Payment methods in South Africa: PayShap, EFT and cash
Each one has its place. Here's which to offer first so you get paid faster with less back and forth.
PayShap: the fast way to get paid
PayShap is South Africa's real-time payment system, built by the banks and BankservAfrica, to move money between accounts in minutes rather than the next business day.
How it works: instead of sharing a full account number, you share a ShapID, often just your cellphone number, linked to your bank account. The customer opens their banking app, enters your ShapID as a 'Pay' or 'PayShap' recipient, confirms the amount, and the money lands in your account almost immediately.
Advantages: • Payment usually confirmed within minutes • Works across different banks without the customer needing your full account number • The customer pays straight from their own banking app • Automatic proof of payment on both sides
Worth knowing: • Not every customer has registered a ShapID yet, and awareness is still growing, so it helps to also have your account number ready as a backup. • Some banks and apps refer to it slightly differently in their menus ("Pay", "ShapID", "Instant Pay"), so it's worth knowing your own bank's wording when you explain it to a customer.
For tradespeople: keep your ShapID or phone number ready to share over WhatsApp the moment a job wraps up, and have your account number on hand too, in case the customer prefers a straightforward EFT.
With Prummo: add your payment details (ShapID or bank account) in your settings, and the customer sees them directly on the quote. You log the payment once it lands, and the quote status updates automatically.
EFT bank transfer: the traditional standby
While PayShap keeps growing in adoption, an ordinary EFT (electronic funds transfer) remains the most familiar way for most customers to pay, especially for bigger amounts.
How it works: the customer logs into their banking app or online banking, enters your account number, branch details and account type, confirms the payment, and the funds typically reflect the same day, sometimes instantly if you bank with the same institution.
Advantages: • Every customer with a bank account already knows how to do this • Free to receive at most banks • Automatic proof on the customer's bank statement • No practical limit for larger amounts, so it suits big jobs well
Worth knowing: • Payments between different banks can occasionally take a few hours to clear • The customer needs your full account details, which is a bit more friction than a PayShap ShapID
For bigger jobs, such as renovations or larger builds, requesting a deposit by EFT before starting materials procurement remains one of the safest habits you can build into your quoting.
Cash: still important for small jobs
Cash remains common for smaller jobs, quick call-outs, and situations where a customer simply prefers to settle on the spot.
Advantages: • Instant, no waiting on confirmation • No transaction cost • Doesn't rely on data, signal or banking apps • Works for any customer, regardless of what banking or payment apps they use
Worth knowing: • Carrying larger amounts of cash carries an obvious safety risk • Harder to keep an accurate record of your income if you don't log it somewhere • The customer may not have the exact amount on hand
Practical tip: for smaller jobs, cash works perfectly well. For bigger amounts, PayShap or EFT are more practical because they leave an automatic paper trail. Whichever method a customer pays with, log it in Prummo so your payment history stays organised, and if you do take cash, it's worth writing out a simple receipt with the date, amount and your signature.
Which one to use for each type of job
Quick comparison:
PayShap: no cost, minutes to clear, best for fast, everyday payments and deposits where the customer wants to pay from their phone. EFT bank transfer: usually free, minutes to a few hours to clear, best for larger amounts and deposits on bigger jobs. Cash: no cost, instant, best for small jobs or customers who simply prefer to pay on the spot.
Prummo doesn't process card payments and doesn't offer instalment or financing plans for South African quotes, you get paid directly via PayShap, EFT or cash, and you log each payment in the app yourself. That keeps your payment history organised and means you always know what's been paid and what's still outstanding.
With Prummo: log any payment type (PayShap, EFT or cash) directly against the quote. The customer can see the status of their payments on the same link they received.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to get paid?
PayShap and EFT are both typically free to receive at most banks, and the money lands within minutes to a few hours. Cash has no transaction cost either, but it's harder to keep track of accurately if you don't record it somewhere.
How do I set up PayShap to receive payments?
Check with your bank whether you already have a ShapID registered, usually your cellphone number linked to your account, through your banking app. Once it's set up, share it with customers over WhatsApp. In Prummo, add your ShapID or bank account details in Settings, and they'll appear automatically on your quotes.
Can customers pay me instantly even if we bank with different banks?
Yes. PayShap works across banks, so a customer with a different bank to yours can still pay you in minutes using your ShapID. If they'd rather use a standard EFT to your account number directly, that works too, it just may take a little longer to clear between different banks.
Is PayShap widely used by customers yet?
Adoption is still growing, and not every customer has a ShapID set up yet, though more banks and customers are using it all the time. In the meantime, always have your standard account number ready as a backup, EFT works just as well.
Can I accept card payments through Prummo in South Africa?
No, Prummo doesn't process card payments for South African quotes. You get paid directly by PayShap, EFT or cash, with no middleman and no card processing fees.
Cash or digital, which should I choose?
For small jobs, cash works well. For larger amounts, PayShap or EFT are safer because they leave an automatic record. Offer both and let the customer choose, the easier you make it to pay, the fewer excuses there are for delay.