The verdict in three sentences
For a firm under 10 staff, a SYSCOHADA SaaS at 30,000-90,000 FCFA/month covers 80 % of needs without tying up cash. Custom software (8,000,000-25,000,000 FCFA) only pays off if your processes are unusual or you plan to resell the tool to clients. Either way, the real math is the 6 to 9 hours saved per week per staffer on data entry and filings.
SaaS vs custom: the match in FCFA
SaaS starts fast and spreads the cost, but you pay forever and depend on the vendor's roadmap. Custom is expensive upfront but you own it and it fits revised SYSCOHADA, the Senegalese tax return, and your mobile money connectors exactly.
| Criterion | Accounting SaaS | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0-300,000 FCFA (setup) | 8,000,000-25,000,000 FCFA |
| Monthly cost | 30,000-90,000 FCFA | 0 (excl. maintenance) |
| Time to launch | 1-3 weeks | 4-7 months |
| SYSCOHADA compliance | Vendor standard | Exact fit |
| Wave/OM pro connector | Often absent | In scope |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| 3-year cost | 1.1-3.5M FCFA | 8-25M FCFA + maintenance |
What drives the custom quote up
Price depends mostly on functional scope and integrations. An automatic entries engine and a payment connector weigh far more than a hundred static screens.
| Line item | 2026 range (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping + mockups | 800,000-2,000,000 | 2-4 wks |
| SYSCOHADA chart + entries | 2,500,000-6,000,000 | 6-10 wks |
| Local filings (VAT, IS, IR) | 1,500,000-4,000,000 | 4-8 wks |
| Pro mobile money connector | 1,000,000-3,000,000 | 3-5 wks |
| Client portal + vault | 1,200,000-4,000,000 | 4-6 wks |
| Local hosting (yr 1) | 400,000-1,200,000 | ongoing |
| Maintenance (per year) | 900,000-3,000,000 | ongoing |
Local hosting (Dakar) cuts latency and reassures on data sovereignty; EU hosting is often cheaper but adds a compliance point to document.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Mr. Sarr runs a 6-person firm in Dakar-Plateau. Each staffer loses roughly 7 hrs/week on manual entry and reconciliation. At a loaded cost of 3,500 FCFA/hr, that is 6 x 7 x 3,500 = 147,000 FCFA/week, about 6.6M FCFA/year. A SaaS at 70,000 FCFA/month (840,000 FCFA/year) that removes half of that time frees up 3.3M FCFA/year of capacity: the tool pays for itself in the first month, and the firm can take on more cases without hiring.
FAQ
Is a generic SaaS enough for revised SYSCOHADA? Often yes for day-to-day bookkeeping, but check the Senegalese tax return and 2026 OHADA statements. Budget 30,000-90,000 FCFA/month depending on user count.
How long does custom development take? Between 4 and 7 months by scope. The mobile money connector and entries engine are the longest items, often 8 to 10 weeks alone.
Should data be hosted in Senegal? Not mandatory, but a strong sovereignty and latency argument. Local hosting runs about 400,000-1,200,000 FCFA/year for a firm this size.
Is maintenance essential? Yes for custom: rules and rates change. Plan 900,000-3,000,000 FCFA/year, roughly 10-15 % of the initial cost.
Can we start on SaaS then migrate to custom? It's a prudent strategy: validate your real needs on SaaS for 12-18 months before investing in a proprietary tool.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, your typical filings and whether a Wave/Orange Money pro connector is required: we'll price SaaS vs custom. 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.
