The verdict in three sentences
A London buyer who must send a SWIFT transfer to a Moroccan handcrafted furniture supplier waits days for production to start, and some buyers simply go elsewhere. On the supplier side, CMI (1.5 to 2.5 % per transaction) is the cheapest way to accept foreign cards in dirhams, while international gateways (2.9 to 3.5 % plus 1 to 3 % FX fees) feel more familiar to UK buyers but require compliance with Morocco's Office des changes rules. Site integration costs MAD 40,000 to 120,000 (about GBP 3,100 to 9,400), and Kolonell delivers custom builds for FCFA 2.5 to 15M+ (EUR 3,810 to 22,870+) depending on complexity, everything else quoted.
Options for paying a deposit to a Moroccan supplier
On orders of GBP 1,600 to 20,000 (MAD 20,000 to 250,000), a 30 to 50 % deposit is GBP 500 to 10,000. At those amounts, every point of fees matters.
| Option | Transaction fee | Payout delay | Currency received | Watch points (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMI (Visa, Mastercard) | 1.5 to 2.5 % | 2 to 5 days | MAD | Contract through the supplier's Moroccan bank, limits to negotiate |
| International gateway via aggregator | 2.9 to 3.5 % + 1 to 3 % FX | 3 to 7 days | GBP or EUR, then MAD | Check licensing and repatriation |
| Moroccan bank payment link | 1.8 to 3 % | 2 to 5 days | MAD | Simple, no site integration |
| Standard SWIFT transfer | GBP 15 to 35 per transfer + FX | 2 to 5 days | GBP, then MAD | Slow for the buyer, no online flow |
| Transfer to a foreign currency account | GBP 0 to 15 | 1 to 3 days | GBP or EUR | Requires a currency account and correspondent bank |
| PayPal Business | 3.4 to 4.4 % + FX | Variable | GBP or EUR | Withdrawals to Morocco limited and costly |
On a GBP 7,900 deposit (MAD 100,000), the gap between CMI at 2 % (GBP 158) and an international gateway at 3.2 % plus 2 % FX (GBP 410) reaches about GBP 250 per order.
Office des changes and currency repatriation
Export proceeds must be repatriated to Morocco within the deadlines set by the General Instruction on Foreign Exchange Operations, generally 150 days from shipment. Any online collection must therefore leave a clear trail linking each payment to an invoice and a bank domiciliation. London buyers benefit too: clean paperwork means fewer payment queries.
| Requirement | What to set up | Consequence if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Payment linked to invoice | Invoice number in payment metadata | Hard to justify to the bank |
| Repatriation on time | Regular payouts to the Moroccan account | Risk of penalties and blocking |
| Foreign currency account | Opened with the supplier's bank | Immediate conversion to MAD, FX loss |
| Export declaration and customs documents | Link to the export file | Manual reconciliation at year end |
| Refunds and disputes | Documented procedure | Unexplained gaps on statements |
Suppliers should always validate the setup with their bank and accountant before activating a foreign gateway: rules change and interpretation depends on the company's file.
Site integration: budget and timeline
| Item | Indicative cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| CMI integration on the existing site | MAD 15,000 to 35,000 (GBP 1,200 to 2,750) | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Adding an international gateway | MAD 10,000 to 30,000 (GBP 800 to 2,350) | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Online quote, deposit and balance flow | MAD 10,000 to 30,000 (GBP 800 to 2,350) | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Automatic invoices and proformas in GBP, EUR and MAD | MAD 5,000 to 15,000 (GBP 400 to 1,200) | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Accounting reconciliation and export for the accountant | MAD 5,000 to 10,000 (GBP 400 to 800) | 1 week |
| Full integration total | MAD 40,000 to 120,000 (GBP 3,100 to 9,400) | 5 to 10 weeks |
The flow that converts best for a London professional buyer: proforma in GBP, one-click online deposit, automatic production confirmation, then balance before shipment.
Mini case study
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Karim runs a handcrafted furniture SME between Fez and Casablanca and sells to hotels and interior designers in London. He handles 80 orders a year averaging MAD 120,000 (about GBP 9,400), with a 40 % deposit.
Today, SWIFT transfers cost about MAD 300 in fixed fees plus 1.5 % FX, and delay production by 6 days on average. He integrates CMI and a deposit flow for MAD 70,000. On MAD 3.84 million of annual deposits at 2 % commission, he pays about MAD 76,800, close to his current SWIFT costs (about MAD 81,600). The real gain is elsewhere: 6 days saved per order and 8 extra orders signed thanks to instant payment (estimate), or MAD 960,000 (about GBP 75,000) of additional revenue.
FAQ
Does CMI accept UK cards?
Yes, CMI processes Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad. The fee is negotiated between 1.5 and 2.5 % depending on volume, and payout is in dirhams to the supplier's Moroccan account.
Can a London buyer pay in pounds?
Yes, through a foreign currency account and some bank or aggregator solutions, which avoids a double conversion of 1 to 3 %. The setup must be validated by the supplier's bank under exchange rules.
Does the supplier need a foreign company to use an international gateway?
Not necessarily, some aggregators serve Moroccan companies. A European or UK entity remains an option for large volumes, but adds MAD 15,000 to 40,000 a year in overhead.
How do we limit chargebacks on large deposits?
Enable 3-D Secure, send a signed proforma and keep proof of production. In B2B, dispute rates usually stay below 0.5 %.
How long until it is live?
Count 3 to 6 weeks to obtain the CMI contract through the bank, in parallel with 5 to 10 weeks of site integration.
Let's scope your project. Share your export volume, average order and current site: we will price an online payment flow between MAD 40,000 and 120,000, or a custom build at FCFA 2.5 to 15M+ (EUR 3,810 to 22,870+) depending on complexity. 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.
