Sign-Up & Onboarding

Pre Qualifiers

Before we get started with registering your business with iStore Pay, there are a few important things to note. Please take a moment to read through before signing up.

• What hardware & software is supported
  • An iPhone Xs and later running iOS 18 or later.
• What type of businesses can register and use iStore Pay.
  • Solopreneurs, Sole proprietors and Proprietary Limited ( PTY LTD ) that are based in South Africa, have a South African bank account and where required are registered with CIPC.
• Prohibited industries
  • Some industries are prohibited from using iStore Pay, to view these business types please see our prohibited business types.
• Payment Methods
  • Physical card that supports EMV
  • Apple & Android tap to Pay NFC enabled device
  • Visa & Mastercard only
  • International Cards accepted provided they are Visa or Mastercard with EMV capabilities. (Charged at a higher rate)
    💡NB!! American Express & Diners club not currently supported
• Transacting rules
  • A minimum transaction limit of R10 is set for all EMV / Tap to Pay transactions.
  • Budget payments are not supported
  • All refunds done are for the full amount of the original transaction done and must be actioned against the same card used for the original transaction.
  • Partial refunds are not supported.
• Fees
  • For a full breakdown of our fees please check out Fees

Now that you know and understand what were about, let’s get you started so you can begin transacting and get paid.

Get Started

• Sign up to transacting takes as little as 15 minutes.
• To download the iStore Pay App simply visit the App store on your iPhone.
• Search “iStore Pay” in the search bar.

• Select “Get”
• After verifying the iStore Pay App will begin to download.
• Download the iStore Pay App
• Sign up — Create an iStore Pay profile by providing your name, email address, and mobile number. (See our sign up process for details on this)
• Confirm email address — See OTP info below
• Complete onboarding process — See details below (Onboarding Timeline & process), in the onboarding sections.
• Verification — The iStore Pay team reviews and verifies your information.
• Activation — Once verified, your account is activated immediately, and you can begin accepting payments and receiving payouts.

💡Note: Merchants can only begin to fully transact once their account has been verified.

One Time Pin (OTP / 2FA)

At the beginning of sign-up, merchants receive an OTP to link their App to their account.

• The OTP will be sent to the merchant's email account.
• The OTP will send within a few seconds after the merchant confirms their email address.
• Should no OTP be received after 30 seconds the user can request the OTP to be resent.
• Besides the OTP on sign-up, a merchant will need to redo the mobile OTP confirmation if they fully log out of the app or if they log in on a new device.

Onboarding Timeline and Process

• In most cases, onboarding should take less than 15 minutes, until the merchant is fully onboarded and able to transact.
• However, this will vary based on merchant type and the success or failure of each check (exception cases can be longer).
• The initial onboarding will not require you to upload any documents.
• If a paperless check fails, our onboarding system will automatically request a manual upload of the required documents.
• If any additional information or documents are needed, our support team will reach out to the merchant directly via phone and/or email.
• Factors that can delay onboarding
  • User error - typing error or wrong information captured.
  • The need for manual document uploads (manual documents will be required in exception cases, such as user not on or mismatch in data with DHA system, foreign directors detected etc…).
  • Incomplete/incorrect documents uploaded.
  • Failed or undesirable checks (e.g. AML, PEP, FIC, credit check, Mastercard check)
  • Anything else that requires manual review
• iStore Pay only allows one account per user / entity using one email address on sign in. You cannot have multiple users set up on one account.

Required Checks by Business Type

Unsuccessful Onboarding Applications

Applications may be declined for various reasons. Some common reasons for rejection include:

• Prohibited industry
• Failed credit check
• Being flagged on an AML, PEP or similar database

If a merchant’s onboarding is rejected, they can contact our support channel to request additional information.

Industry Types & Prohibited Industries

• If a merchant's business type is not listed in the iStore Pay App's onboarding options, they should select “other” and provide more information on their industry.
• Prohibited Industries - iStore Pay products and services may not be used to accept payments for the following business types or transactions:
  • Airlines
  • Betting, Casino Gaming
  • Dating and Escort Services
  • Direct Marketing – Insurance Services
  • Door-to-Door Sales
  • Direct Marketing – Combination Catalogue and Retail Merchants
  • Direct Marketing – Continuity / Subscription Merchants
  • Direct Marketing – Other Direct Marketers (not elsewhere classified)
  • Government Services (not elsewhere classified)
  • Bridge and Road Fees, Tolls
  • Court Costs including Alimony and Child Support
  • Fines
  • Tax Payments
  • Government Services (not elsewhere classified)
  • Postal Services – Government Only
  • Intra-Government Purchases – Government Only
  • Massage Parlours
  • Securities Brokers / Dealers
  • Insurance Sales, Underwriting, and Premiums
  • Timeshares

💡Note: This list outlines categories only and is not an exhaustive list.

The Sign-Up Process

Signing up takes as little as 15 minutes but can be longer depending on the merchant’s specific circumstances.

User Account Creation

• Open the iStore Pay App

• Enter the email address you want to register with

  

• You will receive a email with a 6 digit code, please enter this code to authenticate.

  

• Enter your personal details, name, surname, email address and a password that will be used to enter the home page & history of your account.

  

• Your user account has now been created. You can choose to explore the App first or go straight into registering your business account details.

  

Business Registration

Now that your user account has been created, we need to register your business so that you can begin to transact and get paid.

• On your home screen you will be prompted to complete the business registration. Select the “Complete business account “option and follow the below steps based on your business type.

Solopreneur / Sole Proprietor

• Choose Sole Proprietor as your business type if this applies to you.
• Confirm you are the owner of the business. (You cannot create an account if you are not the owner).
• Choose your industry type from the drop down menu.
• Enter your ID number
• Complete your liveness test
• Confirm your personal details (Changes can be made if the owner is different from the App user)
• Enter your physical address where business is based.
• Enter your banking details (must be in the name of the owner)
• Confirm your business details eg: trading name, expected turnover, website details etc…
• Agree to the merchant T’s & C’s

Your account would now be registered provided all your checks have passed and you can begin to transact.

If there were any concerns, your account will state it is under review and you will be notified once your account is confirmed and you can begin to transact.

 Proprietary Limited

• Choose Private Company (CIPC registered business) as your business type if this applies to you.
• You will be prompted to choose a simple structure (1 Shareholder / Director) or complex structure (this is for companies with multiple shareholders / directors).
• Select the industry category that your business falls under.
• Confirm you are the sole director / shareholder of the company.
• Enter your ID number / Passport number.
• You will be prompted to do a liveness test.
• You will then be asked to capture your title and personal details.
• Please enter your personal residential address as the director / shareholder.
• Capture your CIPC / Business registration number.
• Complete your business trading details eg: trading name, VAT  number etc…
• Enter your company banking details
• Agree to the merchant T’s & C’s