How to Get a Till Number in Kenya: Requirements, Cost and How Long It Takes
A Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods till is applied for online on Safaricom's M-PESA for Business portal and activated with *234#. Here's what each business type needs, what it costs, and how to avoid the common delays.
A Buy Goods till number lets customers pay you through Lipa na M-Pesa without you handing out your personal number. It looks more professional, keeps business money separate from personal money, and gives you a statement you can reconcile. You apply online through Safaricom's M-PESA for Business portal (m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke) or at a Safaricom shop.
Requirements by business type
- Individual or sole proprietor: national ID (front and back), and a business registration certificate or county business permit
- Settling to a bank account as well: add your KRA PIN certificate and a bank letter or cancelled cheque
- Limited company: certificate of incorporation, the CR12, the company KRA PIN, directors' IDs and a board resolution naming who operates the till
- A Safaricom line registered in the owner's name to receive the till details and run the till
How to get a till number from Safaricom online
- Open the M-PESA for Business portal and choose Buy Goods (till)
- Select your business type: individual, sole proprietor or limited company
- Fill in the business details and upload clear copies of the documents
- Submit and wait for Safaricom's review
- You'll receive the till number and a store number by SMS on the nominated line
- Activate it by dialling *234# from that line, choosing the M-PESA business till option and entering the store number
How long does it take to get a till number?
Filling in the form takes minutes. Approval depends on how clean your documents are. Clear scans that match your ID exactly usually go through within a few working days. Blurry uploads, a permit in a different name or an unregistered line are the usual reasons applications stall.
How much does it cost to get a till number?
Safaricom doesn't charge to open a till. What you pay is the transaction tariff on the money you receive, deducted from each payment, plus any charges for moving money to your bank. Check Safaricom's current Lipa na M-Pesa tariff before you choose between a till and a paybill.
Can I get an Airtel till number too?
Yes. Airtel Money runs its own merchant (till) product with its own application. Many shops display both so no customer has an excuse not to pay.
After the till: stop checking messages by hand
Once payments come into a till, you can connect it to your POS, website or booking system through Safaricom's Daraja API. Every payment is then matched to an order or invoice automatically, with no screenshot checking and no 'I've sent' disputes.
Can I get a till number without a business permit?
For a Buy Goods till, Safaricom asks individuals and sole proprietors for a registration certificate or a business permit. One of the two is needed.
Can I get a till number on my own line?
Yes. As a sole proprietor, the till can be linked to your own registered Safaricom line, which then receives the activation SMS and runs the till.
How do I get an M-Pesa statement for a till number?
Statements are available through the M-PESA for Business app and portal for the till's administrator. Your accountant will want a monthly statement for reconciliation.
Antony Mungai
Founder, Steff Cloud — building websites, systems and automation for Kenyan businesses from Nakuru.