Research by Manuel Technologies
State of small business payments in Ghana 2026
An open study of how small businesses in Ghana take payment and keep their money in order. This page explains exactly how it is done, so anyone can judge the results when they are published.
What we are studying
How small businesses in Ghana are paid (cash, Mobile Money, card, transfer and credit), how they record sales, how often they count the money against their records, and which problems cost them the most. Owners, advisers and journalists often quote guesses about these things. We want numbers that come from owners themselves.
Who can take part
Owners and managers of a business operating in Ghana: restaurants and chop bars, bars, barbershops, salons, beauty shops, shops and mini-marts, pharmacies and others. One answer per business. You don't need to use MPOS.
How answers are collected
Through the form at mpos.bz/survey, shared by Manuel Technologies, our consultants and partners, and on WhatsApp. Every question is a fixed choice, so nothing is reinterpreted afterwards. Each browser can answer once, and we note which shared link an answer came from so we can see how each channel shapes the sample.
The limits, said plainly
This is not a random sample of Ghanaian businesses. The people who answer are the people our links reach, and they may be more online and more organised than the average business. The results describe the businesses that answered, not every business in Ghana. We will say how many answered, show results by business type and region, and not report any group with fewer than 20 answers.
When the results come out
We started collecting answers in October 2026. We will publish once at least 200 businesses have answered, on this page, free: every chart with its table, the number of answers behind it, and the full anonymous answers as a spreadsheet anyone can check. Until then there are no results, and we won't quote any.
Your privacy
We don't ask for your name, your business's name or your phone number. An email is asked only if you want the results sent to you, is used only for that, and is never published or shared. Individual answers are never published in a way that could identify a business. See our privacy policy.
The questions
Exactly as asked, with every possible answer.
01What kind of business do you run?
Restaurant, chop bar or food joint · Bar, pub or drinking spot · Barbershop · Hair or beauty salon, nail bar or spa · Cosmetics or beauty shop · Shop, mini-mart or provision store · Pharmacy or medicine shop · Something else
02Which region is the business in?
Greater Accra · Ashanti · Central · Eastern · Western · Western North · Volta · Oti · Northern · Savannah · North East · Upper East · Upper West · Bono · Bono East · Ahafo
03How many people work in the business, including you?
Just me · 2 to 5 · 6 to 10 · 11 or more
04On a normal day, about how much of your takings comes in by Mobile Money?
Less than a quarter · A quarter to half · Half to three quarters · More than three quarters · I don't know
05Which ways can customers pay you? Tick all that apply.
Cash · Mobile Money · Bank card · Bank transfer · On credit (pay later)
06How do you mostly record your sales?
In a notebook · On a phone, in notes or a spreadsheet · In a POS or accounting software · I don't record each sale
07How often do you count the cash and MoMo against your records?
Every day · Every week · Now and then · Never
08Which of these cost you the most money or time? Choose up to three.
Checking that MoMo payments really came in · Cash short at the end of the day · Stock going missing · Customers who owe and don't pay · Network or power going off · Working out VAT and levies · Knowing what to charge and what I make · Customers who book and don't come
09Is the business registered for VAT?
Yes · No · I'm not sure
Citing this study
Once published: Manuel Technologies (2026). State of small business payments in Ghana 2026. mpos.bz/research. Questions about the method are welcome on WhatsApp through the button on our homepage.