Yoco's Prohibited Businesses
Updated over a week ago

It is our goal to help small businesses grow and we invite all businesses to apply for Yoco. However, there are certain products and services that you cannot sell with Yoco.

All Yoco transactions, whether in-person or online, are processed immediately, and in full. Yoco won't allow you to deduct money at any point after the transaction is securely processed with your customer.

Stuff you can’t do using Yoco:

  • Take debit order payments

  • Take offline transactions

  • Sell electricity or airtime

  • Cash withdrawals

  • Use in a loan business

  • Charge your customers for card transaction fees (illegal in RSA)

Prohibited business types at Yoco:

  • Time-share or Holiday Club organisations.

  • Criminal enterprises, or for pyramid selling.

  • Bureaus de Change, high-risk security investments, commodity investments and other investment merchant enterprises.

  • Agencies of adult content and/or escort services.

  • Sale of prescription or illegal drugs, or tobacco products (including cannabis and CBD products).

  • Independent financial advisers.

Get the full document here.

Why are cash loans / financial services / Crypto traders not allowed?

Merchants who operate cash loan businesses, or provide financial services, or sell financial products, are not allowed to use Yoco. It’s clearly stated on Yoco’s prohibited list - included both on the website as well as in our merchant agreements. For more, see Yoco’s prohibited businesses list here.

Why are cannabis and CBD products not allowed when they’re no longer illegal?

CBD products fall under medicinal and prescription drugs, which are not allowed as per Yoco’s Terms. Cannabis is also still not legal to sell in South Africa, and therefore a prohibited business type.
Please refer to Visa and Mastercard merchant rules for additional requirements.

Get the rules for MasterCard here and for Visa here.


Please note: Those found to be engaging in any of the above prohibited activities, will have their merchant services terminated, in accordance with our Terms. Read more about them here.

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