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Float Requirement Calculator (Kenya)

This float requirement calculator estimates how much e-float and cash a mobile money agent should hold for the busiest part of the day, so you stop turning customers away.

By Veira Team, Kenya SME toolsPublished June 2026Updated June 2026
Calculator
Result
Hold about KES 45,000 cash and KES 30,000 e-float
Value moving in peak 2 hoursKES 60,000
Cash to hold (for withdrawals)KES 45,000
E-float to hold (for deposits)KES 30,000
Total floatKES 75,000

Float is needed in two forms: cash for customers withdrawing, and e-float for customers depositing. Size each side to your busiest stretch, with a buffer, and rebalance at quiet times so you never run dry on the side that is in demand.

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Holding the right float, in the right form

Running dry is not about total float; it is about having the right form at the right time. If your evening is heavy on withdrawals, plenty of e-float is useless when customers want cash.

Size each side to the value that moves in your busiest couple of hours, add a buffer, and rebalance during quiet periods, before the rush, not after you have already turned someone away.

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Worked examples

Evening rush
  • 40 transactions at KES 1,500 is KES 60,000 moving.
  • At 60% withdrawals plus a 25% buffer, hold about KES 45,000 in cash.

Frequently asked questions

How much float should an M-Pesa agent hold?
Enough to cover the value moving in your busiest stretch, split between cash for withdrawals and e-float for deposits, with a safety buffer. Size each side to your real demand rather than holding a single round number.
Why do I run out of cash but not e-float?
Because demand has direction. If your area withdraws heavily at a certain time, your cash drains while e-float builds up, so you cannot serve a withdrawal even with plenty of total float. Balance both sides for the demand at each time of day.
When should I rebalance my float?
At predictable quiet points, before the rush. If evenings are heavy on withdrawals, convert e-float to cash in the early afternoon so you hold a deliberate cash buffer.
What buffer should I add?
A buffer of 20 to 30 percent over your expected peak is a reasonable starting point. Adjust it based on how often you currently run dry and how predictable your days are.
How does Veira help an agent?
For a shop running both sales and an agent line, Veira keeps the two separate in the records, so a withdrawal never quietly eats your shop change and each side reconciles on its own.

Doing this by hand every time? Veira runs the same calculation automatically on every sale, no spreadsheet required.

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