- Card fees
- About 2.3% to 3.2%a sale on entry plans, excluding VAT
- Card machine
- From R699or use tap on phone, with no machine
- Golden rule
- Check your banknot the screenshot, before you hand over goods
The easier it is to pay you, the more you sell. Customers who don't carry cash will walk away if you can't take a card or a quick transfer. This guide compares every way to get paid, what each one really costs, and how to make sure the money actually reaches your account.
In short: offer at least one card option and a payment link, and keep cash for small sales. Before you hand anything over, check that the money is in your bank account, not just on a screenshot.
1. Ways your customers can pay you
| Way to pay | What it costs you | When the money is yours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Nothing to accept, but banking it costs money. Capitec Business, for example, charges R1.40 per R100 deposited at its ATMs (2026). | Straight away | Small sales, customers without cards |
| Bank transfer (EFT) | Your bank's normal account fees | Usually the next day, if paid before 16:30 on a weekday. Later if paid after that. Times vary by bank. | Invoices and bigger amounts |
| PayShap | The payer's bank sets the fee | Within seconds, and it can't be reversed | Quick payments up to R50,000, if your bank's limit allows |
| Card machine or tap on phone | About 2.3% to 2.75% a sale on entry plans, plus the machine if you need one | 1 to 3 business days, depending on the provider and your bank | Shops, salons, markets and deliveries |
| QR code | About 2.55% to 2.95% a sale | 1 to 3 business days | Customers who pay with banking or payment apps |
| Payment link | About 2.55% to 3.2% per card payment (PayFast adds R2). Less when the customer pays straight from their bank. | 1 to 2 business days for most providers | WhatsApp and Instagram sales, deposits and online orders |
Cash also carries risk. SABRIC, the banks' crime risk centre, counted 592 robberies linked to bank and ATM visits in 2025, up 43% on 2024. Most businesses do best with a card option and a payment link, and keep cash for small sales.
Can customers pay you on WhatsApp?
Not inside WhatsApp itself, as far as we could find. WhatsApp's own payment feature works in a few other countries, but not for South African businesses (October 2026). What does work:
- Send a payment link in the chat. iKhokha, PayFast, SnapScan and Yoco all let you create a link to share. Ozow can also send payment requests by WhatsApp (R0.35 a message). The customer taps the link and pays by card or straight from their bank.
- Send a PayShap request or your bank details. The customer pays in their banking app, and PayShap money arrives within seconds.
- Use your WhatsApp Business catalogue to show products and prices, then send the payment link with the order. See how to set up WhatsApp Business.
Absa's ChatWallet lets individuals pay a cellphone number or bank account from a WhatsApp chat. Ask Absa whether it suits your business.
2. Compare the providers
These are the payment providers in the Hub's tools list, compared on their own pricing pages on 15 October 2026. Fees exclude VAT unless we say otherwise. Nobody pays to be in this comparison.
Taking payments in person
| Provider | Fee per sale | Monthly fee | Card machine | Tap on phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iKhokha | 2.75%, dropping to 2.5% as monthly sales grow | None | iK Flyer R1,499, or iK Flyer Lite R699 (sale price) | Free, on Android and Huawei phones with NFC |
| PayFast | 2.5% for local cards | R49 a month per card machine | R999, or R1,499 with a printer | Not listed |
| SnapScan | 2.95%, dropping to 2.55% as monthly sales grow (QR code payments) | None | No machine: customers scan your QR code | Not offered |
| Yoco | 2.30% on the free Core plan; lower on paid plans and as sales grow | R0, R249 or R499, depending on the plan | Khumo 2 R699 (sale price) | Free to activate, on iPhone only |
Online payments and payment links
| Provider | Card payments | Pay by bank or instant EFT | Money in your account |
|---|---|---|---|
| iKhokha | 2.85% (iK Pay Link) | 2% | Twice a day with a Nedbank business account, as soon as the next business day with FNB or Absa, 1 to 3 business days with other banks. R2.50 per payout, charged once if you're paid twice a day. |
| Ozow | 2.85%, dropping to 2.65% | 1.5% (minimum R1) | Next day. Instant payout R3. |
| PayFast | 3.2% plus R2 | 2% (minimum R2) | 1 to 2 working days. R8.70 per payout. |
| SnapScan | 2.95%, dropping to 2.55% | Instant EFT available on payment links | Next business day with Standard Bank, up to 3 business days with other banks. No payout fee. |
| Yoco | 2.55% to 2.95% | Not listed | 1 to 2 business days, free. Faster payouts cost extra. |
Ozow's pricing page doesn't say whether its fees include VAT. Card machine prices marked "sale price" can change at any time, so check the provider's page before you buy.
The big banks also offer card machines, for example FNB Speedpoint and Standard Bank SimplyBLU. Nedbank now offers card machines through iKhokha, which it owns. Bank rates are often set for each business, so ask for a written quote.
3. How to choose
Answer these five questions and the right option usually becomes clear.
Where do you sell?
At a counter, a market or on deliveries, you need a card machine or tap on phone. On WhatsApp, Instagram or a website, you need payment links or online payments. Many businesses need both.
What phone do you have?
Tap on phone only works on the right phone. Yoco's works on iPhone. iKhokha's works on Android and Huawei phones. FNB's SpeedeeApp works on Android through the FNB App.
How much do you sell by card each month?
While sales are small, choose an option with no monthly fee. As sales grow, rates drop and paid plans can work out cheaper, so do the sums. On R20,000 of card sales a month, every 0.5% difference in fees is R100 a month, or R1,200 a year, before VAT.
How fast do you need the money?
Check payout times and payout fees. Some providers charge for each payout, such as R2.50 at iKhokha and R8.70 at PayFast. Others pay out for free on their standard schedule.
If you use iKhokha and have a Nedbank business account, you can be paid twice a day, including Sundays and public holidays. Before you move banks for this, compare your bank fees as well. Faster payouts help most if you buy stock often or need cash over weekends.
What's in the small print?
Look for contracts and monthly fees, such as iKhokha's optional SIM at R75 a month or PayFast's R49 a month per machine. And remember that VAT is added on top of every fee.
4. Send invoices that get paid
A clear invoice gets paid faster. Every invoice should show:
- your business name and contact details
- your customer's name
- an invoice number and the date
- what you sold: a description, the quantity and the price
- the total due and the date it's due
- how to pay: your bank details or a payment link
If you're registered for VAT
Only VAT-registered businesses may charge VAT, at 15%. SARS sets rules for tax invoices:
- Over R5,000 (including VAT): issue a full tax invoice. It must show:
- the words "tax invoice", "VAT invoice" or "invoice"
- your name, address and VAT number
- your customer's name and address, and their VAT number if they're VAT-registered
- an invoice number and the date
- a full description, the quantity, and the price and VAT
- Under R5,000: a shorter (abridged) tax invoice is allowed, without your customer's details or the quantity. This doesn't apply to zero-rated sales.
- Under R50: you don't have to issue a tax invoice.
- Issue the tax invoice within 21 days of the sale.
The full rules are in the SARS VAT 404 guide for vendors.
Small habits that speed up payment
- Ask for a deposit before you start a big job.
- Agree your payment terms in writing, in your quote.
- Add a payment link to the invoice so paying takes one tap.
- Send a friendly reminder on the due date, not weeks later.
Free invoicing apps are in the Hub tools list.
5. Don't get caught by fake payments
SABRIC and the banks warn small businesses about fake proof of payment scams. Someone sends a screenshot, an SMS or a PDF that looks like payment, takes the goods, and the money never arrives.
- Never rely on a proof of payment alone. Check that the money shows in your bank account, and has cleared, before you hand over goods or start work.
- Be careful with refund requests. Scammers often send a fake payment and then ask for a refund. Don't refund anything until your bank confirms the payment has cleared.
- PayShap helps here. The money arrives in seconds and can't be reversed, so you can check straight away.
- Card payments can be disputed. A customer's bank can claim a card payment back, called a chargeback, and the money comes off your account. This can happen months later: under Nedbank's merchant terms, customers have at least 180 days. Keep receipts, delivery notes and messages as proof.
6. When a customer doesn't pay
Remind them early
Send a friendly message on the due date, then a statement. Most late payers just need a nudge.
Send a letter of demand
Set out the facts and the exact amount owed, and give them 14 days to pay. Deliver it by hand or by registered mail. If you may go to the Small Claims Court, use its Form 4 for the letter.
Use the Small Claims Court
You can claim up to R30,000 (the limit since 1 August 2026). There are no lawyers, and the court clerks help you for free. Only individuals can sue there. A sole proprietor can. A company or close corporation can't, although it can be sued there. A company has to use another route, such as an attorney, a debt collector or the Magistrate's Court. See the Department of Justice Small Claims Court page.
Don't wait too long
Most debts prescribe after three years from the date they were due, and then you can no longer claim. If the customer acknowledges the debt, the three years start again.
Interest on late payment. If you didn't agree an interest rate, the law sets one: the Reserve Bank repo rate plus 3.5%. That is 10.50% a year from 1 July 2026, rising to 10.75% from 1 November 2026. To charge your own rate, put it in your quote and terms before you start. If you often sell on credit, ask an accountant or lawyer whether the National Credit Act applies to you.
Your getting-paid checklist
- Choose how you'll take payments: card, QR code, payment link, or a mix
- Compare the fee per sale, monthly fees, machine prices and payout fees
- Show your payment options on your invoices, WhatsApp profile and Google Business Profile
- Send clear invoices with a due date and how to pay
- Ask for a deposit on big jobs
- Check the money is in your bank before you hand over goods
- Keep proof of every sale and delivery
- Follow up unpaid invoices on the due date
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to accept card payments?
It depends on how much you sell. In-person card fees on entry plans run from about 2.3% to 2.75% a sale (excluding VAT, October 2026), and banks may offer custom rates. Monthly fees, machine prices and payout fees count too, so add them up for your own monthly sales before you choose.
Can I take card payments without a card machine?
Yes. Tap on phone turns a compatible phone into a card machine: Yoco on iPhone, iKhokha on Android and Huawei, and FNB’s SpeedeeApp on Android. You can also use QR codes or send payment links.
Can customers pay me on WhatsApp?
Not inside WhatsApp itself in South Africa, as far as we could find in October 2026. Send a payment link or a PayShap request in the chat instead: the customer taps it and pays by card or from their bank.
What is PayShap?
PayShap is an instant payment between South African banks. You can be paid to your cellphone number (your ShapID) or your account number. The money arrives within seconds and can’t be reversed. The limit is R50,000 a payment, but your bank may set a lower one, and each bank sets its own fees.
Is a proof of payment enough before I release goods?
No. Fake proofs of payment are a known scam. Check that the money shows in your bank account and has cleared before you hand over goods or start work.
Do I have to charge VAT?
Only if your business is registered for VAT. Registration is compulsory once your taxable sales go over R2.3 million in 12 months (from 1 April 2026). If you aren’t registered, you can’t charge VAT.
How much can I claim in the Small Claims Court?
Up to R30,000, the limit since 1 August 2026. Only individuals, including sole proprietors, can sue there. Companies and close corporations can’t sue there, but they can be sued.
How long do I have to recover money a customer owes me?
Most debts prescribe three years after the date they were due. If the customer acknowledges the debt, the three years start again.
This guide is general information. Fees were checked on each provider’s own pricing page, and the rules against SARS, Department of Justice and SABRIC sources, on 15 October 2026. Fees and sale prices change, so confirm on the provider’s site before you sign up. For advice on your situation, ask J29 or speak to an accountant.
© 2026 J29. All rights reserved. You’re welcome to share a link to this guide, but please don’t copy, republish or sell its content without J29’s written permission.