The verdict in three sentences
In Nairobi in 2026, an M-Pesa Till Number (Buy Goods) costs nothing to open and lets you collect instantly at roughly 0.55%. Activation takes 24 to 72 hours after a light KYC (ID plus business registration). For a physical shop the till number at the counter is enough; to sell online, the Daraja API wired into your website handles the rest.
Opening an M-Pesa merchant setup: KYC and timelines
Safaricom separates the personal wallet (send money between individuals) from the Buy Goods Till (professional collection with lower fees and reporting tools). The till gives you a short number customers punch in, with merchant fees below a regular transfer.
| Item | 2026 detail (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|
| Buy Goods fee | ~0.55% of amount collected |
| Monthly subscription | 0 KES |
| Opening fee | 0 KES |
| KYC required | ID + business registration |
| Activation time | 24 to 72 h |
| Settlement to linked account | same day |
| Per-transaction limit | based on KYC tier |
Settlement moves to your linked M-Pesa or bank account, typically same day; you then withdraw at an agent as needed.
Nairobi (M-Pesa) versus Dakar (Wave): what to keep
For a merchant comparing Africa's two flagship ecosystems, here are the headlines.
| Criterion | M-Pesa (Nairobi) | Wave (Dakar) |
|---|---|---|
| Store tool | Till Number Buy Goods | Free static QR |
| Merchant fee | ~0.55% (Buy Goods) | ~1% |
| Opening cost | 0 KES | 0 FCFA |
| Activation time | 24-72 h | 24-48 h |
| Settlement | to linked account | instant on balance |
| Web API | Daraja API | Wave Business API |
Both models avoid a fixed subscription and favor a small percentage per transaction, ideal for frequent small baskets.
Mini case study
Grace runs a cosmetics store in Nairobi (Westlands). She collects 900,000 KES/month across 30 average sales of 30,000 KES via her Buy Goods till.
- M-Pesa fee at 0.55%: 900,000 x 0.55% = 4,950 KES/month.
- Cost per 30,000 KES sale: 165 KES.
- Subscription: 0 KES.
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A classic bank POS at 1.8% plus monthly rental would cost her over 16,200 KES in commissions plus rental. The till number saves her more than 11,000 KES/month with no hardware to rent.
FAQ
How much does M-Pesa cost a merchant?
Roughly 0.55% per transaction via a Buy Goods till, with no subscription or opening fee. On 1,000,000 KES collected, that is about 5,500 KES in fees.
What KYC do I need to open a till?
An ID and a business registration document. Activation usually takes 24 to 72 hours.
Is settlement instant?
Settlement to your linked account is typically same day; you then withdraw at an agent according to your cash-flow needs.
Can M-Pesa be wired into an e-commerce site?
Yes, via the Daraja API and confirmation callbacks. Kolonell integrates mobile money on the stores it builds, with end-to-end testing of the payment flow.
How much does the Kolonell referral program pay?
You earn 15% on a showcase site sale, 12% on an e-commerce store, 10% on a marketplace and 8% on an institutional project, plus 5% recurring on maintenance. A single qualified lead can be worth several hundred thousand FCFA.
Let's talk about your project. We integrate M-Pesa, Wave and Orange Money on your store, tested and ready to collect. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
