The verdict in three sentences
A marketplace is judged not by its catalog but by its ability to pay sellers fast and cleanly via mobile money and transfer. KYC is the foundation: without validated documents (ID, business registration, mobile money number), no legal payout is possible, and 5-10% of accounts are rejected at verification. The rest is mechanics: 85/15 split, weekly payout, provider caps to respect.
Required KYC documents by volume tier
The verification level scales with the seller's processed volume: light for a small seller, reinforced above a threshold, as anti-money-laundering rules require.
| Monthly volume tier | Documents required | Validation delay | Rejection rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 200 000 FCFA | Mobile money number + name | 24 h | 3-5 % |
| 200 000-1 000 000 FCFA | + ID or passport | 24-48 h | 5-7 % |
| 1-5 M FCFA | + proof of address | 48-72 h | 7-9 % |
| > 5 M FCFA | + business registration | 72 h | 8-10 % |
Progressive KYC reduces sign-up friction while covering risk on large volumes.
Payout caps and withdrawal fees by provider
Each provider imposes daily caps that determine the size of possible payouts. You must build them into your payout calendar.
| Provider | Payout cap/day | Withdrawal fee | Credit delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile money A | 2 000 000 FCFA | 1-1.5 % | Instant to T+1 |
| Mobile money B | 1 500 000 FCFA | 1.5 % | Instant to T+1 |
| Capped transfer rail | 1 000 000 FCFA | capped 1 000 FCFA | T+1 |
| Bank transfer | unlimited | 2 500-5 000 FCFA | T+2 to T+3 |
The 85/15 split and weekly rhythm
On a marketplace, the buyer pays the platform which remits to the seller after commission. Here is a weekly payout example for an active seller.
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| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross sales for the week | 700 000 FCFA |
| Platform commission (15 %) | 105 000 FCFA |
| Collection payment fees | ~7 000 FCFA |
| Net due to seller (85 %) | 595 000 FCFA |
| Withdrawal fee (1 %) | ~5 950 FCFA |
| Net received by seller | ~589 050 FCFA |
At 700,000 FCFA-equiv. in weekly sales, the platform keeps 105,000 in commission, well within provider caps so payable in a single payout.
Mini case study
Ngozi launches a craft marketplace in Lagos with 40 active sellers. Each seller averages 350,000 FCFA-equiv. in weekly sales, i.e. 14,000,000 in platform volume. At 15% commission, she collects 2,100,000 in weekly revenue. Her payouts (85%, about 11,900,000) go out each Monday via mobile money, respecting the 2M and 1.5M daily caps per seller, more than enough here.
FAQ
What documents for a professional seller? Above 5M monthly volume, require business registration on top of ID and proof of address. This covers anti-money-laundering obligations.
Why 5-10% of accounts rejected? Illegible photos, mobile money number in a third party's name, or expired documents. A clear upload tutorial and quick re-validation cut this rate.
How often to pay sellers? Weekly is the standard: it balances platform cash flow and seller satisfaction. Some premium marketplaces offer on-demand payout for a fee.
How to handle provider caps? If a payout exceeds the daily cap (2M), split it across two days or route the excess to bank transfer. Orchestration automates this choice.
Is the split configurable by category? Yes, a marketplace can apply 10% on low-margin electronics and 20% on services. The rate is set per seller or per category.
Let's talk about your project. We build your Lagos marketplace with progressive KYC, automatic split and weekly mobile money payouts. 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.
