The verdict in three sentences
Settlement timing — the gap between the customer's payment and the real payout to your account — locks up part of your working capital. Moving from T+2 to T+1 on monthly revenue of GHS 240k frees roughly GHS 8,000 of idle cash. Same-day express payout exists but costs ~0.5 %, best kept for peaks.
What the delay really costs
If customers pay today but the money lands two days later, you permanently finance two days of sales. On a steady flow, that "in-transit" cash is locked up all the time.
| Operator | Standard settlement | Same-day express | Express fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN MoMo | T+1 | yes | ~0.4 % |
| AirtelTigo | T+2 | no | — |
| Telecel Cash | T+1 / T+2 | partial | ~0.5 % |
| Flutterwave | T+1 | yes | 0.5 % |
| Direct bank | T+1 | no | — |
Standard ranges from T+1 to T+2. One extra day of delay is one more day of revenue frozen in the payment pipeline.
How much cash is tied up
Simple rule: cash tied up = daily revenue × settlement days. Here's the 2026 order of magnitude across activity levels.
| Monthly revenue | Revenue/day | Tied up at T+1 | Tied up at T+2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHS 60k | GHS 2,000 | GHS 2,000 | GHS 4,000 |
| GHS 120k | GHS 4,000 | GHS 4,000 | GHS 8,000 |
| GHS 240k | GHS 8,000 | GHS 8,000 | GHS 16,000 |
| GHS 480k | GHS 16,000 | GHS 16,000 | GHS 32,000 |
| GHS 720k | GHS 24,000 | GHS 24,000 | GHS 48,000 |
The extra cash cost of T+2 over T+1 is exactly one day of revenue locked up permanently — here up to GHS 24,000.
Mini case study
Fatou distributes fresh produce in Accra, GHS 240k monthly revenue, i.e. GHS 8,000/day. Her operator is on T+2: she permanently has GHS 16,000 tied up. Switching to a T+1 operator, she only ties up GHS 8,000, freeing GHS 8,000 of cash.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
At month-end peaks she uses same-day express at 0.5 %: on GHS 40k accelerated, that costs GHS 200, but avoids a bank overdraft priced far higher. The call is made case by case.
FAQ
Is T+1 always better than T+2?
For cash flow, yes: each day saved frees a day of revenue. But if your T+2 operator offers lower transaction fees, the trade-off is between fee cost and the cost of tied-up cash.
Is express payout worth its 0.5 %?
Only under occasional strain. Paying 0.5 % to accelerate a payout is worth it if the alternative is an overdraft or a penalised late supplier payment. In normal times, avoid it.
How do I estimate my tied-up cash?
Multiply daily revenue by settlement days. Revenue of GHS 8,000/day at T+2 ties up GHS 16,000 permanently — a figure to fold into your working-capital need.
Can settlement timing be negotiated?
Sometimes, past a certain monthly volume, operators offer negotiated T+1 or preferential express. Worth the conversation from GHS 300k-400k monthly revenue.
Let's talk about your project. We analyse your settlement timing and optimise your cash flow. 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.