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Finance

How to Register Pochi la Biashara in Kenya

8 min read
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Easy Access Staff

Want to separate business money from personal funds on M-Pesa? Pochi la Biashara is a free business wallet. This guide shows you how to register step by step.

Business person using mobile payment app

What is Pochi la Biashara?

Pochi la Biashara (Business Wallet) is a free M-Pesa feature for small businesses. It’s a separate wallet on your M-Pesa account for business transactions.

Benefits:

  • Separate business money from personal money
  • Track business income and expenses
  • Free to register and use
  • No monthly fees
  • Works with your existing M-Pesa number

Example: If you sell clothes online, customers send money to your Pochi la Biashara instead of your personal M-Pesa wallet.

Pochi la Biashara vs M-Pesa Business (Lipa Na M-Pesa)

Pochi la Biashara:

  • Free service
  • Informal businesses
  • Customers send money manually
  • Good for small traders

M-Pesa Business (Lipa Na M-Pesa):

  • Formal businesses
  • Costs KES 2,000+ setup
  • Till number or Paybill
  • For registered businesses

Example: Use Pochi la Biashara if you’re a freelancer, online seller, or small trader. Use Lipa Na M-Pesa if you have a shop or registered company.

Digital wallet concept on smartphone

What You Need

Before registering:

  • Active Safaricom line
  • M-Pesa registered on that line
  • Your phone with airtime
  • Valid national ID
  • Business name (can be informal)
  • 2-5 minutes

Example: If your M-Pesa is on 0722123456, you’ll register Pochi la Biashara on same number.

Step 1: Open M-Pesa Menu

Dial M-Pesa code on your Safaricom line:

Type: *334#

Press Call

Example: The USSD menu appears with M-Pesa options.

Step 2: Select Pochi Menu

From M-Pesa menu:

  1. Select Pochi or Pochi la Biashara (option usually number 8 or 9)
  2. Press Send

Example: You see:

1. Send Money
2. Withdraw Cash
3. Buy Airtime
...
8. Pochi

Select 8

Mobile phone showing USSD menu

Step 3: Register Pochi la Biashara

From Pochi menu:

  1. Select Register
  2. Press Send

Example: Menu shows:

1. Check Balance
2. Register
3. Manage

Select 2 (Register)

Step 4: Enter Business Name

You’ll be asked to enter your business name.

Enter your business name: Type any name for your business (doesn’t have to be registered)

Example:

  • Jane’s Boutique
  • Mike Online Shop
  • Kamau Graphics
  • Mary Beauty

Press Send

Important: Name can be changed later. Choose something customers recognize.

Step 5: Confirm Registration

System will show:

  • Your business name
  • Your M-Pesa number
  • Confirmation message

Select:

  1. Confirm by entering 1
  2. Press Send

Example:

Register Pochi la Biashara for:
Business: Jane's Boutique
Number: 0722123456
1. Confirm
2. Cancel

Select 1

Step 6: Enter M-Pesa PIN

For security, enter your M-Pesa PIN:

Type your 4-digit M-Pesa PIN

Press Send

Example: If your PIN is 1234, enter it to confirm registration.

Secure password entry on phone

Step 7: Receive Confirmation

You’ll get SMS confirmation from M-Pesa:

Example SMS:

Congratulations! You have successfully registered Pochi la Biashara for Jane's Boutique on 0722123456. Dial *334# to transact.

Your Pochi la Biashara is now active!

How to Use Pochi la Biashara

Check Pochi Balance

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Pochi
  3. Select Check Balance
  4. Enter M-Pesa PIN
  5. View balance

Example: Balance shows: “Your Pochi la Biashara balance is KES 5,000”

Move Money to Pochi (From Personal Wallet)

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Pochi
  3. Select Move Money
  4. Select From M-Pesa to Pochi
  5. Enter amount
  6. Enter PIN

Example: Move KES 1,000 from personal M-Pesa to Pochi for business use.

Move Money from Pochi (To Personal Wallet)

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Pochi
  3. Select Move Money
  4. Select From Pochi to M-Pesa
  5. Enter amount
  6. Enter PIN

Example: Move KES 500 from Pochi to personal wallet for personal expenses.

Receive Money to Pochi

Tell customers to:

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Send Money
  3. Enter your number
  4. Enter amount
  5. Enter PIN
  6. They’ll see option to send to your Pochi or M-Pesa
  7. They select Pochi

Example: Customer wants to pay you KES 2,000. They send to your number and choose “Pochi” instead of “M-Pesa”.

Person receiving mobile payment

Withdraw from Pochi

Option 1: Move to M-Pesa then withdraw

  1. Move money from Pochi to M-Pesa wallet
  2. Withdraw from agent as usual

Option 2: Direct withdrawal

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Pochi
  3. Select Withdraw
  4. Enter amount
  5. Enter agent number
  6. Enter PIN

Example: Withdraw KES 3,000 from Pochi at M-Pesa agent.

Managing Your Pochi la Biashara

Change Business Name

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Pochi
  3. Select Manage
  4. Select Change Business Name
  5. Enter new name
  6. Enter PIN

Example: Change from “Jane Shop” to “Jane’s Boutique”

View Pochi Statement

  1. Dial *334#
  2. Select Pochi
  3. Select My Account
  4. Select Request Statement
  5. Enter email address
  6. Enter PIN

You’ll receive transaction history via email.

Example: See all money received and sent from your Pochi for the month.

Check Pochi Tariff

Charges are same as regular M-Pesa:

  • Free to receive money
  • Standard M-Pesa charges to send money
  • Standard withdrawal charges

Example: Customer pays KES 1,000 to your Pochi - you receive full KES 1,000 (free). When you withdraw, standard M-Pesa charges apply.

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Can’t find Pochi option in menu Solution: Update M-Pesa. Dial *234# to check for updates. Or visit Safaricom shop for SIM card update.

Problem: Registration fails Solution: Ensure your M-Pesa is fully registered. Visit M-Pesa agent to verify registration.

Problem: Forgot Pochi balance Solution: Dial *334# → Pochi → Check Balance. Or check last M-Pesa SMS.

Problem: Customer can’t send to Pochi Solution: Their M-Pesa may be outdated. They should dial *234# for updates, or send to M-Pesa wallet and you transfer to Pochi.

Problem: Want to close Pochi Solution: Visit Safaricom shop or M-Pesa agent. Bring your ID. Cannot close via USSD.

Important Tips

  • Keep Pochi balance separate - don’t mix with personal money
  • Check Pochi balance daily if you’re actively in business
  • Request monthly statements for record-keeping
  • Inform customers to send to your Pochi, not M-Pesa
  • Move money from Pochi to M-Pesa before withdrawing (easier)
  • Keep receipts of all transactions for tax purposes
  • No charges to receive money - customers pay only send charges
  • Can have only one Pochi per M-Pesa number
  • Pochi name appears to customers when they send money
  • Free to register - no hidden charges

Benefits for Your Business

Tracking:

  • See business income separately
  • Easy to track daily sales
  • Request statements for accounting

Professionalism:

  • Customers see your business name
  • Looks more professional than personal M-Pesa
  • Builds trust with customers

Security:

  • Personal money stays separate
  • Business funds are protected
  • Easy to monitor business cash flow

Example: At month end, check Pochi statement to see total sales, expenses, and profit easily.

Business analytics and tracking

Who Should Use Pochi la Biashara?

Perfect for:

  • Online sellers (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp shops)
  • Freelancers (writers, designers, photographers)
  • Small traders (vegetables, clothes, electronics)
  • Service providers (hairdressers, mechanics, tailors)
  • Informal businesses
  • Side hustles

Example: If you sell on Instagram and receive 5-10 payments daily, Pochi la Biashara helps you track all business income separately.

Record Keeping with Pochi

Monthly Routine:

  1. Request Pochi statement via email
  2. Download and save PDF
  3. Use it for:
    • Tax filing (if applicable)
    • Business planning
    • Loan applications
    • Tracking growth

Example: Save statements as “Pochi_Statement_January_2026.pdf” for easy reference.

Growing Beyond Pochi la Biashara

When to upgrade to Lipa Na M-Pesa:

  • Business growing rapidly
  • Need till number or Paybill
  • Want physical store presence
  • Registered business
  • Need automatic payments

Example: Start with Pochi la Biashara. When monthly sales exceed KES 50,000, consider upgrading to Lipa Na M-Pesa for better features.

Pochi la Biashara for Different Businesses

Online Sellers:

  • Share your number with business name
  • Customers pay to Pochi
  • Track each sale easily

Freelancers:

  • Invoice clients with Pochi number
  • Receive professional payments
  • Show clean business transactions

Small Shops:

  • Use for mobile money sales
  • Keep shop cash separate from mobile payments
  • Easy end-of-day reconciliation

Example: Freelance writer completes article, sends invoice saying “Pay to 0722123456 (Kamau Writing Services - Pochi la Biashara)“

Tax Considerations

Note: If your business income exceeds KES 500,000 annually, you may need to:

  • Register for PIN with KRA
  • File annual returns
  • Keep Pochi statements as proof of income

Example: Use Pochi statements as income proof when filing tax returns.

Safety Tips

Protect Your Pochi:

  • Never share your M-Pesa PIN
  • Check Pochi balance regularly
  • Report suspicious transactions immediately
  • Keep phone secure
  • Save all M-Pesa SMS messages

Example: If you notice unexpected withdrawal from Pochi, call Safaricom immediately: 0722 000 000

Contact Information

Safaricom Customer Care:

  • Call: 0722 000 000 or 0733 000 000
  • Email: care@safaricom.co.ke
  • Twitter: @SafaricomPLC
  • Visit: Safaricom shop near you

M-Pesa Specific:

  • M-Pesa Hotline: 0722 000 000
  • Working hours: 24/7

For Inquiries:

  • How to use Pochi
  • Registration issues
  • Transaction problems
  • Statement requests

Pochi la Biashara FAQs

Is Pochi la Biashara free? Yes, completely free to register and use.

Can I have multiple Pochis? No, one Pochi per M-Pesa number only.

Do customers pay extra to send to Pochi? No, same charges as regular M-Pesa send money.

Can I receive money even when phone is off? Yes, money is received and you’ll see it when phone is on.

What’s the maximum balance in Pochi? Same limits as M-Pesa - KES 300,000 maximum balance.

Can I send money from Pochi to others? Yes, use Send Money function and select “From Pochi”.

Is Pochi la Biashara safe? Yes, protected by your M-Pesa PIN. Keep PIN secret.

Next Steps After Registration

  1. Inform customers: Share your business name and number
  2. Create price list: With Pochi payment instructions
  3. Request statements: At least monthly for records
  4. Track performance: Check daily Pochi balance
  5. Plan growth: Consider upgrading when business expands

Example: Create WhatsApp status: “Pay for all orders via M-Pesa Pochi la Biashara - 0722123456 (Jane’s Boutique)”

Start using Pochi la Biashara today to professionalize your business and track income better!