allows users to (1) search, book, or buy reservations or tickets for travel, hotels, events, or other accommodations; (2) order food, alcohol, or other products for delivery; or (3) facilitate another business’s ability to make those products or services available to customers or the platform’s users |
Tobacco Product Merchant | Person operating a physical location, like a store or stand, that sells cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, or other tobacco or nicotine products (excludes an Online Tobacco Purveyor, which is prohibited) |
Travel Agency or Tour Operator | Person operating a business or as an agent of a business to arrange travel plans as a service for its customers, including by booking travel, events, dining, or similar accommodations, or through vacation packages |
Tribal Business | Business association in the name of a federally recognized indigenous American tribe formed pursuant to the rights and privileges afforded to that tribe under the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. § 5112 |
Trust Company or Trust and Company Service Provider (“TCSP”) | Company that is either (1) formed as a trust company, which is a legal entity formed to act as a fiduciary, agent, or trustee on behalf of an individual or business to administer or manage assets on their behalf; or (2) in the business of forming entities or trusts for clients or providing other corporate services, either as a lawyer, accountant, or other professional |
Vehicle Seller | Person that either (1) is itself engaged the business of buying, selling, or exchanging new or used automobiles boats, trucks, motorcycles, or other motorized vehicles; or (2) assists ano person to buy, sell, or exchange motorized vehicles for compensation |
Venture Capital Firm or Intermediary | Company that (1) facilitates private equity financing to early-stage businesses; (2) is a vehicle itself used as a form of private equity financing; or (3) facilitates payments from investors to private equity financing vehicles |
Video Game or Arcade Establishment or Vendor | Retail business that rents to consumers videos, video games, or other media stored in physical form, either via a physical store, vending machine, or by mail or parcel service (excludes video or video game downloads and streaming services) |
Video Rental Store | Retail business that rents to consumers videos, video games, or other media stored in physical form, either via a physical store, vending machine, or by mail or parcel service (excludes video or video game downloads and streaming services) |
Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs) | Entities that carry out exchanges between different forms of virtual assets or between virtual assets and fiat currencies. A VASP may also transfer virtual assets, administer them, or oversee their sale by an issuer's office. |