M-Pesa Business Till Calculator and Guide

Created: 18 Jul 2025   Updated: 18 Jul 2025

Till Calculator

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Enter the amount for Business Till transaction
Transaction Cost (0.5%)
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Remaining Balance
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Business Till transactions cost 0.5% of the amount up to KSh 200 per transaction

What is M-Pesa Business Till?

The M-Pesa Business Till is an advanced payment and transaction platform designed for businesses that regularly receive customer payments. Unlike the basic Lipa Na M-Pesa Till, the Business Till enables merchants to collect payments and use those funds to make other transactions directly from the till, including payments to other businesses, customer refunds, and cash withdrawals.

This service is particularly suitable for retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants, hardware stores, pharmacies, boutiques, salons, and online businesses that frequently process customer transactions.

Key Features and Capabilities

Payment Collection

  • Receive payments from individual customers and other businesses
  • No customer charges for Buy Goods transactions (except at fuel stations)
  • Instant payment notifications via SMS to the business owner

Outgoing Transactions

  • Pay other businesses using Buy Goods Till numbers
  • Send money to mobile numbers (B2C transactions)
  • Pay utility bills through Paybill services
  • Sell airtime to customers using collected funds

Fund Management

  • Withdraw to owner's M-Pesa account for immediate access
  • Transfer to bank account for business banking needs
  • Withdraw cash at M-Pesa agents when needed

Application Process

Eligibility and Requirements

The application requirements vary depending on your business structure:

For Individual Businesses:

  • Duly filled application form and signed Terms & Conditions
  • Copy of National ID (front and back)
  • Individual KRA PIN Certificate
  • Bank details (cancelled cheque or bank letter)

For Sole Proprietors:

  • Business Certificate of Registration or Business Permit
  • Copy of National ID for owner and contact person
  • Individual KRA PIN Certificate
  • Bank details as per registration certificate

For Limited Liability Companies:

  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Filled and sealed M-Pesa Authorization Form (signed by 2+ directors)
  • Company and individual directors' KRA PIN certificates
  • Recent CR12 (valid for 90 days)
  • Copies of directors' and shareholders' identification documents
  • Organization bank details

Application Steps

Online Application Process:

  1. Visit the official portal at https://m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke/
  2. Click "Apply Now" and select "M-Pesa Business Till"
  3. Choose your business category (Individual, Sole Proprietor, or LLC)
  4. Fill in the required details and upload documentation
  5. Submit your application for processing

Processing Time: Applications are typically processed within 24-72 hours if all requirements are met. You'll receive SMS confirmation with your Till Number and Store Number once approved.

Activation Process

Initial Setup

  1. Dial *234*2# from your registered Safaricom number
  2. Enter your Store Number (provided via SMS)
  3. Accept Terms and Conditions
  4. Receive Operator ID and Start Key via SMS

PIN Change and Activation

  1. Dial *234*2# again and enter your Store Number
  2. Go to Account Services > Change PIN
  3. Enter the Start Key as old PIN and create your new PIN
  4. Confirm activation to begin receiving payments

Transaction Limits and Charges

Transaction Limits

  • Maximum per transaction: KSh 250,000
  • Daily transaction limit: KSh 500,000
  • Maximum account balance: KSh 500,000

Charges Structure (2025 Rates)

Collection Charges:

  • Free for transactions KSh 200 and below
  • 0.5% of transaction amount capped at KSh 200 maximum

Outgoing Transaction Charges:

  • Pay to Buy Goods Till: 0.27% capped at KSh 200
  • Pay to mobile number: Standard M-Pesa send money rates
  • Paybill payments: Standard Paybill charges
  • Agent withdrawals: Standard agent withdrawal charges

Managing Your Till Account

Checking Balance

Via USSD:

  1. Dial *234# from your number
  2. Select "M-Pesa Business Till"
  3. Enter Store Number
  4. Choose "Account Services > Check Balance"

Via M-Pesa Business Portal:

Withdrawing Funds

To Your M-Pesa Account:

  1. Dial *234# from number
  2. Select "M-Pesa Business Till"
  3. Enter Store Number
  4. Choose "Withdraw Funds > To My Number"
  5. Enter amount, Operator ID, and PIN

To Bank Account:

  1. Follow same initial steps as above
  2. Select "Withdraw Funds > To Bank"
  3. Enter amount and confirm details
  4. Funds credited within 24 hours

Viewing Statements

Via USSD:

  • Dial *334# for mini-statements
  • Select "My Account > M-Pesa Statement"

Via Business Portal:

  • Access detailed transaction reports
  • Download statements in CSV or PDF format

Security Best Practices

Account Protection

  • Never share your Operator PIN with unauthorized persons
  • Regularly change your PIN through Account Services
  • Monitor transactions daily for suspicious activity
  • Lock your account immediately if you suspect fraud

Transaction Security

  • Verify customer identity for large transactions
  • Double-check till numbers before making payments
  • Keep transaction records for reconciliation
  • Report suspicious transactions to Safaricom immediately

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Dormant Account Warnings

If you receive "Your operator identity will be changed to Dormant" notifications:

  1. Verify till status at m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke
  2. Make a test transaction to reactivate
  3. Contact Safaricom if issues persist

Transaction Failures

Common solutions:

  • Verify sufficient balance before transactions
  • Check network connectivity
  • Confirm correct till numbers
  • Retry after network stabilizes

Payment Reversals

For incorrect payments:

  • Contact recipient immediately for voluntary refund
  • Report to Safaricom within 24 hours
  • Provide transaction details for investigation

Advanced Features

Multiple Operators

  • Create assistant operators for employee access
  • Set specific permissions for different staff levels
  • Monitor all operator activities through main account

Integration Options

  • Connect to business systems via M-Pesa API
  • Automate payment notifications
  • Generate custom reports for accounting

Customer Payment Process

For customers paying to your till:

  1. Dial *334# on their phone
  2. Select "Lipa Na M-Pesa"
  3. Choose "Buy Goods and Services"
  4. Enter your Till Number (not Store Number)
  5. Enter payment amount
  6. Confirm with M-Pesa PIN
  7. Both parties receive confirmation SMS

Benefits Summary

For Business Owners

  • Instant access to collected funds
  • Reduced cash handling and security risks
  • Complete transaction records for accounting
  • Multiple payment options from single platform
  • Business growth tools including credit access

For Customers

  • Free transactions for most payments
  • Convenient payment method without cash
  • Instant confirmation of successful payments
  • Wide acceptance across businesses

The M-Pesa Business Till transforms traditional cash-based businesses into modern, efficient operations. Business owners can leverage this powerful platform to streamline operations, improve customer service, and drive business growth in Kenya's increasingly digital economy.