The verdict in three sentences
Consumer credit backed by a licensed SFD is the only way to offer true BNPL without carrying default risk on your cash. You pay a merchant commission of 2 to 5 %, the customer pays a rate of 8 to 18 % annualized, and the SFD handles scoring, collection and BCEAO compliance. Reserve it for baskets above 75,000 FCFA, where approval runs around 40 to 65 % depending on the buyer's mobile money history.
How costs are shared
In this setup, three players are involved: you, the SFD and the customer. Each has a cost and a benefit. Here is the typical split in 2026.
| Player | What they pay / receive | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant | Commission to SFD | 2-5 % of basket |
| Merchant | Immediate settlement | 100 % minus commission |
| Customer | Annualized interest rate | 8-18 % |
| Customer | File fees | 0-2,500 FCFA |
| SFD | Net margin after default | Variable, carries risk |
The decisive advantage: you are paid in full and immediately, minus the commission. The SFD takes on collecting instalments from the customer.
Scoring, eligibility and decision time
Modern SFD scoring relies on mobile money history rather than a payslip, which opens credit to the informal economy. Here are the operational parameters.
| Parameter | Typical 2026 value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum eligible basket | > 75,000 FCFA | Below, file not profitable |
| Scoring source | Wave / OM history | In/out flows 6-12 months |
| Decision time | Instant to 48 h | Instant if customer already scored |
| Approval rate | 40-65 % | By profile and mobile money seniority |
| Credit term | 3 to 12 months | Fixed instalments |
Approval rate is the real metric to watch: at 50 %, one in two visitors requesting credit gets it, the others switch to another payment method.
Mini case study
Awa sells smartphones in Dakar, average basket 150,000 FCFA. She signs with an SFD at 4 % commission. Of 100 customers wanting to pay in instalments, 55 are approved (55 %). For each credit sale she receives 150,000 - 6,000 = 144,000 FCFA immediately, with no default risk. The 45 rejected pay cash or abandon; even with 50 % abandonment among them, credit brings her 55 sales instead of the ~30 she made, i.e. +25 sales per hundred requests.
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FAQ
Who bears default risk in this setup?
The SFD, entirely. You are paid at the moment of sale, minus commission. That is the fundamental difference from an internal 3x where you carry the risk yourself.
What rate does the customer really pay?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, between 8 and 18 % annualized depending on SFD and term, plus possible file fees of 0 to 2,500 FCFA. It is framed by BCEAO usury-rate regulation.
Why a minimum basket of 75,000 FCFA?
Below that, file fees and the SFD's scoring cost make the operation unprofitable for them, so they refuse or price very high.
Does scoring work for customers without a payslip?
Yes, that is the whole point: scoring on mobile money history rates informal merchants and workers by their Wave and Orange Money flows over 6 to 12 months.
How long to integrate an SFD into my shop?
Count on 4 to 8 weeks between negotiation, contract and technical integration of the credit flow at checkout. The customer decision time itself is instant to 48 h.
Let's talk about your project. We identify the SFD best suited to your basket and integrate credit into your checkout. 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.
