Cash feels simple. It changes hands, it’s familiar, and on the surface it seems “free.” But when you look closer, cash is anything but cheap. Its hidden costs—both visible and invisible—pile up on households, businesses, and governments across Africa.
At VeryPay, we spend a lot of time not just thinking about how money moves, but about what it really costs to move it. When you place the numbers side by side, the case for digital payments isn’t just strong—it’s undeniable.
The Hidden Costs Households Bear
For a parent paying school fees in cash, the expense is rarely just the fee. It’s the hours spent traveling, the transport fare, and the income lost from time away from work. In rural communities, these indirect costs can swallow 10–15% of the total payment.
Digital payments erase much of that friction. With a few taps on a phone, parents save on travel, gain time back, and get the assurance that their payment is received, recorded, and traceable. That peace of mind has economic value too.
Why Businesses Lose More Than They Realize
For businesses, cash comes with inefficiencies. Retailers must handle safekeeping, reconcile balances manually, and face the ever-present risk of theft or leakage. Across emerging markets, small businesses lose 2–5% of revenue annually simply from the risks of cash handling.
Digital systems flip that script. They streamline reconciliation, reduce leakage, and create transaction histories that unlock access to credit. A small shopkeeper who once lived hand-to-mouth on cash now has the data to apply for a micro-loan, restock inventory, and grow.
Governments and the Price of Opacity
Governments pay a steep price for cash as well. In economies where up to 90% of transactions remain informal, tax bases shrink, subsidies leak, and planning turns into guesswork. Minting, transporting, and securing physical currency costs central banks millions each year.
Digital shifts bring transparency. They widen the tax base without raising rates and reduce leakage in subsidy programs. For governments trying to fund schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, going digital is not just about innovation—it’s a fiscal necessity.
Why This Matters for Financial Inclusion
The real cost of cash is not only financial—it’s opportunity lost. Every cash-only exchange is a data point that vanishes into the informal economy. Every unbanked household is one locked out of credit, insurance, and savings.
Digital payments change that. They create records. Records create credit histories. And credit histories open doors to inclusive finance. That chain reaction can shift the trajectory of millions of families.
The Way Forward
For Africa, the move away from cash isn’t about convenience. It’s about economics. A continent projected to host a quarter of the world’s population by 2050 cannot afford the inefficiencies of cash.
That’s why at Très Payer, we build with both the micro and the macro in mind. From enabling offline-first transactions in schools and markets to helping institutions manage transparent, auditable flows, our goal is to reduce the silent tax of cash on African economies.
Because the future of finance isn’t just about moving faster. It’s about moving smarter, cheaper, and more inclusively. And that future is already within reach.
Mondial
Ouganda
Sénégal
Zambie