How to get an M-Pesa Till or Paybill for your business
Till or Paybill, the documents you need, how to apply online, why applications get rejected, and what to do once you have your number.
Why you need one
If your customers pay with M-Pesa, you need a business number from Safaricom to receive those payments properly and to connect them to a website or app: a Till or a Paybill. Using a personal phone number for business makes it hard to keep records and impossible to automate.
We went through this process ourselves while building Gistiva, so this guide explains it in plain steps.
Till or Paybill: which one?
1. A Till (Buy Goods) suits shops, restaurants and anyone selling directly to customers. The customer picks Buy Goods, enters your Till number and pays.
2. A Paybill suits businesses that need an account number with each payment, such as rent, school fees, subscriptions or invoices. The customer enters your Paybill number and an account number you choose.
3. If you also need to pay money out, for example refunds, staff or suppliers, ask for the option that includes payouts (B2C) when you apply.
If you are unsure, tell us what you sell and we will recommend one.
What you need before you apply
The documents depend on how your business is set up:
1. Individual, trading under your own name: a front and back copy of your national ID, your personal KRA PIN, and a Safaricom line registered in your name. No business registration is needed, and the Till name will be your official name.
2. Sole proprietor, trading under a business name: your ID, the business KRA PIN, your business registration certificate, and a Safaricom line registered in your name.
3. Limited company: the certificate of incorporation, a CR12 issued in the last six months, the company KRA PIN, each director's ID and KRA PIN, and a letter on company letterhead asking for the M-Pesa service.
How to apply
1. Open Safaricom's M-Pesa business self-onboarding portal and create an account with your email and the phone number you are nominating.
2. Choose your business category.
3. Choose the product: Till, Paybill, or the option that covers both collections and payouts.
4. Fill in your business details, upload clear scans of your documents, and submit.
5. Keep the reference number you receive by SMS and email, and use it to track your application. Safaricom usually responds within a day or two. Once approved, your details and operator PINs are sent to the nominated phone number.
Mistakes that get applications rejected
1. The name on your SIM registration does not match your ID or KRA PIN.
2. Blurry scans, or scans with the edges cut off. Photograph documents flat, in good light, with all four corners visible.
3. A nominated line with restrictions, such as an overdraft that is in default, which can get in the way of setting up.
What it costs
Safaricom charges a small fee on the money you receive, and the rates differ between a Till and a Paybill. Rates and rules change from time to time, so check the current figures on Safaricom's portal before you decide.
After you have your number
Getting the number is step one. Step two is connecting it to your website or app so customers get a payment prompt on their phone and your system knows the moment they have paid. We set up M-Pesa STK Push, C2B payments, payouts and SMS confirmations for businesses, and we can advise on the best setup for you.
We work with clients anywhere in the world. Email info@gistivaenterprise.com or use the Book a Consultation button on our Services page.