By Yunus Yusuf
As Nigerian businesses prepare for the rollout of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) electronic invoicing mandate this July, Afri Invoice, a local fintech startup, is stepping up with a groundbreaking solution tailored to help businesses navigate the evolving digital tax landscape.
Speaking at a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, Mr Mark Odenore, Founder and CEO of Afri Invoice, explained that the company was born from firsthand experience with the daily challenges faced by Nigerian entrepreneurs and SMEs.
“Payment delays, poor record-keeping, and increasing regulatory pressure are issues that plague businesses across the country,” Odenore noted. “Afri Invoice was designed to address these pain points with an intuitive, affordable, and fully compliant e-invoicing solution.”
Afri Invoice positions itself as more than just a software tool.
The platform offers an all-in-one invoicing, tax compliance, and payment management system specifically developed for the Nigerian and broader African business environment.
“The market is saturated with foreign solutions that don’t reflect the realities of operating in Africa,” said Odenore.
“We bridge that gap by combining cutting-edge technology with local insight to meet the real needs of our users.”
The Afri Invoice platform is built in full compliance with the FIRS e-invoicing framework, including support for the BIS 3.0 XML structure and the Merchant Buyer Solution.
It features real-time invoice validation, automated submission capabilities, and a secure audit trail—ensuring users are ready for the July 2025 deadline without needing further technical setup.
Users can easily set up branded profiles, add customers and products, and generate tax-compliant invoices with unique QR codes.
The system also supports automatic VAT calculations, real-time payment tracking through local payment gateways (such as Flutterwave and Zenith Bank), and monthly tax reporting.
Driving Business Efficiency and Compliance
Odenore emphasized that Afri Invoice is already transforming how Nigerian SMEs manage invoicing and compliance. Key features include:
FIRS-Compliant Invoicing: Professionally formatted invoices with QR code authentication
Multi-Currency Support: Real-time exchange rates and foreign currency invoicing
Real-Time Payment Tracking: Integration with leading local gateways
Customer & Inventory Management: Built-in databases and reporting tools
Offline Capability: Invoice drafting without internet access
Mobile-Responsive Design: Seamless experience across devices
According to the CEO, Afri Invoice users typically report a 40% faster invoicing process and a 60% improvement in payment collection timelines, while saving 15–20 hours monthly on administrative tasks.
Many also benefit from significant cost reductions by eliminating the need for multiple apps, manual accounting, or external consultants.
The platform’s built-in compliance logic ensures invoices are validated before submission, reducing costly mistakes.
Features like smart tax application, field alerts, and QR traceability contribute to a 99.7% compliance rate among users.
To support businesses further, Afri Invoice offers:
Automated invoice generation
Pre-send validation and deadline alerts
Step-by-step guides, webinars, and video tutorials
A Nigeria-based support team available via live chat, email, and WhatsApp
“This layered support system has helped our users maintain a 100% penalty-free record to date,” Odenore said, encouraging businesses to act now before the FIRS enforcement deadline.
Empowering African Entrepreneurs
Founded with a mission to empower African entrepreneurs, Afri Invoice is committed not only to technology but also to education.
The company continues to invest in financial literacy programs, helping business owners better understand taxes, compliance, and digital finance fundamentals.
“Afri Invoice was built for Africa,” Odenore concluded. “We understand the realities on the ground and have created a platform that makes it easier for businesses to thrive—compliantly, efficiently, and confidently.”
For more information or to get started, visit www.afriinvoice.com.
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