> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wifipadi.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to start a WiFi hotspot business in Nigeria > What you need to sell WiFi in Nigeria: the venue, the internet link, the router, how guests pay, how to price plans, and how to go live in a day. A WiFi hotspot business sells internet access by the hour, day or gigabyte to people near your router. Guests join your WiFi, see a login page, pay, and get online. It works at cafés, hostels, estates, offices, schools and shops. This guide covers what you need and the order to do it in. It takes most owners one day to go live once the equipment is in place. ## What you need | | What it is | Notes | | - | - | - | | **A venue** | Somewhere people spend time and need data. | Hostels, estates and campuses sell every day. A busy shop or café sells in bursts. | | **An internet link** | Starlink, fibre, or a 4G router. | Everything you sell comes out of this link, so buy the fastest one you can afford. | | **A router** | A MikroTik on RouterOS 7.3 or newer, or a router running OpenWrt. | The router shows the login page and lets paid guests through. | | **Access points** | Extra WiFi radios for a large building. | Optional. Plug each one into the router and set it to access point or bridge mode. | | **A way to take payment** | A Paystack, Flutterwave or Squad account, or just a bank account. | Guests pay by card, bank transfer, USSD or OPay. | | **Billing software** | The login page, plans, payments and records. | This is what WifiPadi does. | > [!NOTE] > > Selling internet access to the public is regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission. Check which licence applies to your business with the [NCC](https://www.ncc.gov.ng) before you start charging. ## 1. Choose the venue Look for a place where people stay for hours and their mobile data runs out. Good signs: * People already ask "do you have WiFi?" * Mobile network signal is weak indoors. * The same people come back every day, like students, residents or staff. Repeat guests matter more than passing traffic. A hostel of 100 students who buy a daily plan is steadier than a busy road. ## 2. Get the internet link Your plans can only be as good as your link. A slow link shared by many guests feels broken, and guests stop paying. * **Starlink** works almost anywhere and needs no cable. * **Fibre** is the most stable where it reaches. * **A 4G router** is the cheapest way to test a venue before you commit. Keep the link's own router as it is. Your hotspot router plugs into it. ## 3. Get the router Use a **MikroTik on RouterOS 7.3 or newer**, or a router running **OpenWrt**. New MikroTik routers ship with RouterOS 7. If you buy a used MikroTik, check the version first in Winbox under **System → Resource**. For a large building, add access points. Plug each one into the router, set it to **access point** or **bridge** mode, and turn off its own DHCP. The router stays in charge of who is online. See [MikroTik hotspot billing](https://docs.wifipadi.com/guides/mikrotik-hotspot-billing.md) for the full MikroTik setup. ## 4. Decide how guests pay Most guests in Nigeria pay by bank transfer, card, USSD or OPay. You have two ways to receive the money. | | Your own payment account | Instant Payments | | - | - | - | | **What you need** | A Paystack, Flutterwave or Squad account. | Your name and a bank account. No CAC registration. | | **Where the money goes** | Settles to your bank on your provider's schedule. | Your WifiPadi balance. Withdraw to any Nigerian bank, OPay and PalmPay included, whenever you like. | | **Fees** | Your provider's own fees. | WifiPadi takes nothing out of each sale. Guests pay the transfer or card fee unless you choose to cover it, and a small fee applies when you withdraw. | Guests who pay cash can use printed **vouchers**. You can also give vouchers to **agents** who sell them for you. ## 5. Price your plans Start with a few simple plans and change them once you see what sells. * **Time plans**, such as one hour, one day or one week, are easy for guests to understand. * **Data plans**, such as 1 GB or 5 GB, protect you from one heavy user eating the link. * **A speed limit on each plan** keeps the link fair when the venue is busy. Work out your floor first. Add up your monthly internet bill, power and software. Divide by the number of plans you expect to sell in a month. Your average plan price must stay above that number. New phones can get a few **free minutes** to try the WiFi before they pay. Guests who try it are more likely to buy. ## 6. Go live 1. [Create a WifiPadi account](https://docs.wifipadi.com/create-account.md). It is free for 21 days, with no card needed. 2. [Set up your account](https://docs.wifipadi.com/account-setup.md) with a location and your first plans. 3. [Connect your router](https://docs.wifipadi.com/gateway-setup.md) by pasting one command. 4. [Connect a payment provider](https://docs.wifipadi.com/payment-providers.md), or switch on Instant Payments. 5. Join your WiFi on a phone and buy your cheapest plan to test the whole flow. After the free trial, WifiPadi costs **₦10,000 per location a month**. New accounts can instead pay **2.5% of their WiFi sales**, never more than ₦10,000 per location a month. No sales, no bill. ## 7. Grow * Put a poster with your WiFi name and prices where guests wait. * Sell plans over [WhatsApp](https://docs.wifipadi.com/whatsapp.md) to guests who are not on site yet. * Run [promotions](https://docs.wifipadi.com/promotions.md) on slow days. * Add a second location once the first one pays for itself. ## Frequently asked questions > [accordion] Can I sell WiFi without a CAC registration? > > You can take payments without one. Switch on Instant Payments and guests pay through WifiPadi's payments partner. You only need your name and a bank account. Check separately with the NCC which licence applies to selling internet access. > [accordion] Do I need to be technical? > > No. If you can copy and paste, you can connect a router. Every step is in this help centre, and the WifiPadi team answers on WhatsApp. > [accordion] Which router should I buy? > > A MikroTik on RouterOS 7.3 or newer, or a router running OpenWrt. WifiPadi also offers a ready-to-use Nano Pi router. See [Onboard a gateway](https://docs.wifipadi.com/gateway-setup.md) to compare them. > [accordion] How many guests can one location serve? > > WifiPadi has no limit on routers or guests per location. The real limit is your internet link. Use data plans and speed limits so a few heavy users do not slow everyone else down. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.