How to onboard a business

The five steps

1. 1

   Find a real business and explain it simply

   Good fits: anyone selling or serving customers in or around Nairobi - shops, salons and barbers, food spots, fundis and mechanics, boutiques, landlords and agents, tutors, photographers, event people.

   What to say “NairobiCity is where people in Nairobi look for shops, services, houses and deals. Listing your business is free - customers find you and WhatsApp or call you directly. I can set it up with you right now, it takes about 10 minutes.”
2. 2

   Create their account - with your code

   On the owner's phone, open your business link (it's on your dashboard) and tap Create my business account. Or open NairobiCity, tap Sign up, choose A business, and type your code under "Have a referral code?".

   • They choose a username, enter their email and a password.
   • A 6-digit code is emailed to them - they must be able to open that email there and then. No email? Help them create a free Gmail first.
   • The account must be theirs. Never use your own email or phone for their account, and never keep their password.
3. 3

   Fill in the business form together

   Right after signing up they land on the business form (Become a merchant). It has seven short parts:

   1. What they offer - tick every kind that fits, and describe it in a sentence or two.
   2. The business - the name customers know, and how it is set up (see the checklist below).
   3. Contact - phone and WhatsApp customers should use.
   4. Where - county, sub-county and estate; a road or landmark helps customers find them.
   5. How customers pay - M-Pesa number, Buy Goods till or Paybill.
   6. Documents - optional, but a photo of the business permit or registration certificate gets approval faster.
   7. Marketer code - if they signed up with your link it already shows you. If not, type your code here - this is what credits you.
4. 4

   Wait for review - and fix anything asked

   An admin checks every business, usually within 1-2 working days. Your Businesses page shows where each one is:

   Signed up account made, form not sent - go back and finish it with them In review nothing to do, wait Needs info read the admin's note, help them update the form and send it again Approvato you're paid - move to step 5 Not approved read why; if it can be fixed they can apply again
5. 5

   Help them post their first listing

   An approved business with nothing listed gets no customers. Help them add a first product, service, home or deal from their Merchant hub - clear photos in daylight, a real price, and a description that says what's included. It shows as Live on your dashboard once it is up.