How to Get an M-PESA Till Number (Step by Step)

Sole trader: original national ID and personal KRA PIN. Registered company: adds certificate of registration and a valid Single Business Permit from your county. The names on ID, KRA PIN and bank details must match; mismatches are the top cause of delay.

Online at m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke (Apply Now > Till > ownership > form > documents > terms > submit). In the M-PESA Business app. By dialling *234# and choosing M-PESA Business Till. Or at any Safaricom shop with your documents.

Choose Till (Buy Goods) as the product. Select ownership: sole proprietor, partnership or company. Enter business name, KRA PIN, physical address, settlement bank account, and the Safaricom line that will manage the till. Upload ID, KRA PIN, business permit and bank confirmation. Accept the terms, submit, and note your reference. Safaricom says Individual-category applications are processed within about 10 minutes and other categories within 24 hours, and the store details are sent to the nominated number by SMS. Portal applicants can download their till sticker under My Applications.

Dial *234# from the nominated number, choose M-PESA Business Till, enter your HO or store number, review and accept the terms, and the store activates within about an hour with a confirmation SMS carrying your operator ID and a start PIN you must change.