The verdict in three sentences
A confirmed mobile money payment is not an available one: between T+1 or T+2 settlement and the anti-fraud reserve, part of your revenue stays locked for several days. Ignoring this gap pushes you into an overdraft at 12%/year while the money actually exists. The fix: model your real inflows day by day and keep a cash cushion sized to your delays.
Settlement delays by operator
Each operator pays out to your bank account or merchant wallet on its own rhythm. Weekends are non-working, which stretches Friday-to-Monday delays.
| Operator | Settlement delay | Anti-fraud reserve | Minimum payout | Weekend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | T+1 | 5% / 7 days | 10,000 FCFA | non-working |
| Orange Money | T+2 | 8% / 7 days | 10,000 FCFA | non-working |
| Free Money | T+2 | 5-10% / 7 days | 10,000 FCFA | non-working |
| Card / Stripe | T+2 to T+7 | 10% / 7 days | variable | non-working |
These are 2026 order-of-magnitude estimates: always check your merchant contract, since reserve rates vary with your history and sector.
What it does to your cash
Take a 100,000 FCFA sale on a Friday via Orange Money: T+2 settlement lands over the weekend, so the money only arrives Tuesday, and 8% (8,000 FCFA) stays in reserve for 7 days. You sold 100,000 FCFA but you truly have 92,000 FCFA available only the following Tuesday.
| Sale | Confirmed | Available (excl. reserve) | Reserve released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Monday | Monday | Tuesday (95%) | +7 days |
| Wave Friday | Friday | Monday (95%) | +7 days |
| OM Monday | Monday | Wednesday (92%) | +7 days |
| OM Friday | Friday | Tuesday (92%) | +7 days |
The working-capital need created by this gap must be funded: either by a cash cushion or by an overdraft at about 12%/year. The cushion costs 0%, the overdraft is expensive: plan ahead.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Fatou runs an online grocery, 3,000,000 FCFA in monthly sales, 60% via Orange Money (T+2, 8% reserve) and 40% via Wave (T+1, 5% reserve). On average, about 2.5 days of sales are "in transit" plus the reserve. That is roughly 250,000 FCFA of cash unavailable at any moment. Rather than drawing on a 12%/year overdraft (about 2,500 FCFA/month of interest on that amount), she builds a 300,000 FCFA cushion once and never pays fees again. She plans restocking on Tuesdays and Thursdays, never Fridays.
FAQ
Why doesn't my money arrive right away? Because settlement (actual payout) happens at T+1 or T+2, and a 5-10% anti-fraud reserve is held for 7 days. The payment is confirmed but not yet available.
What is the anti-fraud reserve? A share of your collections (5-10%) temporarily frozen to cover potential disputes or refunds. It is released after 7 days if all is in order.
Does the weekend change anything? Yes: non-working days don't count toward settlement. A Friday sale may only be paid out the following Tuesday.
How do I avoid the overdraft? Build a cash cushion covering roughly 2-3 days of sales plus the reserve. It costs 0% versus about 12%/year for an overdraft.
Can I track all this automatically? Yes: a cash-flow dashboard links your sales, settlements and reserves to show your truly available balance day by day. It becomes essential past 2,000,000 FCFA in monthly volume.
Let's talk about your project. We build your mobile money cash-flow dashboard to steer real inflows. 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.