September in South Africa is Heritage Month; a time for all of us to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions and diverse histories that define our nation. Beyond the braais and traditional attire, it’s an opportunity to honour the very spirit of South Africa—a spirit of resilience, innovation and community. This spirit is most tangible in our local entrepreneurs and small businesses, the true heart and soul of our economy. They are the storytellers, the creators and the innovators who breathe life into our communities and contribute to our shared heritage.
At Payfast by Network, we are not just a payment gateway; we are a proudly South African partner dedicated to the success of our local businesses. We understand that when these enterprises thrive, they create jobs, empower communities and fortify the economic backbone of our country. This is why we are committed to providing the financial tools and technology to help South African entrepreneurs get paid, so they can focus on what they do best: building their businesses and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
The payment tools to grow your local business
Running a business in today’s fast-paced world is a demanding, 24/7 job. Your ability to get paid should be the one thing that never sleeps. Our Always Open promise is our commitment to you: we ensure your business can accept payments securely and seamlessly, day and night, no matter where your customers are. Our platform is built to provide uninterrupted service, so you never have to worry about missing a sale, whether it’s on a public holiday or in the middle of the night.
Our comprehensive suite of payment solutions is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of South African businesses, from small-scale startups to growing enterprises. We provide the infrastructure you need to not only survive but to truly flourish.
Online Payments
Our robust payment gateway integrates with more than 70 e-commerce platforms, including popular options like Shopify and WooCommerce, making it incredibly simple to set up your online store and start transacting. We offer an extensive range of payment methods that South African customers know and trust, from credit and debit cards to Instant EFT, QR payments like SnapScan and Zapper, and more, ensuring a smooth and convenient checkout experience for everyone.
Immediate Payouts
We understand that cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. Waiting for your money can put a strain on your operations. That’s why we offer Immediate Payouts, a feature that gives you nearly instant access to your funds. With this solution, you can manage your expenses, pay your suppliers and reinvest in your business without the traditional waiting period, ensuring your business keeps running smoothly.
Easy Advance
Scaling a business often requires capital, but traditional funding can be a long and complicated process. Our Easy Advance business funding, in partnership with TymeBank, provides a quick and flexible solution. Based on your business’s turnover, we can offer funding with no complex paperwork or lengthy application processes, helping you get the capital you need to seize new opportunities, launch a new product, or simply boost your inventory.
Multi-Currency Pricing
The world is your market, and your business shouldn’t be limited by geographical boundaries. With our Multi-Currency Pricing feature, you can sell to international customers in their local currency. This not only makes your products more accessible to a global audience but also simplifies the buying process for international shoppers, helping you expand your reach and grow your business beyond the borders of South Africa.
Payment Request Links
Don’t have a website? No problem. Our Payment Request Links solution lets you create a simple payment link to share via social media, email or WhatsApp. It’s the perfect tool for freelancers, consultants and businesses that take orders through messaging apps. You can get paid instantly and securely without the need for a complex online store, turning a simple chat into a completed transaction in seconds.
In-person Payments
As a key component of our unified commerce solution, our sleek and portable digital and print Network POS devices allow you to accept card payments in person, whether at a pop-up market, a trade show or a physical retail store. This device seamlessly links your in-person sales with your online Payfast account, giving you a single, clear view of all your transactions and inventory in one place.
Recurring Billing
For businesses that operate on a subscription model or for non-profit organisations that rely on regular donations, our Recurring Billing feature is a game-changer. It automates recurring payments, simplifying the process for both you and your customers, ensuring a consistent and predictable revenue stream.
Real stories of South African success
We are proud to partner with tens of thousands of local businesses across the country, helping them turn their passions into profitable realities. Their stories are a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and the role that reliable financial tools can play in a business’s growth. These are just a few of their journeys:
Fenn Collection
This South African brand, born from a mother’s ingenuity, has grown from a home-based business into a globally recognised name. Fenn Collection uses Payfast to provide a seamless checkout process, which has been a key factor in reducing abandoned carts and boosting conversions. This has allowed the brand to focus on what it does best: crafting timeless, versatile accessories for women everywhere, while also inspiring a new generation of female entrepreneurs.
Fines SA
As an online platform that streamlines the process of paying traffic fines, Fines SA needed a payment gateway that was not only simple and secure but also instilled a high level of trust in its customers. Payfast’s platform delivers exactly that, providing a seamless and “pain-free” process for a transaction that is often considered a “grudge purchase.” This partnership has allowed Fines SA to solidify its reputation and focus on its core mission of simplifying a notoriously complex process for all South Africans.
Seeds for Africa
What began as a family’s passion for gardening has blossomed into a thriving online business that provides seeds, gardening supplies and expert advice to a growing community of enthusiasts. Seeds for Africa chose Payfast for its easy integration with their ecommerce platform and its wide range of payment options, which makes it simple for customers across the country to place orders. By providing a trusted and reliable payment solution, Payfast has helped this proudly South African business grow its online presence and share its love for gardening with countless households.
These businesses, and countless others like them, are a testament to the resilience and creativity of South African entrepreneurs. They are the heart of our economy, and we are honoured to be a part of their journey.
This Heritage Month, we encourage you to actively support a local business. From the crafter in your community to the small brand you follow on social media, every purchase you make has a ripple effect that contributes to our collective prosperity. And for the entrepreneurs out there, remember that we are here to help you get paid, so your business can be Always Open to new opportunities, new customers and new levels of growth.
Learn more about Payfast for your local business.
