Research

State of small business payments in Ghana 2026

How do small businesses in Ghana take payment, keep records and count the cash? There are few published numbers, so we are asking owners directly. 9 questions, about two minutes. We publish the results free for everyone.

For owners and managers of a business in Ghana: one answer per business, please. How the study works

What kind of business do you run?

01What kind of business do you run?

Restaurant, chop bar or food jointBar, pub or drinking spotBarbershopHair or beauty salon, nail bar or spaCosmetics or beauty shopShop, mini-mart or provision storePharmacy or medicine shopSomething else

Which region is the business in?

02Which region is the business in?

Greater AccraAshantiCentralEasternWesternWestern NorthVoltaOtiNorthernSavannahNorth EastUpper EastUpper WestBonoBono EastAhafo

How many people work in the business, including you?

03How many people work in the business, including you?

Just me2 to 56 to 1011 or more

On a normal day, about how much of your takings comes in by Mobile Money?

04On a normal day, about how much of your takings comes in by Mobile Money?

Less than a quarterA quarter to halfHalf to three quartersMore than three quartersI don't know

Which ways can customers pay you?

05Which ways can customers pay you?

Tick all that apply.

CashMobile MoneyBank cardBank transferOn credit (pay later)

How do you mostly record your sales?

06How do you mostly record your sales?

In a notebookOn a phone, in notes or a spreadsheetIn a POS or accounting softwareI don't record each sale

How often do you count the cash and MoMo against your records?

07How often do you count the cash and MoMo against your records?

Every dayEvery weekNow and thenNever

Which of these cost you the most money or time?

08Which of these cost you the most money or time?

Choose up to three.

Checking that MoMo payments really came inCash short at the end of the dayStock going missingCustomers who owe and don't payNetwork or power going offWorking out VAT and leviesKnowing what to charge and what I makeCustomers who book and don't come

Is the business registered for VAT?

09Is the business registered for VAT?

YesNoI'm not sure

Email me the results when they are publishedOptional. We use your email only to send the results, and never share it.

No names, no business names, no phone numbers. How we use the answers