If you run a business in Kenya, accepting M-PESA payments is no longer optional - it's a necessity. Whether you're a retailer, school, SACCO, freelancer, or landlord, having your own Paybill or Till number gives you a professional, trackable channel for receiving funds from customers.
This guide walks you through everything: what each product is, what documents you need, and the exact steps to apply - online or in person.
Paybill vs. Till Number - What's the Difference?
Before applying, you need to know which product fits your business.
Paybill Number is a business number that lets organizations collect payments from customers on a regular basis via M-PESA. When a customer pays, they enter both your Paybill number and an account reference (such as a meter number, invoice ID, student name, or membership number). This makes Paybill ideal for businesses that need to identify individual payers - schools, utilities, insurance firms, SACCOs, hospitals, and government agencies.
Till Number (Buy Goods) is a unique code that lets customers pay for goods and services directly into your M-PESA account. The customer only enters your Till number - no account reference needed. It's faster and simpler, and is the go-to choice for retail shops, restaurants, supermarkets, boutiques, fuel stations, and online sellers.
| Feature | Paybill | Till Number |
|---|---|---|
| Account reference required | Yes | No |
| Ideal for | Regular collections, utilities, schools | Point-of-sale, retail, services |
| Settlement | Bank account | Owner's M-PESA or bank |
| Transaction fee (standard) | Varies by tariff | 0.5%, capped at KSh 200 |
Paybill Products Available
When applying for a Paybill, Safaricom offers two variants:
Long-Term Paybill - The standard product for established businesses, institutions, and government entities. Requires valid business/company registration documents and is intended for ongoing, indefinite use.
Short-Term Paybill - Designed for a specific project or purpose and active for a maximum of six months, after which it is closed. Suitable for contractors, event organizers, or project-based work. A short-term paybill is a product that allows for fundraising of funds for different needs, e.g. medical bills, funerals, weddings, education purposes, and for charity/catastrophes e.g. Fund, Funeral Fund, Education Fund.
What You Need Before Applying
Regardless of which product you choose, there are common prerequisites:
- A registered Safaricom line in your name (this becomes your nominated number for receiving SMS notifications and withdrawing funds)
- A business bank account with a cancelled cheque or bank letter confirming your account details - this is where your funds will settle
- Valid identification documents (National ID, Passport, Alien ID, or Military ID)
- A duly filled and signed Safaricom application form
Beyond these basics, the documents required differ by business structure.
Document Requirements by Business Type
Individual / Sole Proprietor
- National ID or Passport (front and back)
- Business permit or certificate of registration
- Cancelled cheque or bank letter with account details
- KRA PIN certificate
- Signed application form and M-PESA terms and conditions
Note: If your business permit does not match your identification documents, you may also need to provide a Certificate of Business Registration to prove the relationship between you and the business.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Certificate of Incorporation
- CR12 (must be less than 3 months old for new applications; less than 2 years old for additional tills under an existing account)
- KRA PIN certificate for the company
- Board resolution authorizing the application and the nominated signatories
- Beneficial Ownership Form (BOF1) - required for BRS-registered companies; non-BRS companies complete a Safaricom-issued self-declaration template
- National IDs for all directors listed on CR12
- Cancelled cheque or bank letter
- Signed application form
Partnership
- Business registration certificate or business permit
- Partnership deed or affidavit
- KRA PIN certificates for the partnership and partners
- National IDs of all partners
- M-PESA Authorization form signed by all partners (required where more than two persons are named as business owners)
- Cancelled cheque or bank letter
- Signed application form
NGO / Church / Religious Organization
- Certificate of Registration from the NGO Coordination Board (for NGOs) or relevant authority (for churches)
- Constitution or trust deed
- Board resolution authorizing the account
- KRA PIN certificate
- National IDs of authorized signatories
- Cancelled cheque or bank letter
SACCO / Cooperative Society
- Certificate of Registration from the Commissioner for Co-operatives
- SACCO bylaws
- Board resolution
- KRA PIN certificate
- National IDs of authorized signatories
- Cancelled cheque or bank letter
Pro tip: All documents should be in PDF format and hand-filled(not computer-filled). Safaricom accepts up to 10 MB per document. ZIP files are not accepted.
How to Apply Online (Self-Onboarding Portal)- for M-PESA Business Till (Buy Goods Till) or Short-term Paybill
This is the fastest route for most applicants.
Step 1: Visit the Portal
Go to m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke and click Apply Now.
Step 2: Select Your Product
- For a Till Number: click M-PESA Business Till (Buy Goods Till), then Apply Now. Choose between Individual Till (funds settle to the owner's M-PESA account) or Business Till (funds settle to a bank account). Select your preferred option.
- For a Paybill: Click Short-Term Paybill in the product list. Choose any of the items presented i.e. Medical Fund, Education Fund, Funeral Fund, Wedding Fund, Charity / Catastrophe then Apply Now.
For the Application Form attached here:
Step 3: Fill in the Application Form
Complete all required fields - business name, physical address, nominated mobile number, administrator details, bank account details, and your preferred tariff (for Paybill) and other details required.
Step 4: Choose Your Tariff (Paybill Only)
Safaricom offers three tariff options:
- Mgao - fees shared between customer and business; suitable for small startups
- Business Bouquet - business absorbs all transaction fees; ideal for e-commerce and service providers
- Customer Bouquet - customer pays all fees; typically used by utilities, schools, and SACCOs
Step 5: Upload Documents (Both for Online portal and email)
Attach your required documents based on your business type (see above). All files must be in PDF format, each under 10 MB.
Step 6: Submit
Once submitted, you'll receive a confirmation message acknowledging your application. Processing typically takes 24-72 hours after all documents are successfully submitted and verified.
Step 7: Track Your Application
Log in to the portal at m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke, click on My Applications, and enter the mobile number used during application. Statuses to look out for:
- Under Review - application received and being assessed
- Pending Documents - more information required from you
- Approved - documents accepted, number being processed
- Complete - your number is active and ready to receive payments
How to Apply In Person
If you prefer a physical submission or don't have all documents in digital form:
- Download and fill the application form
- Sign the M-PESA terms and conditions
- Attach copies of all required documents
- Visit any Safaricom Shop or Care Centre countrywide and submit the package
- Alternatively, email your completed application to M-PESABusiness@safaricom.co.ke
Application For Paybill Accepted
Once the application has been accepted you will receive an email confirming that your account has been created
How to Activate Your Till / Paybill After Approval
Once approved, you'll receive your Till/Store number and Operator ID via SMS on your nominated number.
For a Till Number:
- Dial
*234#from your nominated Safaricom number - Select M-PESA Business Till
- Enter your Store number and accept the terms and conditions
- You'll receive an SMS with your Operator ID and start key
- Dial
*234*2#again → go to Account Services → Change PIN - Log into the M-PESA Business App or portal and set a new PIN
- You're now live and can receive payments
For a Paybill:
- Dial
*234*4#from your nominated number - Follow the on-screen prompts to activate and set your PIN
- You can also manage your Paybill via the M-PESA portal at org.ke.m-pesa.com - credentials are sent to your administrator email upon account creation
Withdrawing Funds
From a Till Number:
Dial *234# → M-PESA Business Till → Withdraw Funds → choose To the Bank → enter your Till/Store number. Note that you can only withdraw to the bank account provided during registration.
From a Paybill:
Dial *234# → Withdraw Cash → Bank → enter your Paybill number. Again, settlement is only to the bank account registered at onboarding.
Accessing the M-PESA Business Portal (G2 Portal)
After your number is issued, you'll want access to the M-PESA Business Portal for balance checks, transaction statements, and user management. If Safaricom did not create portal access automatically:
- Prepare a letter on your company letterhead addressed to Safaricom
- Include: organization name, Paybill/Till number, administrator's full name, preferred username, and administrator email
- Attach: duly filled and signed Business Administrator Form, company registration certificate(s), and copies of IDs
- Email to lipanampesa@safaricom.co.ke with subject: "Request for M-PESA Portal Login"
You should receive your credentials within 24–48 hours.
For Developers: Taking Your Paybill Live on Daraja
If you're integrating M-PESA payments into an application or website, a Paybill number also grants you access to the Safaricom Daraja API. After your Paybill is approved:
- Create an account at developer.safaricom.co.ke
- Create an app and link your Paybill shortcode
- Follow the Go-Live process at https://developer.safaricom.co.ke/dashboard/golive - this includes submitting production credentials and completing a sandbox test run
- Once approved, You will receive passkey in the email. You can use the Daraja APIs: STK Push (C2B), B2C, Account Balance, Transaction Status, and more
To learn more on How to Go Live, Click Here
Useful Contacts & Links
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Self-Onboarding Portal | m-pesaforbusiness.co.ke |
| M-PESA Business Portal | org.ke.m-pesa.com |
| Daraja Developer Portal | developer.safaricom.co.ke |
| Email Support | M-PESABusiness@safaricom.co.ke |
| Portal Access Requests | lipanampesa@safaricom.co.ke |
| Till/Paybill USSD | *234# |
| Customer Care | 100 (Safaricom line) |
Final Checklist Before You Apply
- [ ] Business registered and permit/certificate available
- [ ] Valid ID for all directors/owners
- [ ] KRA PIN certificate ready (business and individual)
- [ ] Bank letter or cancelled cheque prepared
- [ ] Registered Safaricom SIM in your name
- [ ] Application form downloaded and fully filled
- [ ] All documents in PDF format, under 10 MB each
- [ ] Tariff selected (Paybill applicants)
With the right documents in hand, the online process takes less than 30 minutes and approval comes through within 24 hours. Take your time on the paperwork - missing a single document is the most common reason for delays.
Need M-PESA Integration for Your App or System?
Got your Paybill or Till number and now need to integrate it into your website, app, or backend system? I can help.
I offer M-PESA integration services covering:
- STK Push (Mpesa Express) -let customers pay directly from your app or website
- B2C Payments - send money to customers, suppliers, or staff programmatically
- Customer to Business (C2B) - reliably process and confirm M-PESA transactions in real time
- Daraja API setup & go-live - from sandbox to production
- KCB Buni, PesaLink & other Kenyan and international payment APIs
feel free to reach out:
📧 Email: sosmongare@gmail.com
💬 WhatsApp: Chat on WhatsApp
Let's build something that works.
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