The verdict in three sentences
A PSP pays you an aggregated net amount, fees already deducted, without telling you which sale funded which line — and that is where accounting derails. The fix rests on one principle: every settlement must carry a unique ID linked to the transactions it groups, via a transactional export or a webhook. Without it, 5 to 8 % of your sales stay unmatched and your real margin becomes a mystery.
Per-channel fees widen the gross/net gap
2026 order of magnitude for a merchant in Dar es Salaam collecting across several channels.
| Channel | Fees held | Settlement delay | On 100,000 FCFA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile money (MoMo) | ~1.5 % | T+1 | 98,500 FCFA net |
| Airtel Money | ~1 % | T+1 | 99,000 FCFA net |
| Bank card | ~3 % | T+2 to T+3 | 97,000 FCFA net |
| Transfer / wallet | 0.5 to 1 % | T+1 | 99,000 to 99,500 FCFA |
Mix these channels in a single day and the net payout never matches the displayed gross: hence a 2 to 4 % gross/net gap that must be explained line by line.
Three reconciliation methods
| Method | Unmatched transactions | Time/month | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting webhook (auto) | < 1 % | < 45 min | High |
| Detailed transactional export | 1 to 3 % | 2 to 4 h | Good |
| Manual statement matching | 5 to 8 % | 6 to 10 h | Low |
The accounting webhook pushes each settlement, with its ID and the detail of the included transactions, straight into your tool. That is what takes reconciliation from several hours to under one.
Mini case study
Stéphanie runs a cosmetics shop in Dar es Salaam, 400 transactions/month split 60 % MoMo, 25 % card, 15 % Airtel, for 4,000,000 FCFA gross.
- Weighted average fees: (0.6×1.5 %) + (0.25×3 %) + (0.15×1 %) = ~1.8 %, i.e. ~72,000 FCFA held.
- Manually, 6 % unmatched = 24 transactions whose allocation she ignores.
- Manual reconciliation time: ~8 h/month.
By wiring an accounting webhook with unique settlement IDs, she drops below 1 % unmatched and to ~40 min/month. She finally sees her real net margin and instantly spots a channel that costs too much.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Why does the received payout never match total sales?
Because fees are deducted before payout and differ by channel (1 % to 3 %). Without transactional detail, the 2 to 4 % gap cannot be broken down cleanly.
What is a settlement ID?
A unique code attached to each grouped payout that lists the transactions it bundles. It lets you automatically match the net amount received against the corresponding gross sales.
Does the webhook replace CSV export?
It complements it. The webhook feeds in real time; the export serves as backup and monthly audit. Together they push the unmatched rate below 1 %.
How much time does it really save?
Moving from manual (6 to 10 h/month) to webhook (< 45 min) frees 5 to 9 h/month while making the net margin in your books reliable.
Do I need a developer for all this?
To wire a webhook and map the IDs, yes, once. After that reconciliation runs itself. It is a few days of work that pays back within a few months of saved time.
Let's talk about your project. We connect your payment channels to automatic reconciliation by settlement ID, for a net margin that is finally readable. 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.
