> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usebila.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Business Verification (KYB)
> Step-by-step guide to verifying your Bila business account, required documents, PACRA requirements, UBO documentation, and what to expect at every step.
# KYB — Business Verification
Getting started on Bila as a business is a two-part process. First you complete **registration** to create your account, then you **log in and complete KYB (Know Your Business) verification** before you can collect or send money. Every document submitted is manually reviewed by the Bila compliance team.
You will not be able to collect or send money until your KYB verification is complete. Start verification as soon as your account is created, and gather your business documents in advance to avoid delays.
***
## What You Need Before You Start
During verification you'll be asked whether your business is formally registered. The documents you need depend on your answer:
| Document | Notes |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **PACRA Certificate** | Certificate of company registration. All pages required — submitting only the first page is not sufficient |
| **Tax Clearance Certificate** | Valid tax clearance certificate from ZRA |
| **PACRA Form 3** | Particulars of directors and shareholders as filed with PACRA |
| **ID of each UBO** | Government-issued ID for every Ultimate Beneficial Owner |
| Document | Notes |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Certificate of Incorporation (or equivalent)** | Official document confirming the legal formation of the company in its country of registration. All pages required |
| **Ownership or Shareholding Document** | Confirms who owns or controls the business |
| **ID of each UBO** | Government-issued ID for every Ultimate Beneficial Owner |
If your business is not formally registered, you'll complete verification as an **individual merchant** instead — the documents above won't apply to you. See the [Individual Verification](/docs/guide/kyc-individual-verification) guide.
You'll also need a **government-issued identity document** (driver's license, ID card, residence permit, or passport) for the primary account holder and a **proof of business address** document — see [Part 2 — KYB Verification](#part-2-kyb-verification) below.
***
## Part 1 — Registration
Registration takes you through **4 steps**:
| Step | Name | What happens |
| ----- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1** | Business | Choose account type, enter business name, select intended use |
| **2** | Personal | Enter the primary account holder's name, email, phone, and settlement account |
| **3** | Verification | Placeholder step — verification happens after you log in |
| **4** | Security | Create your password and agree to Terms of Service |
### Step 1 — Business
**Account type**
Select **Business** — *For a company or organization*.
**Business name**
Enter your **registered business name** — this is the name that will appear on your payment links, invoices, and your public store if you use one.
**Intended use**
Select all that apply to how your business plans to use Bila:
* Accept payments on my own website
* Use Bila's product store
* Receive bank transfers directly
* Get paid by sharing payment links
* Track and manage business expenses
* Use Bila's suite of APIs
Click **Continue →** to proceed.
***
### Step 2 — Personal Details
Enter the personal information of the **primary account holder** — the person completing the registration on behalf of the business:
| Field | Notes |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **First name** | Legal first name of the account holder |
| **Last name** | Legal last name of the account holder |
| **Email Address** | A valid business email address. Bila checks availability in real time and shows **✓ Email is available** when confirmed |
| **Phone Number** | Business or personal mobile number with country code pre-selected (e.g. ZM +260) |
**Settlement account**
Set up where your business payouts are sent:
| Field | Required | Notes |
| ----------------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Account type** | ✅ Yes | Select **Mobile Money** — supports Airtel, MTN, or Zamtel |
| **Mobile money number** | ✅ Yes | Your business mobile money number (e.g. `0977433571`) |
| **Transfer type** | Auto | Set to **Mobile Money** automatically |
Settlement details shown automatically:
> **Arrives same day • Fee: 2% • K15.00 transfer fee**
Once your number is entered, Bila resolves and displays the registered account name as confirmation before you continue.
| Field | Required | Notes |
| ------------------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Account type** | ✅ Yes | Select **Bank Account** — local bank transfer |
| **Bank** | ✅ Yes | Select your bank from the dropdown |
| **Transfer type** | ✅ Yes | Select how quickly you want funds to arrive |
| **Account number** | ✅ Yes | Your business bank account number (e.g. `1234567890`) |
| **Bank branch** | ✅ Yes | Your bank branch (e.g. *Lusaka Main Branch*) |
### Transfer types
| Type | Arrival | Fee | Transfer fee |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | --- | ------------ |
| **Standard (DDAC)** | Next business day | 2% | K20.00 |
| **Express (RTGS)** | Same day | 2% | K50.00 |
Click **Continue →** to proceed to the Security step. Verification happens separately, after you log in.
***
### Step 3 — Security
Create the account password for the primary account holder:
| Field | Notes |
| --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Password** | Must be at least **8 characters** |
| **Confirm Password** | Must match the password above exactly |
| **Terms of Service and Privacy Policy** | You must check the box to agree before the account can be created |
Click **Create Account →** to complete registration. You'll receive a confirmation email — then log in to begin KYB verification.
Already have an account? Click **Log In** at the bottom of any registration screen.
***
## Part 2 — KYB Verification
After logging in, click **Start verification** to begin. This opens a popup where you first accept the terms and conditions, then proceed through the following steps.
At any point during verification you can tap **Continue on phone** to switch to your mobile device. This is strongly recommended for document capture and the selfie check — phone cameras produce better results than most laptop cameras.
Enter the primary account holder's personal information exactly as it appears on their government-issued ID. This is matched against the identity document submitted later in this flow — any mismatch will cause a rejection.
| Field | Notes |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| **First name** | As shown on their ID |
| **Last name** | As shown on their ID |
| **Date of birth** | Format: dd/mm/yyyy |
| **Nationality** | Country of citizenship |
| **Tax residence country** | The country where they are tax resident |
A **6-digit code** is sent to the registered business email address. Enter the code to confirm ownership of the email. If you don't receive it within a minute, check your spam folder or click **Resend**.
The registered phone number is verified. Keep your phone nearby and switched on so the verification prompt arrives without delay.
Upload a clear photo or scan of the primary account holder's identity document — one of:
* **Driver's license**
* **ID card**
* **Residence permit**
* **Passport**
The document must be valid, undamaged, and not expired. See the [Document & Photo Quality Guide](#document--photo-quality-guide) below before uploading.
The primary account holder takes a **live photo using their webcam or phone camera** so our system can confirm they are the person in the identity document. You must be well-lit, facing the camera directly, with no hat, sunglasses, or face covering. An automated liveness check is performed.
Upload a document confirming your registered business address. Accepted documents:
* Utility bill in the company's name (dated within the last **90 days**)
* Bank statement in the company's name (dated within the last **90 days**)
* Lease agreement in the company's name
The document must clearly display the company's **legal entity name** and **registered address**. Personal address documents are not accepted for business verification.
Complete the Bila Merchant Profile questionnaire, covering your business's nature of operations, industry, expected transaction volumes, and source of funds.
The key question, which determines which additional documents you're asked to upload, is:
**Is your business formally registered? \***
* **Yes, registered with PACRA (Zambia)** — upload the PACRA certificate, Tax Clearance certificate, PACRA Form 3, and ID of each UBO
* **Yes, registered in another country** — upload the Certificate of Incorporation (or equivalent), an ownership or shareholding document, and ID of each UBO
* **No, I operate informally** — you'll continue as an individual merchant instead; see [Individual Verification](/docs/guide/kyc-individual-verification)
These responses and documents are reviewed manually by the Bila compliance team — incomplete or inconsistent answers will delay your approval.
***
## Document & Photo Quality Guide
Poor quality documents are the most common cause of KYB delays and rejections. Follow these standards carefully — every document is reviewed manually by the compliance team.
### The rules
Always upload **original documents or certified true copies**. Photocopies, screenshots, and photos taken of a screen are not accepted and will be rejected immediately by our automated system.
Every document must be submitted in full. **Do not submit only the first page** of multi-page documents like the PACRA Certificate or Certificate of Incorporation. Missing pages are a common cause of rejection.
Every character — company name, registration number, date, signatures — must be **clearly legible**. Zoom in on uploaded images before submitting and confirm every field is readable.
Photograph documents in a **well-lit space** with light coming from the front. Natural daylight produces the best results. Avoid dark rooms and direct overhead lighting that creates shadows across the document.
Glare on laminated documents is a common rejection cause. **Tilt the document slightly** to redirect reflections away from the camera. Never use direct flash on a laminated surface.
Place documents on a **flat, dark, non-reflective surface**. Hold your camera steady or use a document scanner for the cleanest results. Motion blur makes text unreadable.
### What to avoid
| ❌ Avoid | Why it causes rejection |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Photos of a screen showing the document | Detected as a digital copy — not an original |
| Screenshots of documents | Not accepted under any circumstances |
| Photocopies or printed scans | Do not show original security features |
| Submitting only the first page of a multi-page document | Incomplete — full document required |
| Blurry or out-of-focus images | Text cannot be verified |
| Cropped images missing edges or corners | Document authenticity cannot be confirmed |
| Dark or shadowy photos | Text is unreadable |
| Flash glare on laminated surfaces | Obscures data and security features |
| Expired documents | Cannot be used for verification |
| Documents not in the company's legal name | Personal documents are not accepted for business address proof |
### Accepted file formats
| Format | Max file size |
| ---------- | ------------- |
| PDF | 10 MB |
| JPEG / JPG | 10 MB |
| PNG | 10 MB |
### Selfie standards for the primary account holder
* Look **directly at the camera** — front-facing, not at an angle
* Your **full face must be clearly visible** — no hats, sunglasses, scarves, or face coverings
* Use **even lighting** — no harsh shadows across your face
* Use a **plain, light background** behind you
* Your appearance should match your ID photo as closely as possible
***
## KYB Verification Status
After submitting, your verification enters manual compliance review. You will be notified by email of the outcome.
| Status | What it means |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Pending** | Your submission is being manually reviewed by the Bila compliance team |
| **Approved** | Verification complete — your business account can now collect and send money |
| **Rejected** | Verification was unsuccessful — review the rejection details carefully, correct the issue, and resubmit |
| **Additional documents requested** | The compliance team requires more information or clarification — check your email and respond promptly |
KYB review is manual and typically takes **1–2 business days**. Submitting incomplete or poor quality documents will extend this timeline. Ensure everything is complete before submitting.
***
## Frequently Asked Questions
**How long does KYB verification take?** KYB requires manual review by the compliance team and typically takes 1–2 business days from the time all required documents are submitted correctly.
**Do I need to register with PACRA before I can sign up?** No. You can create your Bila account and complete registration regardless of where — or whether — your business is registered. During the verification questionnaire you'll be asked whether your business is registered with PACRA (Zambia), registered in another country, or operates informally, and the documents you're asked to upload depend on that answer. If you operate informally, you'll complete verification as an individual merchant instead — see [Individual Verification](/docs/guide/kyc-individual-verification).
**What is UBO documentation and when do I need it?** A UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) is any individual who owns or controls the business. If your business is registered — with PACRA or in another country — you'll need to provide a government-issued ID for each UBO as part of the verification questionnaire. If ownership is held through another company, the full ownership chain should be documented.
**Can I continue verification on my phone?** Yes. At any point in the verification flow, tap **Continue on phone** to switch devices. This is recommended for document capture and the selfie check.
**Why was my document rejected?** The most common reasons are: only the first page of a multi-page document was submitted, the document was a photocopy rather than an original, text was blurry or cropped, or the document was not in the company's legal name. Review the rejection reason in detail before resubmitting.
**Can I update my settlement account after registration?** Yes. You can add, edit, or change your settlement accounts at any time from **Settlements → Settlement Accounts**. See [Wallets & Settlements](/docs/guide/wallet-settlements) for full details.
***
## What's Next
Once your KYB verification is approved you will receive a confirmation email. Your business account is now fully active and you can:
Start collecting payments from your customers via mobile money.
List your products and start selling through your Bila storefront.
Send professional invoices to your customers and track payment status.
Add team members and assign access controls for your business account.
## Related
Registering as an individual, or operating informally? See the KYC verification guide instead.
Understand your verification status and what each one means.
Set up and manage your settlement accounts after verification.
Something not working during verification? Report it directly from your dashboard.