The verdict in three sentences
In Abidjan in 2026, mobile money makes up 55 to 65 % of collections for a digitalized business, and Wave CI wins on its low merchant fee (~1 %) combined with T+1 settlement. The right provider depends on your average basket: under 5,000 FCFA every commission point matters; above 100,000 FCFA reliability and limits prevail. This guide routes each sector to the right channel with concrete figures.
Wave CI 2026 fees and parameters by sector
The 2026 orders of magnitude below combine merchant fee, observed average basket and the mobile money share of collected revenue.
| Sector | Average basket | Mobile money share | Wave CI fee | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant / fast-food | 4,000 FCFA | 60-65 % | ~1 % | T+1 |
| Shop / fashion | 15,000 FCFA | 55-60 % | ~1 % | T+1 |
| Pharmacy / health | 8,000 FCFA | 50-55 % | ~1 % | T+1 |
| School / training | 250,000 FCFA | 45-55 % | ~1 % | T+1 |
| Transport (ticket) | 300 FCFA | 60-70 % | ~1 % | T+1 |
| Services / freelance | 50,000 FCFA | 50-60 % | ~1 % | T+1 |
The per-transaction Wave limit varies with the merchant account's KYC status (2026 estimate: common tier around 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA), a point to check before collecting large tuition fees.
Wave CI vs MTN MoMo by use case
| Use case | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-frequency micro-baskets | Wave CI | ~1 % fee, fast QR |
| Large amounts (school) | Wave + MTN fallback | Limit + reliability |
| Clients outside Wave zone | MTN MoMo | ~12M subscriber coverage |
| In-person collection | Wave QR | No hardware, direct scan |
| Online / website payment | Multi aggregator | Wave + MTN + cards |
Mini case study
Ibrahim runs a maquis in Yopougon: 120 tickets/day at 4,000 FCFA, i.e. 480,000 FCFA/day. At ~1 % Wave fee he pays 4,800 FCFA/day in commission, versus ~8,400 FCFA at 1.75 % on another channel — a saving of ~3,600 FCFA/day, or ~108,000 FCFA/month. Over a year, the right routing earns him the equivalent of one month's rent.
FAQ
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What are Wave CI merchant fees in 2026?
The common order of magnitude is about 1 % per collected transaction, well below the 1.5-2 % seen elsewhere. On a monthly volume of 10,000,000 FCFA, that is ~100,000 FCFA in fees.
How fast am I paid?
Wave CI settlement is generally T+1, the next business day. For a restaurant collecting 480,000 FCFA on a Monday, funds are available from Tuesday.
Is Wave enough or do I need a second provider?
For a single-channel business, Wave covers 55-65 % of payments. Adding MTN MoMo captures the 12M subscribers outside Wave and cuts abandoned baskets by 5 to 10 %.
Is there a per-transaction limit?
Yes, tied to the merchant account KYC level (2026 estimate: 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA per operation). For higher tuition, plan an installment schedule or a complementary transfer.
Does the Wave QR work without a terminal?
Yes: the client scans your merchant QR and confirms. No POS required, which suits transport and high-traffic markets.
Let's talk about your project. We set up Wave CI collection tailored to your sector, from QR to website. 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.
