The verdict in three sentences
Custom software for an accounting firm in Abidjan costs 10,000,000 to 18,000,000 FCFA (about EUR 15,000-27,000) in 2026, depending on scope (files, document portal, billing, Wave/Orange Money payment). The tool must be SYSCOHADA-compliant and built for local tax deadlines. Delivery in 12 to 18 weeks, with a productivity gain of 6 to 10 hours per week across the team.
What the budget covers in FCFA
A 6-15 person Ivorian firm wants to stop tracking on spreadsheets: manage clients and deadlines, receive documents through a portal, bill fees and collect via mobile money. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Module | Scope | Cost (2026 estimate) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client & deadline management | Records, SYSCOHADA calendar, reminders | 3,500,000 FCFA | 4-5 wks |
| Document upload portal | Client space, upload, DMS | 3,000,000 FCFA | 3-4 wks |
| Fee billing | Quotes, invoices, engagement letters | 2,500,000 FCFA | 3 wks |
| Wave / Orange Money payment | Fee collection, receipts | 1,500,000 FCFA | 2 wks |
| Testing, training, rollout | QA, migration, go-live | 1,000,000-5,000,000 FCFA | 2-3 wks |
| Total | Full project | 10,000,000-18,000,000 FCFA | 12-18 wks |
Mobile payment is a strong local differentiator: collecting fees via Wave or Orange Money sharply cuts unpaid invoices and collection workload.
Custom vs local SaaS: the 5-year TCO
Comparison for a 10-user firm, local SaaS estimated at 15,000 FCFA/user/month in 2026.
| Line item | Custom | Local SaaS (15,000 FCFA/user/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | 14,000,000 FCFA | 0 FCFA |
| Annual subscription | 0 FCFA | 1,800,000 FCFA |
| Annual maintenance | 2,100,000 FCFA/yr | included |
| 5-year cumulative | 24,500,000 FCFA | 9,000,000 FCFA |
| SYSCOHADA compliance | Custom | Vendor-defined |
| Wave/OM payment | Integrated | Rarely native |
| Code ownership | Yes | No |
SaaS stays cheaper on cash over 5 years. Custom wins when the firm wants native mobile payment, specific processes and ownership of its tool, without vendor dependency.
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Mini case study
Mr Kouassi, a partner at a 10-person firm in Abidjan (Plateau), loses 9 hrs/week chasing clients for documents and unpaid fees. A custom tool at 14,000,000 FCFA automates reminders and Wave collection. Gain: 8 hrs/week (~360 hrs/year) and an estimated 2,500,000 FCFA/year reduction in unpaid invoices. Valued at 12,000 FCFA/hr, the freed hours are worth about 4,300,000 FCFA/year; the investment pays back in about 2 years.
FAQ
Is the tool SYSCOHADA-compliant? Yes: the deadline calendar, statements and file structure are based on the revised SYSCOHADA framework.
Can fees be collected via Wave or Orange Money? Yes, mobile payment is natively integrated with receipt generation and automatic reconciliation.
How long to deliver? Expect 12 to 18 weeks for the full scope, with a first usable version by week 8-10.
What annual maintenance budget? A 2026 order of magnitude of 12-18% of the investment, i.e. 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA/year.
Does it need a stable internet connection? The tool is optimized for slow connections; critical functions stay usable on 3G and sync afterwards.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, priority modules and budget in FCFA, and we will frame the scope, SYSCOHADA compliance and mobile payment. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
