> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.venturu.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Rate Limiting

> Request limits and best practices for the Venturu MCP server.

## Rate Limits

The Venturu MCP server applies rate limiting per tool call to ensure fair usage and platform stability. Limits differ based on whether you're authenticated.

| Tier              | Limit        | Window     | Identifier |
| ----------------- | ------------ | ---------- | ---------- |
| **Anonymous**     | 300 requests | 60 seconds | IP address |
| **Authenticated** | 500 requests | 60 seconds | User ID    |

<Info>
  Rate limits are applied using a **sliding window** algorithm. This means the window moves continuously rather than resetting at fixed intervals, providing smoother rate limiting behavior.
</Info>

## How It Works

Every MCP tool call counts as one request. When you exceed the limit, the tool will return a message:

```
Rate limit exceeded. Please try again later.
```

The rate limiter identifies anonymous users by their IP address. Authenticated users are identified by their Venturu user ID, giving them a higher limit regardless of IP.

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authenticate for Higher Limits" icon="lock-open">
    Authenticated users get 500 requests per minute vs. 300 for anonymous. Connect your Venturu account for the best experience.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Specific Queries" icon="bullseye">
    Narrow your searches with filters (location, price range, business type) to get better results in fewer requests.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Pagination" icon="arrow-right">
    Results return up to 15 items at a time with cursor-based pagination. Fetch more only when needed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cache Category & Language Lists" icon="database">
    The `list_business_categories` and `list_languages` tools return relatively static data. Avoid calling them repeatedly in the same session.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Need Higher Limits?

If you're building an integration that requires higher throughput, reach out to discuss enterprise options:

<Card title="Contact Us" icon="envelope" href="mailto:joel@venturu.com">
  **[joel@venturu.com](mailto:joel@venturu.com)** — We're happy to work with you on custom limits.
</Card>