The verdict in three sentences
Wave charges the merchant about 1% on API collections, while deposits and withdrawals stay free for your customer — a rare commercial edge in West Africa. On an average basket of 15,000 FCFA, that is 150 FCFA in fees; on revenue of 3,000,000 FCFA/month, roughly 30,000 FCFA taken. It is structurally cheaper than Orange Money (~1.5%) and far below an international aggregator at 2.9% + fixed fees.
What Wave actually charges
Wave's strength in the Senegalese market rests on a simple model: the customer pays nothing to send money, and the merchant carries a modest commission on what they collect. The figures below are 2026 ballpark estimates, to be confirmed in your Wave Business contract based on volume.
| Provider | Collection fee | Customer fee | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Business API | ~1% | 0 FCFA | Instant (Wave balance) |
| Orange Money API | ~1.5% | Variable | T+0 to T+1 |
| International aggregator | 2.9% + 100 FCFA | 0 FCFA | T+2 to T+7 |
| Bank card (POS) | 1.5–2.5% | 0 FCFA | T+1 to T+3 |
| Cash | 0% | 0 FCFA | Immediate but risky |
On the same 15,000 FCFA collection, you pay 150 FCFA with Wave, 225 FCFA with Orange Money and 535 FCFA with a 2.9% aggregator. The gap looks tiny per unit but becomes decisive at scale.
Break-even by volume
| Monthly revenue | Wave fees (~1%) | Aggregator fees (~2.9%) | Savings/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500,000 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA | 14,500 FCFA | 9,500 FCFA |
| 1,000,000 FCFA | 10,000 FCFA | 29,000 FCFA | 19,000 FCFA |
| 3,000,000 FCFA | 30,000 FCFA | 87,000 FCFA | 57,000 FCFA |
| 5,000,000 FCFA | 50,000 FCFA | 145,000 FCFA | 95,000 FCFA |
| 10,000,000 FCFA | 100,000 FCFA | 290,000 FCFA | 190,000 FCFA |
At 10,000,000 FCFA/month, choosing Wave over a 2.9% aggregator saves about 190,000 FCFA per month, nearly 2,280,000 FCFA per year — enough to fund a full rebuild of your online store.
Mini case study
Awa runs a cosmetics shop in Dakar. Her average basket is 15,000 FCFA, with 200 orders/month, i.e. 3,000,000 FCFA in revenue. With Wave at 1%, she pays 30,000 FCFA in monthly fees. Her gross margin per sale is 6,000 FCFA (40%); Wave fees eat only 150 FCFA of it, or 2.5% of her margin. If she switched to a 2.9% aggregator, her fees would climb to 87,000 FCFA/month — she would lose 57,000 FCFA net every month for the same volume.
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FAQ
Is the 1% rate guaranteed for every merchant?
No, it is a 2026 ballpark. The exact rate depends on your Wave Business contract and volume; large volumes can negotiate. Always check your official pricing sheet.
Does the customer really pay 0 FCFA?
On merchant payments via Wave, deposits and sends are generally free for the customer, which lifts conversion. It is a strong selling point against bank cards.
Is Wave cheaper than Orange Money?
As a ballpark, yes: ~1% versus ~1.5%. On 3,000,000 FCFA/month that is about 15,000 FCFA monthly difference in Wave's favor.
How do I get my collected money back?
Funds land on your Wave Business balance almost instantly. You can then withdraw or pay suppliers directly, often without the T+2 bank delay.
Let's talk about your project. We compute your real Wave fees and wire collection into your store. 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.
