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How to sign up with Yoco
Updated this week

It’s really easy and affordable to get a Yoco card machine, no matter how big or small your business is. Here’s a quick guide on how to join the Yoco community, and get your hands on the future of card payments.

Where to sign up with Yoco

Completing Yoco Signup is quick and easy, no matter where or how you choose to enter your details.

There are two ways to access Yoco Signup:

  1. Sign up online at hello.yoco.com

  2. Download the free Yoco Mobile App, or simply go to the Yoco Web App online, and you can sign up and complete your profile for payouts all in one place. You can also use the App to run and manage your sales in future.

Note: The Yoco Mobile App currently only works with iOS and Android smartphones/tablets. Learn more here.


How-to steps for Yoco Signup

  1. When you start signup with Yoco, you’ll need to enter your email address and mobile number. These details will form the most important part of your profile - you’ll use them as your username to log in, for security when resetting your password, and for urgent and important notifications from Yoco about your profile.

💡Make sure to use an email address and mobile number that you own, and have easy access to.

You’ll also create your login password, and agree to Yoco’s Terms before continuing.

2. Next, we’ll ask you more about your payment needs and expectations from Yoco.

3. Now it’s time to choose how you’d like to get started with Yoco: you'll have three options.

I have my card machine already

If you already have your Yoco card machine, either because it’s been delivered new or you got it second hand, simply enter the serial number on the back of your card machine.

I’ve ordered my card machine

If your card machine is still on the way, but you ordered it from Yoco online, you can enter the order number we’ll have sent to your email address. If you’re waiting for another online retail delivery, you’ll unfortunately need to wait until your card machine arrives and enter its serial number (as above).

I want to buy a card machine

Still need to get a Yoco card machine? No worries! You can choose your favourite right here during signup, and we’ll deliver for free within 3 working days.

4. Tell us your business name, or whatever your customers know you by.

Your business name will be displayed on your receipts, sent to your customers after successful payment.

5. We’ll also need to find out where your business is located - you can either enter an address manually or use the GPS coordinates of your current location.

Note: We won’t ask you for proof of address during your signup, but we may request it for future profile verification.

6. You’ll need to specify how your business is structured - fundamentally, we need to know how your business ownership is structured for future profile verification. By law, we must record all legal persons linked to a Yoco profile. Please read the descriptions carefully before making your selection.

You’ll now get redirected to the Yoco Mobile/Web App to complete your Yoco profile setup. Find out more here.


What you'll need

Yoco Signup is about getting all your key information, so that we can create your Yoco Profile. We’ll then verify your details, before we can pay you out. While we get you onboarded, we’ll keep all the money you’ve transacted safe for when your verification is complete and you’re eligible for your first payout.

Note: If you’re not the sole owner of the business, you must be a director, partner, member or trustee of the business you’re signing up for.

  1. Email address: this will be used to contact you with important (legal) messages from us.
    💡Please use an email address that you use actively, because it’s a core part of your Yoco profile.

  2. Mobile number: this will form part of your Profile’s security authentication, but unlike your email address, your mobile number can more easily be changed or reallocated to another Yoco Profile in future.
    💡Please provide an active number for yourself or your business, because we like to keep in touch and offer multi-channel support and notifications.

  3. Trading address: This is where you operate from, and where your customers and important mail can find you — it may also be your home address.

    💡 We may ask you for proof of address.

4. Residential address: This is where you live – and where you put your feet up after a

successful day of transacting with Yoco!

You'll later have to finish your Yoco Profile with identification and verification checks to get your first Payout. Read more here.

  1. Identification:

    💡We only accept original identification documents, which must be current and valid (not expired).


    RSA IDs: Green ID book, or Smart ID card, or Barcoded Passport

    International IDs: Barcoded Passport, and valid work visa

  2. South African Bank Account: must be transactional (that means, your account can make and take payments). Typical transactional bank accounts include a, current or cheque account. If you’re unsure, check with your bank or on your banking profile.


Signing up for Yoco online payments?

If you'd like to sign up with Yoco so you can use the ever-powerful Yoco Payments Gateway for your online store, look no further. You'll be asked to enter your website url, so we can verify that it's real. For the rest, the signup process will be the same.

Note: To use our other online payments, like Yoco Link, Invoices, Payments Page and Vouchers, you'll either need to buy or register an existing Yoco card machine when you sign up.


Business details needed for signup

Once you've added your profile contact details and ticked the box to accept or Terms, it's time to tell us more about you and your business:

  1. Business name: Not sure yet? That's okay, you can update this anytime in your Profile. It could be your name, your trading name, or whatever your customers best know you by.

  2. Entity or Business Structure: this will determine which documents you’ll need to submit to complete the verification process and finish your Setup for Payouts.

    1. Self-employed person / Sole Trader: Any private person, individual or one-man show, working to generate a profit for their own benefit / loss. You must be the only person who owns the business.

    2. Private Company (Pty) Ltd: Any business which has been registered as a (Pty) Ltd with the CIPC. You must be a Registered Director of the Company.

    3. Partnership / many co-owners: A partnership is a type of unregistered business, and is the relationship between two or more persons (the partners), who join forces in business to generate a profit together. You must be one of the partners or co-owners of the business.

    4. Close Corporation (CC): Any business which has been registered as a CC with the CIPC. You must be a Registered Member of the Close Corporation.

    5. Non-Profit Organisation: Any entity established for the purposes of “good works” and not for any financial gain or profit. An NPO can be registered or unregistered. Common types of NPOs are churches, clubs, schools and associations. You must be one of the Directors, or the Chairperson, Treasurer or Secretary of the NPO.

    6. Trust: A special legal construct between at least three persons, whereby assets are managed for a specific benefit. You must be one of the Trustees.

  3. Business Owner Name and Surname: this is your name, and if you’re not the sole owner of the business, you must be a director, partner, member or trustee of the business you’re signing up for.

  4. About your Business: Categorise your primary business activity (what you’ll be taking payments for), also called your Merchant Category Code (MCC) and which allows us to classify all transactions (by law) processed through Yoco.

Once you've completed these details, your Yoco profile is created and all that's left to do is get it verified for payouts and get transacting!

Note: Yoco doesn't permit all types of businesses and/or business activities. Please read more about our prohibited business list here.

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