The verdict in three sentences
For a Moroccan SME selling to businesses, card payments through CMI cost 1.5 to 2.5 % per transaction depending on volume, plus 15,000 to 40,000 MAD of integration and 3 to 6 weeks of activation (2026 ranges). Cards pay off on small and mid-sized orders, where they remove chasing and bad debt, while bank transfer stays cheaper above 10,000 to 20,000 MAD per order. The right setup offers both, with clear rules by order amount and customer type.
What a CMI contract costs in 2026
The Centre Monétique Interbancaire (CMI) is the natural gateway for accepting Moroccan and international cards online. The contract is signed through your bank, which forwards the file. Terms vary by bank, sector and projected volume.
| Item | 2026 range | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | 1,000 to 3,000 MAD | Sometimes waived depending on the bank relationship |
| Fee on Moroccan cards | 1.5 to 2 % | Negotiable above 1 million MAD a year |
| Fee on foreign cards | 2 to 2.5 % | Export customers or foreign subsidiaries |
| Monthly subscription | 0 to 300 MAD | Depends on plan and bank |
| Activation time | 3 to 6 weeks | Complete file, compliant site, tests passed |
| 3-D Secure | Mandatory | Sharply reduces chargebacks |
| Settlement | 1 to 3 business days | Into your partner bank account |
The file usually requires the trade register extract, ICE number, tax ID, articles of association, bank details, visible terms of sale and a refund policy. Sites missing these are often sent back, adding 2 weeks.
CMI, aggregators, transfer or LCN: the comparison
In B2B, cards are only one option. Many buyers still pay by transfer at 30 or 60 days, or by LCN, Morocco's standardised bill of exchange.
| Method | Cost to the SME | Time to cash | Bad-debt risk | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card via CMI | 1.5 to 2.5 % | 1 to 3 days | Very low with 3-D Secure | Orders up to 10,000 MAD |
| Local aggregator (Payzone, YouCan Pay and similar) | 2 to 3.5 % | 2 to 7 days | Low | Fast start, low volume |
| Transfer at order | 0 to 15 MAD per transfer | 1 to 2 days | None if paid before shipping | Large orders, new customers |
| Transfer at 30 or 60 days | Cost of financing the delay | 30 to 60+ days | Medium | Repeat customers with credit |
| LCN | Bank discounting fees | At maturity | Medium, legal protection | Large recurring orders |
| Cash on delivery | Carrier fee, 1 to 2 % | 7 to 15 days | Refused parcels | Avoid in B2B |
Aggregators start faster, sometimes within a week, but cost more once volume passes a few hundred thousand dirhams a month.
What the technical integration costs
| Component | Indicative cost (MAD excl. VAT) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| CMI hosted payment page | 8,000 to 15,000 | Redirect, lightest PCI DSS burden |
| Payment callback and order updates | 4,000 to 10,000 | Server notification, automatic status |
| Method selection by amount | 2,000 to 6,000 | Card below threshold, transfer above |
| Automatic invoices and receipts | 1,000 to 5,000 | ICE and VAT mentions |
| Acceptance testing with the bank | Included or 2,000 to 4,000 | Tests in the CMI environment |
| Total | 15,000 to 40,000 | Depends on the existing site |
If the portal itself still needs building, Kolonell's simple application tier is 3,810 to 6,100 EUR, with CMI integration within the scoped work. On data, law 09-08 requires a declaration to the CNDP for customer data processing.
Mini case study
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Karim, managing director of an office supplies SME in Casablanca. He sells 6 million MAD a year through his portal to 900 business customers. Everything is paid by transfer at 30 days; actual collection takes 55 days and 1.5 % of revenue ends in bad debt or disputes, 90,000 MAD a year.
He enables cards for orders under 10,000 MAD, which make up 40 % of revenue: 2.4 million MAD. At a 1.8 % fee: 43,200 MAD a year. Bad debt avoided on that share: 2.4M x 1.5 % = 36,000 MAD. Cash freed: 2.4M x 55 / 365 = about 362,000 MAD, saving 21,700 MAD of overdraft interest at 6 %. The accountant also saves 8 hours of chasing a month, about 9,600 MAD a year. Total gain: 67,300 MAD against 43,200 MAD of fees, 24,100 MAD net a year, before counting new customers who prefer paying by card. A 25,000 MAD integration pays back in 13 months.
FAQ
How long until the first card payment?
Allow 3 to 6 weeks from a complete file to go-live, including 1 to 2 weeks of testing. A site without terms of sale or a refund policy often adds 2 weeks.
Is the CMI fee negotiable?
Yes, once volume passes about 1 million MAD a year or the SME concentrates its flows at the bank. A 0.3 point difference on 3 million MAD is 9,000 MAD a year.
Do we need PCI DSS compliance?
With a CMI-hosted payment page, card numbers never touch your server and the self-assessment questionnaire is the lightest. Storing cards yourself would multiply obligations and costs.
Can cards be offered only to some customers?
Yes, the portal can reserve cards for new customers and orders under a threshold, while approved accounts keep 30-day terms. This rule takes a few hours of development.
What happens with refunds?
Refunds are issued from the CMI back office or automatically from the portal, reaching the customer in 3 to 10 days. The original fee is usually not returned; check your contract.
Let's scope your project. We prepare your CMI file, connect the payment page to your portal and set card or transfer rules within 4 to 8 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.
