The verdict in three sentences
The real cost of a mobile money collection depends on three things: the operator's merchant rate, local taxes (VAT, telecom levy) and the limit that sometimes forces you to split payments. In Senegal, Wave charges 1 % while Orange Money merchant ranges 1.5 to 3.5 %; in Mali and Burkina, grids often reach 2-4 %. On a 20 % net margin, moving from 1 % to 4 % fees sacrifices 15 % of your profit on every sale.
2026 merchant grid by country
| Country | Operator | Merchant fee | Daily limit (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal | Wave | 1 % | 2,000,000 FCFA |
| Senegal | Orange Money | 1.5-3.5 % | 2,000,000 FCFA |
| Senegal | Free Money | 1-2 % | 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Mali | Orange Money | 2-4 % | 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Mali | Moov Money | 2-3.5 % | 1,000,000 FCFA |
| Burkina Faso | Orange Money | 2-4 % | 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Burkina Faso | Moov Money | 2-3.5 % | 1,000,000 FCFA |
On top of these fees, depending on the country, a VAT on the commission and sometimes a telecom levy shave off a few more tenths of a point. Always negotiate your merchant status.
Anglophone zone: a different pricing logic
| Country | Operator | Fee | Specificity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | M-Pesa (Paybill/Till) | tiered | pricing by amount band |
| Ghana | MTN MoMo | ~1 % | per-transaction cap |
| Nigeria | Paystack | ~1.5 % | commission cap |
| Nigeria | Flutterwave | 1.4-1.5 % | multi-channel cards + transfer |
In Kenya, M-Pesa charges by amount band (Paybill and Till), making unit cost regressive on large baskets; in Nigeria, Paystack and Flutterwave cap the commission, an advantage on big transactions.
Impact on a 20 % margin
| Operator fee | Sale 10,000 FCFA | Fee | Net margin left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 % (Wave) | 10,000 FCFA | 100 FCFA | 1,900 FCFA |
| 2 % | 10,000 FCFA | 200 FCFA | 1,800 FCFA |
| 3.5 % | 10,000 FCFA | 350 FCFA | 1,650 FCFA |
| 4 % | 10,000 FCFA | 400 FCFA | 1,600 FCFA |
On a 2,000 FCFA gross margin (20 %), the 4 % operator leaves you 1,600 FCFA versus 1,900 FCFA at 1 %: 15.8 % less profit per sale, purely from fees.
Mini case study
Ibrahim runs a restaurant in Bamako and collects 900 orders a month at 6,500 FCFA on average, that is 5,850,000 FCFA. With Orange Money Mali at 3 %, he pays 175,500 FCFA in monthly fees. By routing half his customers to a 1.5 % operator, he brings the bill to about 131,600 FCFA, saving 43,900 FCFA a month — nearly 527,000 FCFA a year, enough to cover a month's rent.
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FAQ
Is Wave always the cheapest?
At 1 % merchant in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, Wave is often the most competitive option, but it is not deployed everywhere; in Mali or Burkina, Orange Money remains unavoidable.
Who pays the fees, customer or merchant?
It depends on your setup: in merchant mode the commission is usually charged to the merchant, avoiding surprising the customer at payment.
Why 4 % in Mali versus 1 % in Senegal?
Competition: Wave's pressure pushed prices down in Senegal, while some markets remain dominated by an incumbent operator with higher grids.
How do I cut the overall bill?
Route each payment to the cheapest available operator, negotiate a volume merchant rate, and group small baskets to stay under limits.
Is VAT on fees recoverable?
Depending on your tax regime, VAT on commission may be deductible; check with your accountant as it changes the real net cost.
Let's talk about your project. We integrate the cheapest operator per country and automate routing. 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.
