How to Get Till Number for My Business in Kenya

Mobile payments in Kenya have become widely adopted among businesses. Safaricom through its mobile payment service; Mpesa has revolutionized banking and payment services for many businesses. Lipa na Mpesa is a free payment service for businesses.

You can pay for goods and services using the Lipa na Mpesa business till in a majority of shopping outlets. If you have a small business, you may want to know how to apply for Mpesa till number. Customers can use the till number when making payments for goods and services. In this article, we are going to show you how to apply for till number for your business.

Requirements for Application of Mpesa Business Till for a Sole Proprietor

If you are a sole proprietor, you need to know how to apply for a till number for your business. The following are the requirements.

Copy of business registration certificate or business permit
A copy of KRA PIN certificate
Copy of national ID
Letter from a bank providing banking details

Read also: How to start an Mpesa business.

Requirements for Mpesa Till Number Application for a Limited Liability Company

Copy of company KRA pin certificate
Copy of certificate of incorporation
Letter from a bank providing banking details
KRA pin certificates for the directors
A filling receipt of the company annual returns

Uses of Lipa na Mpesa Business Till

You can use the Lipa na Mpesa service or the Mpesa paybill number for the following purposes:

Receive payments from businesses and customers
Withdraw cash through Mpesa or bank
Pay another business using “Paybill” or “Buy Goods” or “Mpesa Agent” options
Make payments to customers
Sell airtime to customers and earn a commission

How to Activate your Till SIM Card

Insert the SIM card in a mobile device
Dial 212 USSD and select your preferred language
Try and make a payment to the till number provided
An SMS payment confirmation will be sent to you

How to Activate Lipa na Mpesa Business Till

Using a mobile device, dial *234*2# USSD
Enter your store number
Then accept the terms and conditions
You will receive an operator ID and start key
Dial *234*2# again and enter your store number
Scroll to account services
Select change pin
Enter the start key as old pin and then create a new pin

Are Mpesa Till Transactions Free?

There is a distinction between Mpesa “Paybill” and Mpesa “Buy Goods and services”. To make a payment using a till number, one has to select the “Buy Goods and Services” option. If your customers use this option, they will incur a transaction cost.

To make a payment using a Pay Bill, you need to select the “Paybill” option. If your customers use this option to make a payment, they will not be charged a transaction cost. The customer will also need to input the account number when paying using the paybill option.

What to Do When You Send Money to Wrong Paybill

When a customer sends money to the wrong destination, he should contact Safaricom customer care by dialing 100 or 234. If he is on post pay, he should dial 200. You can also assist the customer by dialing 2134 using your till SIM card. Safaricom will contact the business owner and request him to make a reversal. The customer will then receive his money back.

In case you receive payments by mistake in your till, you can make a reversal by forwarding the message to 234.

Business Till Number Minimum and Maximum Amount

Customers can use Lipa na Mpesa option to transact a minimum amount of Ksh 50 and a maximum of Ksh 70,000. If your business is selling goods worth over Ksh 70,000, Lipa na Mpesa may not be the best option to use. A till SIM card can hold a maximum of Ksh 50 million.

Summary of How to Get Till Number for My Business in Kenya

Using Lipa na Mpesa to receive payments from your customers is a safe and secure means. With a majority of Kenyans using Mpesa service, you can apply for Mpesa Business Till and start receiving cashless payments. Your customers will not be charged if they use the "Paybill" option. However, they will incur transaction costs if they use the "Buy Goods and Services" option.