Mobile money for salons in East Africa, country by country

Across East Africa, clients increasingly pay for their hair, nails and massages by phone. The services have different names in each country, but the salon's problem is the same everywhere: record each payment against the service and the stylist, so the till balances and commission is right.

Kenya

M-Pesa dominates, through a Buy Goods till or a paybill; card and cash are still common. Salon management system for Kenya.

Uganda

MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money are the everyday ways to pay, alongside cash. Prices are in Uganda shillings (UGX). Salon management system for Uganda.

Tanzania

Clients pay with Vodacom M-Pesa, Mixx by Yas, Airtel Money and HaloPesa, and cash is still widely used. Prices are in Tanzanian shillings (TZS). Salon management system for Tanzania.

Rwanda

Kigali is highly cashless; MTN MoMo and Airtel Money are the norm. Prices are in Rwandan francs (RWF). Salon management system for Rwanda.

Burundi

Lumicash and EcoCash are used alongside cash, with prices in Burundian francs (BIF). Salon management system for Burundi.

Somalia

Mobile money is used for nearly everything: EVC Plus, Zaad, Sahal and eDahab depending on the region, with prices usually in US dollars. Salon management system for Somalia.

Ethiopia

telebirr, M-Pesa and CBE Birr are growing fast alongside cash, with prices in birr (ETB). Salon management system for Ethiopia.

The same rules work everywhere

1. Take mobile money to a business number, never a stylist's personal line.
2. Record every sale at the till with the services, the stylist and how it was paid.
3. Record split payments (part mobile money, part cash) as one sale.
4. Reconcile the mobile money total against your statement every evening.

More detail in taking M-Pesa in your salon. BeautyFlow's salon POS names your local mobile money and shows prices in your currency.