Question 1

What is MANDE?

Accepted Answer

MANDE connects furniture makers and woodworkers with real furniture jobs. You take a job on, build it stage by stage, and get paid as each stage is approved, so your pay is protected from the first cut.

Question 2

Who can join?

Accepted Answer

Furniture makers and workshops of any size, from a single artisan to a studio of ten or more. There are 3 plans (Solo Artisan, Workshop and Studio / Enterprise), so you can pick the one that fits your team.

Question 3

How do I sign up?

Accepted Answer

Create your profile with your name, email, phone number and a password, and enter the code we email you. Then choose a plan and pay, add your company details, your NIN and a photo of your NIN card, and tell us about your workshop. We check your NIN with the national records, and our team reviews every NIN card before an account is verified. It usually takes 1 to 2 working days, and you'll get a notification once it's done.

Question 4

Do I need business documents?

Accepted Answer

On the Solo Artisan plan, your NIN card is all you need. On Workshop and Studio / Enterprise, add your company tax number and business license number too.

Question 5

Does it cost anything to look around?

Accepted Answer

No. Anyone can browse open jobs, the furniture machines at our Lagos factory, the blog and the knowledge base without an account. You need a plan to apply for and take on jobs.

Question 6

Can my business get furniture made through MANDE?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brands and businesses bring their furniture projects to MANDE, and we match them with skilled makers and lead every job. Send us a message from the Contact page, choosing "A furniture project", and our team will get back to you.

Question 7

How do I find jobs?

Accepted Answer

Browse the open jobs and apply for the ones that suit your workshop. A project lead reviews the applications and assigns the job. Jobs can also be offered to you directly.

Question 8

How many jobs can I take on at once?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your plan: 2 on Solo Artisan, 6 on Workshop and unlimited on Studio / Enterprise. Each job you're working on uses a slot, and so does each application while it's waiting.

Question 9

How does a job run?

Accepted Answer

Every job moves through 6 stages: Design, Materials, Frame, Assembly, Finishing and Delivery. At each one you send between 3 and 6 photos of the piece as proof, and your project lead reviews it. You can carry on with the next stage while the last one is being reviewed.

Question 10

What if I can't meet the due date?

Accepted Answer

Ask for more time from the job as early as you can: pick a new date and give a short reason. An extension can add up to 20% of the job's original length, you can have one request waiting at a time, and your project lead approves or declines it.

Question 11

What happens if my finished work is rejected?

Accepted Answer

You'll see the reason on the job. Fix the work and resubmit it with new photos. A job can be rejected up to 3 times, and each rejection charges 5% of your share of the job from your wallet. If you think a rejection was unfair, you can dispute it within 48 hours.

Question 12

Can I cancel a job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, until you send the proof for the Materials stage. After that, the materials money has been spent on the job and it can't be cancelled. Any money already paid to you for the job is taken back from your wallet, and if the job is shared, the other maker takes it over.

Question 13

Can two makers share a job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a job can be offered to up to 2 makers. You share the work, and each payment is split equally between you.

Question 14

What happens after I deliver?

Accepted Answer

Your project lead signs off the finished work with a rating. If it isn't reviewed within 24 hours (Sundays don't count), it's signed off automatically. Work rated 3 stars or less is held for a senior MANDE manager, who signs it off or sends it back. For 7 days after sign-off, a fault can be reported, which cancels the on-time bonus.

Question 15

When do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

In 6 parts as the job moves: 10% when you accept the job, 12% at Frame, 14% at Assembly, 18% at Finishing, 18% at Delivery and 28% once it's signed off. Each part lands in your MANDE balance the moment it's earned.

Question 16

Is there a bonus?

Accepted Answer

Yes: 5% of your share of the job, on top of the job amount, when you finish on time, no stage proof is sent back, the finished work isn't rejected and no fault is reported in the 7 days after sign-off. It's paid once those 7 days have passed.

Question 17

How quickly is my work reviewed?

Accepted Answer

Your project lead reviews each stage within 24 hours (Sundays don't count). If a review of the Design to Finishing stages runs late, you get an extra day on your due date for every 12 hours it's late. Finished work that isn't reviewed in time is signed off automatically, and you're paid.

Question 18

Who pays for materials?

Accepted Answer

Timber and fittings are bought out of the money held for the job, by you or by MANDE, decided job by job.

Question 19

How do withdrawals work?

Accepted Answer

Withdraw from your balance to your bank account whenever you like, from ₦100 up to ₦5,000,000 at a time. MANDE doesn't charge a fee to withdraw. Most withdrawals arrive within a few minutes, though it can vary by bank.

Question 20

What do I need before I can withdraw?

Accepted Answer

A verified NIN, a bank account added to your profile, and no other withdrawal waiting. For your safety, every withdrawal asks for your password and a one-time code.

Question 21

Can I change my bank account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on the Transactions page: remove the old one and add the new one. You can have one bank account at a time, and we email you whenever it's added or removed. It can't be changed while a withdrawal is on its way.

Question 22

Is there a fee to withdraw?

Accepted Answer

No. MANDE doesn't charge you to withdraw, and we cover our payment partner's transfer fee.

Question 23

What if a withdrawal doesn't arrive?

Accepted Answer

If our payment partner tells us the transfer failed, the money goes straight back to your wallet. If the result isn't clear yet, the withdrawal shows as pending while we check, and our team looks into anything still unclear after 24 hours. If it shows as completed but hasn't reached your bank, contact us with the date and amount.

Question 24

What is an amount owed?

Accepted Answer

If a charge, like a rejection charge, is more than your wallet balance, the rest is shown as an amount owed. It's taken from the next payment that comes in. Your balance never goes below zero.

Question 25

Who can book the furniture machines?

Accepted Answer

Anyone. You don't need a MANDE account to book time on the furniture machines at our Lagos factory. Members on a plan with a machine discount pay less: log in before you book and the discount comes off the price automatically.

Question 26

How do I book machine time?

Accepted Answer

Choose the machines you need (up to 3 in one booking), tell us what you're making, then pick a date, start time and how long you need. Add your contact details and a photo of your government ID, and pay by card. You'll get a receipt by email, and our team confirms your slot by email soon after.

Question 27

What should I bring on the day?

Accepted Answer

The ID you booked with, your drawings and your materials. Our factory team gets you set up on the machines you booked. Arrive on time: your session ends at its booked time.

Question 28

How do I find my booking?

Accepted Answer

Every booking email has a link to view your booking. You can also go to My bookings on the website, enter your email and the 6-digit code we send you. If you have a MANDE account, your bookings are under Machine time in your dashboard.

Question 29

Can I change or cancel a booking?

Accepted Answer

Contact us and our team will help. If a paid booking is cancelled, the full amount is refunded to your card. Refunds can take a few working days to reach you.

Question 30

Can I use a coupon on a booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, enter it in the coupon field before you pay. A coupon and your plan's member discount don't add together: whichever saves you more is used.

Question 31

When is the factory open?

Accepted Answer

Usually Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm Lagos time. You can book up to 90 days ahead, with at least 2 hours' notice. The booking form only shows the dates and times you can book.

Question 32

Can I book by the day?

Accepted Answer

Machine time is booked by the hour or by the day, as the booking form shows. Hour bookings end by closing time on the same day, and day bookings start when the factory opens.

Question 33

How much does MANDE cost?

Accepted Answer

Right now every plan is 50% off: Solo Artisan is ₦250 a month (usually ₦500), Workshop ₦7,500 (usually ₦15,000) and Studio / Enterprise ₦17,500 (usually ₦35,000). Pay for the year and save 0%, paying for 10 months and working all 12.

Question 34

Can I change or cancel my plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, from Settings › Plan. An upgrade starts straight away and you pay the difference between the two plans' prices for your billing period. Downgrades and cancellations take effect when your billing period ends, and you keep your plan's features until then.

Question 35

How can I pay for my plan?

Accepted Answer

Your first payment is by card, bank transfer or USSD through our payment partner's secure checkout, and your card is saved for renewals. Renewals can come from a saved card or straight from your MANDE wallet: choose in Settings › Plan.

Question 36

Can I use a coupon code on my plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when you choose a plan or upgrade. Coupons don't apply to renewals, and they don't add to an offer: whichever saves you more is used.

Question 37

Does my plan renew automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at the end of each billing period, until you cancel. Renewals are charged at the price in force on the renewal date, to your saved card or your wallet, whichever you chose.

Question 38

What happens if my renewal payment fails?

Accepted Answer

Your plan becomes overdue and you won't be matched with new jobs until it's paid. We don't retry automatically: pay it from Settings › Plan whenever you're ready.

Question 39

Are plan payments refunded?

Accepted Answer

No, including when you cancel or downgrade part way through a billing period, unless we charged you by mistake. When you cancel, you keep your plan until the end of the period you've paid for.

Question 40

How do I earn points?

Accepted Answer

By doing good work: when your application or an offer is accepted, when a stage is approved, when a job is signed off, when your project lead rates your work 3 stars or more, and when your on-time bonus is released. Points come off when a stage is sent back, when delivered work is rejected, for ratings of 1 or 2 stars, and if your account is flagged or suspended.

Question 41

What are the ranks?

Accepted Answer

There are five: Rising Maker, Skilled Maker, Pro Maker, Expert Maker and Master Craftsman. Each rank needs enough points, enough finished jobs and a good average rating. Everyone starts as a Rising Maker.

Question 42

Where can I see my rank?

Accepted Answer

On the Points page in your profile. It shows your rank, your points, your history and what you need for the next rank. We'll also email you when you move up.

Question 43

Can I dispute a points deduction?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if your delivered work was rejected and you think it shouldn't have been. On your Points page, select Dispute next to the deduction within 48 hours, and say why, with photos or files if you have them. Our team reviews it, and if they agree, the points are given back.

Question 44

What is the MANDE Accelerator Program?

Accepted Answer

Loans of up to ₦10 million for makers who do great work on MANDE, to buy tools, materials or space and take on bigger jobs. It comes with short training and help with your application.

Question 45

Who qualifies?

Accepted Answer

Makers who rank high on MANDE. If you reach Expert Maker or Master Craftsman, you qualify easily.

Question 46

What will I need?

Accepted Answer

A high rank on MANDE, savings of about 10% of the loan, and your ID and business details. We'll help you build your savings and get your papers in order.

Question 47

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Keep doing good work to climb the ranks. When you're close, contact us and our team will walk you through the next steps.

Question 48

How do I keep my account safe?

Accepted Answer

Turn on two-factor authentication from Security: a code from your email or an authenticator app when you log in. Sensitive actions, like changing your password or withdrawing, ask for a code too.

Question 49

What does it mean if my account is flagged or suspended?

Accepted Answer

A flagged account can hold one job at a time until the flag is lifted. A suspended account is paused (you can't take on or work on jobs, or withdraw), but you can send an appeal, and an admin will look at it.

Question 50

How do I appeal a suspension?

Accepted Answer

While your account is suspended, your dashboard shows a Send an appeal button. Explain what happened and add files if they help. Our team reviews it and lets you know. If it's declined, you can send another.

Question 51

Why does MANDE ask for a code when I withdraw or change my password?

Accepted Answer

To make sure it really is you. Sensitive actions ask for your password and a one-time code, from your authenticator app if you use one, or sent to you if not.

Question 52

How do I close my account?

Accepted Answer

Email hello@mande.com.ng from the address on your account and our team will close it. If money is left in your wallet, we pay what you are owed to your verified bank account first.

Question 53

What does MANDE do with my NIN?

Accepted Answer

We use it only to verify who you are. We check it, with your name and date of birth, against the national records through our verification partner. It is stored encrypted, only its last 4 digits are ever shown again, and it is never made public.

Question 54

How do I change my cookie choices?

Accepted Answer

Select "Cookie settings" at the bottom of any page on our website. You can turn analytics and advertising cookies on or off at any time. Essential cookies, which keep you signed in, are always on.

Question 55

How do I stop marketing emails?

Accepted Answer

Use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any marketing email, or contact us. You'll still get the emails you need about your account, jobs, payments, bookings and security.

Question 56

Can I get a copy of my data, or ask you to delete it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Email hello@mande.com.ng with "Data protection" in the subject line and we'll reply within 30 days. Some records, like payments, have to be kept for as long as the law requires.

Question 57

How do I join the MANDE community?

Accepted Answer

Go to the Community page and follow or join our channels. We share new jobs, payout updates and tips from the team and other makers.

Question 58

What is the MANDE Furniture shop?

Accepted Answer

Our shop for everyday furniture, like stools, armchairs and beds, at some of the most affordable prices on the market. Visit it at shop.mande.com.ng.

Questions, answered.

Questions, answered.

Getting started

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Accelerator Program

Account & safety

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