The verdict in three sentences
For an Ivorian SME selling to businesses, a regional payment gateway costs 2.5 to 3.5 % per card transaction in 2026, i.e. 2.5 to 3.5 million FCFA on 100 million FCFA collected: one point of fee is worth 1 million FCFA a year (about 1,525 EUR). The settlement delay, from 1 to 7 days, matters almost as much as the rate for an SME whose cash funds its stock. The right strategy is to negotiate the rate on real volume, keep cards and mobile money for small and mid-sized orders, and use bank transfer for large invoices.
Regional aggregators compared
In Abidjan, SMEs rarely get a direct card-not-present contract from their bank, which takes longer. They use aggregators that bundle bank cards, mobile money (Orange Money, MTN MoMo, Moov Money, Wave) and sometimes transfers. The figures below are 2026 ranges seen in public price lists and negotiated contracts; each provider adjusts to volume and sector.
| Criterion | CinetPay | PayDunya | Hub2 | Bank virtual POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card fee | 3 to 3.5 % | 2.5 to 3.5 % | 2.5 to 3 %, negotiated | 2 to 3 % plus fixed fees |
| Mobile money fee | 2 to 3 % | 2 to 3 % | 1.5 to 2.5 % | Usually not offered |
| Setup fee | Usually none | Usually none | Per contract | 50,000 to 200,000 FCFA |
| Settlement delay | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 7 days | 1 day | 2 to 5 days |
| Best fit | SMEs, fast integration | SMEs and online stores | Large volumes, API | High card volume |
| Onboarding time | 1 to 3 weeks | 1 to 3 weeks | 2 to 6 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks |
Before signing, ask for the written price list: local card rate, international card rate, mobile money per operator, refund fees and settlement transfer fees.
The real cost on 100 million FCFA collected
The headline rate is not the whole story. Add refunds, where the fee is often not returned, and the cost of cash held during settlement.
| Item on 100 million FCFA a year | 2.5 % and 1 day | 3 % and 3 days | 3.5 % and 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | 2,500,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,500,000 |
| Refunds (1 % of sales, fee lost) | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| Settlement transfer fees | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
| Cash cost of the delay (at 8 % a year) | 22,000 | 66,000 | 153,000 |
| Annual total | 2,607,000 | 3,156,000 | 3,748,000 |
| Effective cost | 2.61 % | 3.16 % | 3.75 % |
The gap between best and worst scenario reaches 1.14 million FCFA a year (about 1,740 EUR), enough to fund much of the technical integration.
KYC file and integration: what to plan
| Item | Detail | Indicative time or cost |
|---|---|---|
| RCCM and DFE | Trade register and tax registration certificate | Usually on hand |
| Articles and manager's ID | Certified copy sometimes required | 1 to 3 days |
| Business bank details | Account in the company's name | Immediate |
| Compliant site | Terms of sale, legal notice, refund policy | 2 to 5 days if missing |
| API or hosted page integration | Payment, notifications, order status | Part of the portal project |
| Sandbox testing | Card, mobile money, refund | 1 to 2 weeks |
If the ordering portal still needs building, Kolonell's simple application tier is 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR), with gateway integration within the scoped work, then 35,000 or 75,000 FCFA a month (53 or 114 EUR) of maintenance.
Mini case study
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Aïcha, CFO of an IT supplies SME in Plateau, Abidjan. The company turns over 300 million FCFA and aims to collect 100 million FCFA online: 40 million by card, 30 million by mobile money and 30 million by transfer for large orders. Today customers pay at 45 days on average and 2 % of receivables end in disputes.
With an aggregator negotiated at 2.8 % on cards and 2.2 % on mobile money, fees come to 1,120,000 + 660,000 = 1,780,000 FCFA a year, transfers being almost free. On the other side: 70 million FCFA collected at day 2 instead of day 45 frees about 8.2 million FCFA of cash, 660,000 FCFA of overdraft interest avoided at 8 %. Disputes avoided on those 70 million are worth 1,400,000 FCFA, and dropped reminders about 300,000 FCFA of accounting time. Total gain: 2,360,000 FCFA, 580,000 FCFA net a year, before counting customers who order more when they can pay instantly.
FAQ
Do we need several gateways?
One is enough to start; a second becomes useful above 200 million FCFA a year, for negotiating power and continuity. Integrating a second provider costs roughly 20 to 30 % of the first.
Are fees negotiable?
Yes, from 5 to 10 million FCFA collected a month, a 0.3 to 0.5 point reduction is common. On 100 million FCFA, 0.5 point is 500,000 FCFA a year.
How are refunds handled?
Refunds are triggered from the aggregator dashboard or the portal, within 3 to 10 days for cards and often 24 to 72 hours for mobile money. The original fee is usually not returned.
Are foreign cards accepted?
Yes with most aggregators, at a rate 0.5 to 1 point higher and with 3-D Secure. This matters for subsidiaries of international groups paying with cards issued outside WAEMU.
How long until we are live?
Allow 1 to 3 weeks to open the merchant account and 2 to 4 weeks of integration and testing. An existing portal can therefore accept online payments within 4 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. We compare aggregator price lists on your real volumes, integrate the chosen gateway into your portal and set card, mobile money and transfer rules within 4 to 6 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
