Mobile money remains the lifeblood of small and medium enterprises in Kenya. From kiosks to salons and online vendors, business owners are increasingly choosing between Pochi la Biashara and M-Pesa Till Numbers — two Safaricom products designed to simplify payments. But which one truly works best for your business?
Launched in 2021, Pochi la Biashara was Safaricom’s answer to the informal business segment — the mama mboga, the boda boda rider, the hawker, and the small-scale online seller. It offered a way to separate business money from personal M-Pesa accounts, without requiring a full business registration. “The biggest problem before was mixing personal and business money,” says Nancy Achieng, a fruit vendor in Nairobi’s Umoja estate. “When I started using Pochi, I could finally see what my business was making.”
Unlike the M-Pesa Till Number, Pochi la Biashara doesn’t require formal business documentation. Registration is simple — dial *334#, select “Pochi la Biashara,” and set it up in minutes. Payments go straight into a business wallet, but withdrawals and transactions remain under the owner’s control.
M-Pesa Till Number
On the other hand, the M-Pesa Till Number, under the Lipa na M-Pesa umbrella, has long been the go-to for SMEs and formal enterprises. It offers more advanced features — such as customer payment records, automatic reconciliation, and the ability to receive payments from any M-Pesa user via the “Buy Goods and Services” option.
“Once I registered my cybercafé officially, I moved to the Till Number,” says Kevin Mutua, a business owner in Kitengela. “It gives my shop a more professional image, and I can track all transactions digitally.”
Unlike Pochi la Biashara, a Till Number requires business registration documents, making it more suitable for established traders. Safaricom also offers detailed statements and integrations for accounting systems — an advantage for growing enterprises.
Charges and Transaction Costs
For many small businesses, transaction costs determine the choice. Pochi la Biashara users pay no transaction fees when receiving payments from customers. Withdrawals, however, attract standard M-Pesa withdrawal charges.
With the M-Pesa Till Number, customers also don’t pay transaction fees, but the business may incur charges for funds transferred from the till to a personal M-Pesa account or bank. The difference lies in how funds are managed: Till Numbers are designed for business accounts, while Pochi is meant for personal but separate business use.
According to James Kariuki, a digital payments consultant, “Pochi la Biashara is perfect for small traders who want simplicity and no paperwork. But once a business scales and needs to reconcile daily sales, the Till Number becomes more efficient.”
Taxation and Record Keeping
Another key difference is tax reporting. Businesses using Till Numbers are more visible to tax authorities since payments can be tracked more easily through formal business records. For small traders, this can be intimidating — but it also builds credibility for future growth and access to credit.
Pochi la Biashara, meanwhile, remains semi-informal. Traders can still enjoy some privacy and flexibility, but they may struggle to provide adequate financial records when applying for loans or tenders. “As the government moves toward digital tax systems, formal Till Numbers might soon be the standard for compliance,” notes Kariuki. “But for now, Pochi gives small traders breathing space.”
Convenience and Trust
Both systems allow customers to pay easily via mobile money. However, a Till Number often commands more trust from customers, who view it as a sign of legitimacy. Pochi la Biashara, though convenient, can sometimes be mistaken for a personal number — especially by new customers wary of fraud.
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Safaricom has tried to address this by ensuring Pochi la Biashara names are displayed during payment confirmation, just like Till Numbers. Still, perception matters in business. “When I use my Till Number, customers feel they are paying a real business,” says Mutua. “It builds confidence.”
So, Which One Wins?
Ultimately, the choice between Pochi la Biashara and M-Pesa Till Number depends on your stage of business and priorities.
If you’re a small trader, freelancer, or side hustler, Pochi la Biashara offers simplicity, zero setup costs, and an easy way to separate personal from business cash. It’s ideal for informal or mobile operations where flexibility is key.
If you’re a growing SME or registered business, the M-Pesa Till Number provides structure, credibility, and better integration with accounting and banking systems — essential for scaling up.
As Kenya’s digital economy matures, both products will continue to coexist, serving different layers of entrepreneurs. What matters most is how each business owner uses them — to track revenue, build customer trust, and ultimately grow sustainably.
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