How to Get Lipa na Mpesa Till Number Online and Activate Using USSD

The Safaricom Lipa na Mpesa Till or simply Buy Goods Till Number enables business owners, individuals, or sole proprietors to collect sales payments via the till number and use these payments directly to perform other business transactions. Thanks to the recent inauguration of Merchant Interoperability, it is now possible to use Lipa Na M-Pesa across all networks.

When you apply for the  Lipa na Mpesa Till number, you are provided with an account (SIM card) different from your current Mpesa account.

You can use the till number to:

• Receive payments from other businesses or customers
• Pay businesses or customers
• Withdraw funds from banks, Mpesa agents, or to your Mpesa account
• Sell airtime using the funds in the till and earn a 5% commission
• Get access to affordable business credit like Boost ya Biashara and M-Pesa business loan

It’s worth noting that due to mobile money interoperability, pay bill numbers can be used on any mobile money network in Kenya.

Some mobile money operators in Kenya.

Read: 17 Best Loan Apps in Kenya for Instant Loans

Lipa na Mpesa Till Number Rates and Charges

When you buy goods or services via the Lipa na Mpesa Till number, as a customer you do not incur any charge. Businesses are charged a rate of 0.55% and not more than Ksh. 200 per transaction on the money collected.

There is no charge for collections of Ksh. 200 and below. However, Paying to another Business Till attracts a 0.27% fee, but capped at Ksh. 200.

There are also no charges on payments made to the Business Till. However, payments made at fuel stations attract charges.

Current M-Pesa paybill charges apply when paying to a utility till. In addition, you will incur normal M-Pesa send-money charges when you pay to a mobile number.

Process of Getting the Mpesa Business Till Number

Generally, these are the steps you will have to follow to get a Buy Goods and Services Mpesa Till number:

1. Complete the application of the Mpesa till number on the Safaricom Self Onboarding portal: https://m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke
2. Click Apply Now on the portal
3. Choose a product; M-PESA Business Till (Buy Goods Till), or Short Term Paybill
4. Select individual, sole proprietor, or limited liability company
5. You will receive the till number and store number by SMS, on your current Safaricom number or the number you provided when applying (nominated number)
6. Download the Lipa Na Mpesa sticker from the same Self Onboarding portal
7. Activate the Business till by dialing *234#
8. Change PIN and begin transacting
9. You will automatically begin receiving payment notifications made to the till on the nominated number.

How to Activate the Till Number

1. Dial *234# from the nominated number
2. Select option 2 – M-PESA Business Till
3. Enter Store number (One received on SMS)
4. Select option 1 – Yes
5. Accept Terms and Conditions
6. Submit
7. You will receive Mpesa message with your operator ID and a Start key PIN
8. See the following steps to change your PIN;

How to Change the Till Number PIN

1. Dial *234# from the nominated number
2. Select option 2 – M-PESA Business Till
3. Enter your Store number
4. Select option 5 – Account Services
5. Select option 1 – Change PIN
6. Enter operator ID send earlier
7. Enter old PIN (which is the start key on SMS from M-PESA)
8. Enter New PIN (Create your own secret PIN)
9. Confirm new PIN (Repeat your own secret PIN)
10. Submit
11. You will receive a message confirming that your PIN has been changed and till successfully activated

You can also activate your Till by downloading the M-Pesa Business app from Google Play Store or iPhone App Store.

Business Till display | Image: Safaricom

Mpesa Business (Buy Goods) Till Requirements

Individual Category

1. Copy of National ID – Back
2. Copy of National ID – Front

The money will settle into Mpesa account. However, if you want the payments to settle both to Mpesa and bank accounts, you will need to submit:

1.  Copy of Cancelled cheque or letter from the bank stating bank details as per certificate of registration
2. Copy of Individual KRA PIN Certificate
3. Copy of National ID – Back
4. Copy of National ID – Front

Sole Proprietor Category

1. Copy of Certificate of Registration or Business Permit No.
2. Copy of National ID – Back
3. Copy of National ID – Front

The photocopied documents should be very clean and clear.

To have both Mpesa and bank settling you require:

1. Copy of Cancelled cheque or letter from the bank stating bank details as per certificate of registration
2. Copy of Certificate of Registration or Business Permit No.
3. Copy of Individual KRA PIN Certificate
4. Copy of National ID – Back
5. Copy of National ID – Front

Limited Liability Company

1. Annual Returns with filling receipt
2. Canceled cheque or letter from the bank stating company bank details
3. Company KRA PIN Certificate
4. Copy of Certificate of Incorporation
5. Copy of CR12 – Validity of 90 days (3 months) or recent
6. Copy of directors’ National ID or Passport – Back
7. Copy of directors’ National ID or Passport – Front
8. Filled, stamped or sealed resolution letter signed by Directors of the company
9. Kenyan Director KRA PIN Certificate

Requirements for Short-term Lipa na Mpesa Paybill Number

You can apply for a temporary or short term till number for services like fundraising for medical bills, funerals, weddings, education, charity, and other emergencies.

Medical Fund Short Term Till

1. Certified documents (Hospital admission form)
2. Copy of ID of Applicant
3. If minor, attach birth certificate/affidavit
4. Letter from the bank or canceled cheque

Education Till Number

1. Copy of ID of Applicant
2. Institution admission letter
3. Letter from the bank or canceled cheque

Funeral Paybill Number

1. Copy of burial permit/death certificate
2. Copy of ID of Applicant
3. Letter from the bank or canceled cheque

Wedding Fund Paybill Number

1. Copy of ID for the couple
2. Letter from couple incase it’s a traditional wedding
3. Letter from the bank or cancelled cheque
4. Letter from the institution wedding the couple

Charity/Catastrophe Till Number

1. A cover letter from the committee signed by two authorized signatories stating the purpose of the account
2. Copies of IDs for the signatories.

Also Read:

1. How to Join and Use M-Pesa Pochi la Biashara
2. List of USSD Short Codes for all Safaricom Services
3. Equity Bank Agency and Equitel Money Transfer Rates