Frequently asked questions
Everything about tips.ke, in one place. Contact us if something is missing.
Tipping
Do I need an app or account to tip? ⌄
No. Scan the QR code or follow the link, choose who you're tipping and how much, and pay with M-Pesa. Nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.
Can I tip more than one person at once? ⌄
Yes. "Who are you tipping?" lets you pick several people with checkboxes, the whole team, or one department (kitchen, reception, and so on). Whichever you pick, the amount splits evenly among everyone included.
Do I need the worker's phone number? ⌄
No, and that's the point. You never see or need anyone's personal M-Pesa number, tips.ke routes the payout to the right person for you.
Do I need the M-Pesa app to tip? ⌄
No. Enter your M-Pesa number and a PIN prompt arrives on your phone. Approve it and the tip is sent.
Getting paid
How do I get paid out? ⌄
Automatically. Once your balance reaches KES 1,000, tips.ke pays it out to your M-Pesa number on its own, you never have to request a withdrawal.
What's the sign-up tip? ⌄
The first 1,000 accounts get a KES 50 tip from tips.ke for completing sign-up, 1,000 left right now. To claim it, verify your phone number, then add your full name as on your ID and your national ID number on your account page. It's added to your balance straight away and paid out with your first KES 1,000 in tips, to your verified M-Pesa number. One per person: each ID number can claim it once. The ID number is stored encrypted and used only for that check.
How much does tips.ke take? ⌄
A 5% handling fee on payouts, same for everyone. You keep 95%. There's no signup fee and no monthly fee. For example, a KES 1,000 tip pays out KES 950 to the worker or team, the remaining KES 50 covers the fee.
I work in the kitchen, not with customers, can I still get tips? ⌄
Yes. Back-office staff (chefs, stewards, cleaners) can't be tipped by name since tippers never meet them directly, but they share in whichever department or whole-team pool tips they're part of.
I switched teams, do I lose my account? ⌄
No, your tips.ke account, balance, and tip link stay yours. You can even work at more than one team at once, add a second job from your own dashboard without losing anything from the first.
For teams
How do I set up my team? ⌄
Sign up, add your staff by name and M-Pesa number, and optionally group them into departments (kitchen, reception, delivery, and so on). You get one QR code for the whole team.
Can I see who's getting tipped? ⌄
Your dashboard shows each staff member's balance. A leaderboard ranking who's earning the most appreciation is still being built.
Is there paperwork before I can start? ⌄
No in-person KYC to sign up and start receiving tips. You only need a name and an M-Pesa number, see Terms.
Account and security
How do I log in? ⌄
With your phone number (a code is sent to verify it, when SMS is available) or with Google or email and password. Whichever you use, it's the same account, you can add the others later from your dashboard.
What if I lose access to my phone? ⌄
Link a Google account or set a password from your dashboard ahead of time, either gets you back in without your phone.