The verdict in three sentences
Custom SYSCOHADA-compliant software for an accounting firm in Dakar costs 6 to 20 million FCFA in 2026, delivered in 12 to 22 weeks. Imported suites charge 40 to 100 EUR per staff member per month in foreign currency, with no tax-authority (DGID) or Mobile Money integration. Custom natively integrates the revised SYSCOHADA chart of accounts, Senegalese tax filings and Wave/Orange Money payment.
Scope and budget for a Dakar firm
A West African firm must produce SYSCOHADA-compliant statements, run a client portal and secure its document store. Here is the typical budget breakdown (2026 order of magnitude, FCFA).
| Module | Key function | Budget share | Indicative cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping production | Entry, review, SYSCOHADA filings | 25 % | 1,500,000 - 5,000,000 |
| Client portal | Document upload, approval | 20 % | 1,200,000 - 4,000,000 |
| DMS & archiving | Filing, OCR, search | 15 % | 900,000 - 3,000,000 |
| Billing & time | Engagement letters, time tracking | 15 % | 900,000 - 3,000,000 |
| Tax filings (DGID) | VAT, corporate tax, downloadable filings | 15 % | 900,000 - 3,000,000 |
| Mobile Money payment | Wave, Orange Money, receipt | 10 % | 600,000 - 2,000,000 |
Integrated Mobile Money payment changes the firm's cash flow: fees are settled in seconds via Wave or Orange Money, with automatic receipt and reconciliation.
Custom vs imported suite: the 5-year math
Five-year comparison for a 12-staff firm (2026 estimate, converted at an indicative rate of 1 EUR = 655 FCFA).
| Criterion | Imported suite | Custom (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 FCFA | 6,000,000 - 20,000,000 FCFA |
| Subscription | 40-100 EUR/staff/month | Maintenance 300,000 - 1,000,000 FCFA/month |
| 12 staff / 5 years | ~18.9 - 47.2 M FCFA | 24 - 80 M FCFA |
| SYSCOHADA compliance | Partial | Native |
| Tax-authority integration | No | Yes |
| Wave/OM payment | No | Yes |
| Development day rate | N/A | 100,000 - 190,000 FCFA |
The imported suite stays cheap for a small firm, but foreign-currency billing and the lack of local compliance push structured firms toward custom, which becomes a controlled asset.
Mini case study
Mr Ndiaye, chartered accountant running a 14-staff firm in downtown Dakar. He pays an imported suite 70 EUR per staff member per month, i.e. 45,864 EUR/year, roughly 30 M FCFA/year. Custom software at 14,000,000 FCFA with maintenance at 650,000 FCFA/month (7,800,000 FCFA/year) costs 21.8 M FCFA in year one, then 7.8 M FCFA/year. Over 5 years: 53 M FCFA custom vs 150 M FCFA imported suite. Savings exceed 97 M FCFA, not counting SYSCOHADA compliance and instant Mobile Money collection.
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FAQ
Is the software revised-SYSCOHADA compliant?
Yes. The chart of accounts, filings and financial statements follow the revised SYSCOHADA framework. Regulatory updates are covered by maintenance (300,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA/month).
Can we integrate Wave and Orange Money?
Yes. Fee collection via Wave and Orange Money is native, with automatic receipt and reconciliation. It accounts for around 10 % of budget, i.e. 600,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA.
What is the development timeline in Dakar?
12 to 22 weeks in 2026. A production + portal core ships in 12-14 weeks; tax filings and advanced DMS add 6 to 8 weeks.
Are tax filings handled?
Yes: VAT, corporate tax and tax bundles are pre-filled and exportable in the formats the tax authority expects, sharply reducing re-keying.
Where is the data hosted?
On resilient infrastructure with encrypted backup, chosen according to your sovereignty requirements. Client confidentiality is guaranteed by encryption and access management.
Let's scope your project. State firm size, priority modules (SYSCOHADA, portal, Mobile Money) and an indicative budget (6-20 M FCFA): we'll frame scope and timeline. 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.
