Merchants
For merchants, FORUS removes every barrier between them and digital commerce: no fees, no hardware requirements, no credit history needed for financing. The network's success depends on merchant density — which means operators must make the onboarding case compelling from day one.
Merchant density is the foundation of network value. The more merchants accept FORUS, the more consumers adopt it — and vice versa. As a national operator, your first priority is merchant onboarding. The value propositions below are the substance of that conversation.
Zero Transaction Fees
FORUS eliminates payment processing costs entirely. No per-transaction fee, no monthly terminal rental, no settlement delay. This directly increases margins — and makes micropayment business models viable for the first time.
Free Business Tools
Every merchant receives inventory optimisation tools, an online store, hyperlocal eCommerce capability, and SoftPOS payment acceptance — at no cost. Barriers to digital participation are removed on day one.
Working Capital Finance
Financing based on actual transaction history rather than traditional credit scores. Repayment flows automatically through future sales. Merchants access liquidity tied to their real business — not a bank's risk appetite.
Hyperlocal Customer Reach
The FORUS Hyperlocal eCommerce platform connects merchants directly to consumers in their community. Stores list products, consumers search and pay, riders deliver. Buying local creates prosperity and jobs for the people that matter most.
Data-Driven Growth
Transaction analytics provide basket data insights to optimise inventory, target promotions, and increase sales. Merchants access the same intelligence that large retailers use — without enterprise budgets.
Adverbuying Revenue
Merchants participate in the Mahala Media adverbuying network — receiving targeted promotion placements to consumers who opt in. Advertisers pay only on a successful purchase, so merchant participation costs nothing and drives incremental sales.
See how working capital finance fits into the full revenue model, and how the cooperative structure can be used to onboard merchant groups collectively.