Starting an online shop in Kenya doesn't have to be expensive. Here's the real cost breakdown — platform fees, payment gateway fees, and what you actually need to pay.
Platform fees
- Free plan: KSh 0/month — WhatsApp ordering, manual payments, up to 20 products.
- Starter plan: KSh 299/month — automatic M-PESA checkout, unlimited products, custom themes.
- Growth plan: KSh 699/month — custom domain, blog, advanced SEO, coupons.
- Professional plan: KSh 1,999/month — customer broadcasts, analytics, API access.
Payment gateway fees
- M-PESA Till: Small merchant fee (typically under 1%) + withdrawal fee.
- Paystack: 1.5% + KSh 100 for local cards; 3.8% for international cards.
- Platform till (Shops): 5% total (covers collection + payout), no withdrawal fee.
Hidden costs to watch
- Domain: ~KSh 1,500/year if you use a custom domain.
- Delivery: Courier fees (KSh 150–500 in Nairobi, more upcountry).
- Marketing: Ads, influencers, or boosted posts (optional but useful).
The smart way to start
Start on the free plan with manual payments. You pay nothing. Once you're getting regular orders, upgrade to automatic M-PESA checkout — the time saved on payment verification alone is worth the monthly fee.
