Small traders in Kenya often start with a simple goal. Keep business money separate from personal money without drowning in paperwork.
Safaricom offers two products that promise exactly this: Pochi la Biashara and the Till Number.
They look similar on the surface, but they suit different stages of a business. Here is how to choose correctly.
What Pochi la Biashara Actually Is
Pochi la Biashara is a business wallet built inside your existing personal M-Pesa line.
You do not receive a new number. Customers simply send money to your regular phone number, and the funds are separated into a dedicated business pocket rather than mixing with your personal balance.
Setup takes only a few minutes through the phone menu. There is no business registration required, no documents to submit, and no waiting period.
This makes Pochi the natural starting point for boda boda riders, food vendors, secondhand clothes sellers, and anyone running a small, informal operation.
Customers pay the standard M-Pesa send money tariff when paying into a Pochi account.
There is no monthly fee for the trader. You can withdraw funds directly from the Pochi wallet at any agent, use the balance to pay bills or buy goods, and even earn a small commission selling airtime through it.
Pochi also comes with transaction limits, generally capped at a few hundred thousand shillings per transaction and a few million shillings per month, which is more than enough for most small traders.
What a Till Number Actually Is
A Till Number, formally Lipa na M-Pesa Buy Goods, is designed for businesses with a more established retail presence.
Think shops, kiosks, salons, and small supermarkets that want a dedicated business identity separate from a personal phone line.
Registering a Till requires a visit to a Safaricom shop with your KRA PIN certificate, a business registration certificate or single business permit, your ID, and proof of your business address.
Activation usually takes between 48 and 72 hours, though the registration itself is free.
The major advantage of a Till is that customer payments are completely free. Safaricom removed customer charges on Buy Goods transactions, which reduces friction at checkout.
The trader instead pays a settlement fee, generally between 0.5 and 1.5 percent of each transaction, deducted before the money reaches the merchant account.
READ ALSO:Lipa na M-Pesa Explained: Till, PayBill, and Pochi Compared Side by Side
Comparing the Two for Small Traders
For a trader just starting out, Pochi wins on simplicity. There is no paperwork, no waiting period, and no need to prove formal business registration.
It is built specifically for people who want structure without complexity.
A Till Number wins on professionalism and customer experience.
A dedicated Till number looks more established than a personal phone number, and customers pay nothing extra, which can make them more willing to spend.
If your business already has steady walk in customers and a fixed location, a Till adds a layer of credibility that Pochi cannot match.
Cost also plays a role. Pochi has no fee for the trader, since the customer covers the standard send money charge.
A Till involves a settlement fee paid by the trader on every transaction.
For very small transaction volumes, this difference is minor.
As volume grows, the settlement fees on a Till can add up, though many traders find the professional appearance and free customer experience worth the cost.
Tax and Compliance Considerations
Traders earning below five million shillings a year generally do not need to register for VAT or connect to KRA’s eTIMS system, regardless of whether they use Pochi or a Till.
Once revenue crosses that threshold, VAT registration and eTIMS compliance become mandatory, and the payment channel should be linked to an approved invoicing system.
It is worth tracking your annual turnover so you are not caught off guard as your business grows.
The Bottom Line
Start with Pochi la Biashara if you are testing a new hustle, selling informally, or simply want to separate business funds without any registration hurdles.
Move to a Till Number once your business has a fixed location, regular walk in customers, and enough volume to justify the more formal setup.
Many traders eventually graduate from one to the other, and some even keep both running side by side as their business grows.
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