The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, Wave Business makes bulk salary payout accessible to SMEs: up to 500 recipients per batch, 0% on the first 5 million FCFA/month then 0.5%, with processing of 2 to 4 minutes for 50 recipients. But the 500,000 FCFA per payment cap (Tier 2 wallet) and the employee Wave registration rate determine viability. For most SMEs of 10 to 200 employees, Wave easily beats classic bank transfer on cost and speed.
Wave Business limits, fees and delays (2026)
| Parameter | Wave Business 2026 |
|---|---|
| Max recipients / batch | 500 |
| Per-payment cap (Tier 2) | 500,000 FCFA |
| Free tier | 5,000,000 FCFA / month |
| Fee beyond | 0.5% |
| Speed (50 recipients) | 2-4 minutes |
| Reconciliation format | CSV with per-line status |
| Employee prerequisite | active Wave wallet |
The watch point: a net salary above 500,000 FCFA must be split into two payments or requires a higher-tier wallet. For most SMEs, the average salary stays below this threshold.
Wave vs Orange Money Business vs InTouch (2026)
| Criterion | Wave Business | OM Business bulk | InTouch Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max recipients / batch | 500 | variable | unlimited |
| Fees | 0% then 0.5% | 0% (Ecobank account) | 75 FCFA / employee / month |
| Delay | 2-4 min | ~48 h | depends on channel |
| Reconciliation | per-line CSV | bank statement | HR dashboard |
| Employee registration rate | high | medium | platform-managed |
| Ideal for | fast SMEs | high bank volume | structured HR |
Reading: OM Business becomes very competitive at 0% if you have an Ecobank account, but at the cost of a 48 h delay. InTouch charges a flat fee per employee and brings a real HR tool, attractive once you go beyond simple payroll.
Mini case study
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SETU SARL, a 150-employee company in Dakar, pays an average salary of 180,000 FCFA, i.e. a monthly payroll of 27,000,000 FCFA. On Wave Business, the first 5 million are free, and the remaining 22,000,000 FCFA are charged at 0.5%, i.e. 110,000 FCFA of fees per month. Compared to a classic bank transfer charged per line (often 500 to 1,000 FCFA per line, i.e. 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA for 150 lines) but with a 24-72 h delay, Wave stays competitive and above all near-instant (estimate, 2026 order of magnitude). By shifting half the payments to free OM Business via Ecobank, the company could target ~55,000 FCFA of monthly savings.
FAQ
What is the real per-employee cap on Wave Business? 500,000 FCFA per payment on a Tier 2 wallet. Beyond that, you must split the payment or have the beneficiary's wallet upgraded.
Is the 5,000,000 FCFA free tier per batch or per month? Per month, cumulative across all bulk transfers. Once exceeded, every additional FCFA is at 0.5%.
Must all my employees have Wave? Yes, the beneficiary needs an active Wave wallet. Registration rates are high in Senegal, but plan an alternative (OM, cash) for exceptions.
Is OM Business really 0%? Bulk OM can be free with a linked Ecobank account, but the delay rises to around 48 h, versus 2-4 minutes for Wave.
When to choose InTouch over Wave? When you want a full HR tool (payslips, tracking, multi-channel): its 75 FCFA/employee/month plan includes management, not just the transfer.
Let's talk about your project. We integrate Wave Business or OM bulk payout into your payroll flow, with automatic reconciliation. 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.
