Mobile Money is the default way small businesses get paid across much of Africa — M-Pesa in East Africa, MTN MoMo, Orange Money, Moov and Wave in the West and Centre. Yet most invoices still don't say how to pay.
1. Put the wallet details on the invoice
A clear block at the bottom: operator, number, account holder name. If the name the operator displays during the transfer doesn't match the name on the invoice, the client will hesitate. For M-Pesa, add your Paybill or Till number if you have one.
2. Ask for a reference
Ask the client to put the invoice number in the transfer reason, or to send you the transaction ID. Reconciling ten payments at month-end is impossible without it.
3. Give a second option
Add a bank account or a card payment link (Paystack, Flutterwave, Stripe). Some clients — companies, NGOs, foreign clients — can't pay by Mobile Money.
4. Beware of fake transfer SMS
The classic scam: a "client" sends a fake confirmation SMS, then asks you to refund an "overpayment". Always check your wallet balance or the official operator message, never a forwarded screenshot.
5. Send a receipt
Once the money is in, send a receipt. It builds trust and it's the document the client's accountant will ask for.
With Bonova, your Mobile Money numbers appear on every invoice, the client gets a link with a one-tap copy button and an "I've paid" button, and you issue the receipt in one click.