Do you have a business and you would like to add M-Pesa as a payment option for your prospective clients or customers? Then this is for you.
Before we proceed however, it is important to know the difference between M-Pesa Till Numbers and M-Pesa Paybill Numbers, so as to help you make a more informed choice.
The M-Pesa Till Numbers and Paybill Numbers, are Safaricom’s way of making transactions and payments easier for their users.
Their Differences
One major difference between the M-PESA Till Numbers (also known as ‘Buy Goods and Services’) and the M-Pesa Paybill Numbers is that the Paybill option does not require users or your customers, to be at your place of business or office, in order to carry out payments.
For example, if you are a landlord with tenants, they can pay their rent via your unique Paybill number. The ‘account number’ would be their apartment or room number. Just like how for buying KPLC tokens via the company’s M-Pesa Paybill number, you use your meter number as your account number.
With the M-Pesa Till Number or Buy Goods Number, all your client needs to do is type in the Till number, as well as the amount required for the transaction. M-Pesa Till or Buy Goods Numbers are perfect for supermarkets, kiosks, kinyozis and other Small to Medium Enterprises as the consumers do not need to have their own account numbers as is the case with M-Pesa Paybill Numbers.
Another major difference between M-Pesa Paybill Numbers and M-Pesa Till Numbers is that the M-Pesa Till Numbers, do not come with any charges or fees during transactions. You (the business receiving the payment(s)) will bear the charge(s).
With the M-Pesa Paybill option Business either charges the customer (which is the case most times), chooses to not charge the customer or simply decides to split the charges with the customer.
How To Register For An M-Pesa Till Number or M-Pesa Paybill Number
To register your organization or business or for an M-PESA Paybill or Till Number which are both available under the ‘Lipa Na M-PESA’ option in your M-Pesa menu, simply:
- Dial *100# with your Safaricom line and select the ‘M-Pesa’ option.
- Next, select ‘M-PESA Products’.
- Once there, choose either the ‘M-PESA Paybill Request’ option or the ‘M-PESA Buy Goods Request’ option depending on your preference.
The application process for getting an M-Pesa Till Number is absolutely FREE.
If you are a business please ensure that you have the following ready, before applying for an M-Pesa Paybill Number or Till Number:
- A duly filled application form complete with signed Terms and Condition.
- A copy of your business permit or license.
- A copy of your National ID, Military Service Number or Passport or Alien Certificate for Foreign Nationals.
- A Copy of a Utility Bill for Business which will serve as proof of the existence of said business.
- A letter from your Bank confirming your bank details as filled in your application form or a cancelled cheque.
Upon filling your application form with all the required information and confirming that the details you provided are accurate, you will be required to present the documents to the nearest Safaricom shop.
All applications for M-Pesa Paybill Numbers or M-Pesa Till Numbers take a minimum of 48 working hours to process as long as all documents are in order.
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about the process of getting M-Pesa Till Numbers or Paybill Numbers.
