📲 Business & Side Hustles

Start an M-Pesa Agent Business in Kenya (2026): Capital, Commission & Reality

The pain: You want an M-Pesa till but don't know the real capital, how commission works, or why so many tills fail.

The outcome: A running till in the right location with enough float — earning a realistic monthly income.

Most people start as a SUB-AGENT under a master agent (you keep ~80% of commission). Float is the #1 thing that makes or breaks you.

Do it with LeadAfrik — free

Business Plan Generator →

Build the plan (capital, float, break-even) you'll need for the SACCO/bank loan and to run it properly. Free.

Budget Tracker →

Track float, takings and expenses so you never run dry mid-day.

M-Pesa Fee Calculator →

Know the exact customer fees per band — quote and reconcile correctly.

Invoice Generator →

Bill any B2B services your shop adds on the side.

Two realistic paths

Full/Head-office agent (hard): Safaricom requires a registered LIMITED company with 6+ months trading, 3+ outlets, ~KSh 100,000 float per outlet, plus tax compliance and permits.
Sub-agent under an existing agent/aggregator (realistic for most): you run a till under a master agent who takes ~20% of commission; you keep ~80%. This is how most start.

Startup capital — sub-agent (estimated)

Item	Estimated cost (KSh)
Float (working balance)	30,000 – 100,000 (100k recommended)
Desk, till phone, cash box, safe	5,000 – 15,000
Signage / M-Pesa branding	3,000 – 8,000
Shop rent deposit / counter share	5,000 – 30,000
County Single Business Permit	5,000 – 15,000
Realistic total to start	~50,000 – 150,000

⚠️ Commission is a fixed amount PER transaction (not a %), roughly KSh 4–190 on deposits and KSh 5–200 on withdrawals across ~18 bands. Withdrawal-heavy outlets earn more per transaction.

Realistic earnings (estimated)

Commonly-cited gross earnings are KSh 30,000–100,000/month depending on location and volume. After rent, wages and the master-agent share, a single busy till often nets KSh 15,000–40,000/month; a quiet/oversupplied location can net under KSh 10,000. High-traffic hubs (matatu stages, markets) sit at the top. Treat these as estimates, not guarantees.

Common mistakes to avoid

Running out of float — the biggest killer; you lose every transaction and customers switch tills.
Choosing a saturated location with too many neighbouring tills.
Fraud/reversal scams and fake notes.
Security/robbery risk with cash on hand.

Ready to act? Use these free tools

Business Plan Generator →

Build the plan (capital, float, break-even) you'll need for the SACCO/bank loan and to run it properly. Free.

Budget Tracker →

Track float, takings and expenses so you never run dry mid-day.

M-Pesa Fee Calculator →

Know the exact customer fees per band — quote and reconcile correctly.

Invoice Generator →

Bill any B2B services your shop adds on the side.

Questions people ask

How much capital do I need to start an M-Pesa agent business in Kenya?

As a sub-agent, a realistic total is around KSh 50,000 to 150,000 to start. Most of that is float: KSh 30,000 to 100,000 working balance, with 100k recommended, plus a desk, till phone, safe, signage, rent deposit and the county Single Business Permit.

How does M-Pesa agent commission work?

Commission is a fixed amount per transaction, not a percentage, roughly KSh 4 to 190 on deposits and KSh 5 to 200 on withdrawals across about 18 bands. Withdrawal-heavy outlets earn more per transaction.

Why do so many M-Pesa tills fail?

Running out of float is the biggest killer: when you have no float you lose every transaction and customers simply switch to another till. Choosing a saturated location with too many neighbouring tills is the other common cause.

Keep it current: Float requirements, commission bands and permit fees change — confirm current terms with Safaricom / your master agent and the county before you start.

Official sources

Safaricom — M-Pesa Agent ↗