What is Happy Pay?
Happy Pay is a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) online checkout option available to eligible Yoco merchants. Instead of paying upfront, your customers can spread the cost over two paycheques, removing the hesitation at checkout and making bigger purchases feel more manageable. The result: more completed purchases, fewer abandoned carts, and bigger basket sizes. For more visit happypay.co.za
💰 How do you get paid? You get the full amount (minus fees) upfront – you don't wait for your customer to finish paying their instalments. Happy Pay settlements are paid into your bank account in line with your normal Yoco settlement schedule and show up with your card settlements, so there's nothing extra to reconcile.
✨ New to Yoco's online payments? Set up your online store first. Here's how to get started.
How does Happy Pay work?
To offer Happy Pay, your business needs to meet certain eligibility criteria set by Yoco. These criteria are assessed automatically – no action is required on your part.
If your business meets the criteria, Happy Pay will appear in the BNPL section of your Payment methods page in the Yoco App (mobile or web). If you don't see it there, your business doesn't currently meet the criteria.
✨ Eligibility criteria can change over time, so keep checking – an option that isn't available now, may become available later.
If you qualify for Happy Pay, you can apply for it as a payment method in the Yoco App (mobile or web) and it will automatically appear at your online checkout – no extra setup required.
Happy Pay fees
Happy Pay fees are charged over and above your Yoco online payment fees, which are determined by the Yoco Plan you're on.
Happy Pay fees can be found here.
💡 Good to know: Happy Pay is available for Yoco's online payment methods only. It doesn't apply to in-person card machine payments.
Applying for Happy Pay as a payment method
Select the Business settings tab near the bottom of the menu (web app) or your business name in the top right corner of your screen (mobile app).
Select the Payment methods tile/widget.
Select the Edit button next to the Online Checkout heading.
Select the Manage providers tile/widget under the Buy Now Pay Later heading.
If your business is eligible for BNPL services, the options will be visible on your screen. Select the Happy Pay tile.
When the dropdown opens up, select the Apply button.
Read through the information sheet, then select the Apply for Happy Pay button. Please note that by selecting this button, you’re agreeing to Happy Pay’s Terms & Conditions.
A confirmation message will appear once your application has been submitted.
💡 Good to know: The Happy Pay application is almost instant. You'll be notified of the outcome in the Yoco App (mobile or web) and via email.
✨ Your customers will deal directly with Happy Pay for their instalment plan. Any questions they have about repayments, due dates, or their instalment schedule should be directed to Happy Pay.
Disabling Happy Pay as a payment method
Select the Business settings tab near the bottom of the menu (web app) or your business name in the top right corner of your screen (mobile app).
Select the Payment methods tile/widget.
Select the Edit button on the right of your screen.
Toggle the Happy Pay switch to the 'off' position.
Happy Pay will immediately be removed from your online checkout.
Viewing your Happy Pay transactions
You can view your Happy Pay sales in your Sales history with all your other online payments.
Go to the Sales tab.
Select the Sales history tile/widget.
Select any Happy Pay transaction to view the sale details.
Communicating with your customers
Happy Pay only works for you if your customers know about it. Here's the messaging, assets, and FAQs you need to get it in front of them.
Key messaging
Customers are more likely to use Happy Pay when they understand exactly how it works. Try to cover these key points on your product page, at checkout, and on social media:
Happy Pay splits your purchase into two equal, interest-free payments.
Pay the first instalment at checkout, the second one is collected automatically from your card on the date Happy Pay confirms.
There's no credit check – approval is instant and most customers qualify, so you can check out with confidence. (This is a key message, so try to lead with it)
Your order is sent as soon as payment goes through.
Happy Pay manages your instalment plan – please contact them directly for anything repayment-related.
Example messaging: Split your purchase into two interest-free payments with Happy Pay. Choose Happy Pay at checkout, pay half now and half later, and we'll send your order right away – no credit check, no interest.
⭐ Top tip: Happy Pay is available on your online checkout only, so keep your messaging focused on your online store rather than in-person sales.
Marketing toolkit
Happy Pay has ready-made banners, badges, social assets and copy you can use in your store and across your channels.
Customer FAQs
We've prepared answers to your customers' most common questions, ready for you to use.
What is Happy Pay and how do I pay with it? Happy Pay lets you split your purchase into two equal, interest-free payments instead of paying everything upfront. Select Happy Pay at checkout, sign in or create an account, and pay the first half. The second payment is collected automatically from your card on the date Happy Pay confirms.
Does Happy Pay cost me anything extra? No, there’s no interest, no fees, and the price of your order stays exactly the same. It's worth reading the terms at checkout so you know what happens if a payment is missed.
Do I need to pass a credit check? No, Happy Pay doesn't run a credit check, so you'll know straight away at checkout whether you can use it. If Happy Pay isn't available to you, you can still pay by card.
💬 FAQs
What happens if my customer doesn't pay their second instalment? This doesn't affect you. Once a Happy Pay transaction is completed at your checkout, you receive your settlement from Yoco regardless of whether the customer pays their second instalment. Happy Pay carries the credit risk and manages all collections from the consumer directly. You are never liable for a customer's missed payment.
What happens with refunds? If you need to refund a Happy Pay transaction, you process the refund through your normal Yoco refund flow. The refund is communicated to Happy Pay automatically, and the customer's remaining instalment is adjusted or cancelled accordingly. The refund amount is deducted from your next settlement, just like a standard card refund.
Are there minimum or maximum order values? Happy Pay sets its own minimum and maximum purchase amounts for consumers. There's no minimum or maximum transaction value that you need to configure on your side – Happy Pay handles this automatically.
Do my customers need a credit check to use Happy Pay? No, unlike some other BNPL providers, Happy Pay does not run a credit check on your customers. This means more of your customers are likely to be approved, which can result in higher conversion rates at checkout. The trade-off is that Happy Pay offers two instalments rather than three or four.
Can I turn Happy Pay off after enabling it? Yes, you can toggle Happy Pay on or off at any time from the Payment methods page in your Yoco App. Toggling it off removes Happy Pay as a payment option from your online checkout. Any existing Happy Pay transactions that are already in progress (where a customer still owes their second payment) are unaffected – they continue as normal. You can toggle it back on whenever you're ready.
Does enabling Happy Pay affect my existing checkout or card payments? No, enabling Happy Pay adds it as an additional payment option at your online checkout. Your existing card payment flow remains exactly the same. Customers who don't want to use Happy Pay simply continue paying by card as usual. There's no change to your card processing fees, settlement schedule, or checkout experience for non-BNPL transactions.
Who do I contact if I have a problem with Happy Pay? For any issues with enabling or managing Happy Pay in your Yoco App, contact Yoco Support via our in-app chat. If a customer has a question about their Happy Pay payment or second instalment, they should contact Happy Pay directly – Happy Pay manages the consumer relationship and all instalment-related queries.
Need more help?
Start a conversation with a Yoco Support consultant via our in-app chat.