Beyond the build cost, owning a website in Senegal costs between 90,000 FCFA/year (simple brochure site) and 2,400,000 FCFA/year (high-traffic e-commerce) in 2026. This is the total cost of ownership, or TCO. Many projects fail not at the build stage but for lack of budgeting upkeep. Here is the breakdown.
The six annual cost items
Owning a site is not just paying for it once. Six items recur every year: domain name, hosting, SSL certificate, technical maintenance, backups, and content updates. Some are mandatory, others optional but strongly recommended.
| Item | Mandatory | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Yes | 8,000 to 25,000 FCFA |
| Hosting | Yes | 40,000 to 600,000 FCFA |
| SSL certificate | Yes | 0 to 120,000 FCFA |
| Technical maintenance | Recommended | 0 to 1,200,000 FCFA |
| Backups | Recommended | 0 to 180,000 FCFA |
| Content updates | Optional | 0 to 480,000 FCFA |
Domain name: small item, real stakes
The domain costs little but must be in your name, not the provider's. A .com runs around 8,000 to 12,000 FCFA/year. A .sn costs more but reinforces local anchoring. Never let an agency register the domain under its own account.
| Extension | Annual price | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
| .com | 8,000 to 12,000 FCFA | International brand |
| .sn | 18,000 to 25,000 FCFA | Senegal anchoring |
| .net / .org | 9,000 to 14,000 FCFA | Alternative / nonprofit |
| .shop / .store | 20,000 to 35,000 FCFA | E-commerce |
Hosting: the item that scales with traffic
Hosting varies with the site type and visitor volume. A brochure site is fine on low-cost shared hosting. A high-traffic e-commerce site needs a dedicated or cloud server.
| Hosting type | Suited to | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shared | Brochure, blog | 40,000 to 120,000 FCFA |
| VPS | Medium e-commerce, app | 180,000 to 480,000 FCFA |
| Cloud / dedicated | High traffic, fintech | 600,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA |
Maintenance: the insurance that prevents disaster
Maintenance covers security updates, bug fixes and support. Without it, a site gets hacked or breaks down with no one to react. Agencies generally offer monthly plans.
| Maintenance plan | Content | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| None | At your own risk | 0 FCFA |
| Essential | Security + backup | 240,000 to 360,000 FCFA |
| Standard | + fixes + support | 480,000 to 720,000 FCFA |
| Premium | + monthly improvements | 900,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA |
Full TCO by scenario
Adding all items together, here is the real cost of ownership over a year for three typical profiles. This is the figure to budget, not just the build price.
| Scenario | Domain | Hosting | Maintenance | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SME brochure site | 10,000 FCFA | 60,000 FCFA | 240,000 FCFA | 310,000 FCFA |
| Medium e-commerce | 25,000 FCFA | 300,000 FCFA | 600,000 FCFA | 925,000 FCFA |
| App / high traffic | 25,000 FCFA | 1,200,000 FCFA | 1,080,000 FCFA | 2,305,000 FCFA |
| Minimal brochure site | 10,000 FCFA | 50,000 FCFA | 0 FCFA | 90,000 FCFA |
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Worked example: an online store after 3 years
An e-commerce store built for 2,000,000 FCFA then generates recurring costs. Year 1: domain 25,000 + VPS hosting 300,000 + standard maintenance 600,000 = 925,000 FCFA. Over 3 years, ownership cost reaches 2,775,000 FCFA, more than the initial build price. Hence the importance of anticipating it.
How to control this cost
Three levers: keep shared hosting as long as traffic allows, choose a maintenance plan that fits (not the most expensive by default), and keep control of your access (domain, hosting, code). A site whose keys you own always costs less in the long run.
FAQ
How much does a brochure site cost per year in Senegal after the build?
Between 90,000 and 310,000 FCFA per year depending on whether you take a maintenance plan. The bare minimum (domain + shared hosting) is around 90,000 FCFA.
Is the SSL certificate really paid?
Not always. Many hosts include free SSL. A premium certificate (up to 120,000 FCFA/year) is only justified for fintech or e-commerce sites with high trust requirements.
Can I skip maintenance to save money?
You can, but it is risky. A site with no security updates gets hacked or breaks. The essential plan at 240,000 FCFA/year remains the cheapest insurance against a costly outage.
Who should own the domain name and hosting?
You, always. Require that the domain be registered in your name and that you hold the access. Otherwise, switching providers becomes a nightmare.
Does the annual cost rise with traffic?
Yes, especially hosting. A brochure site stays at 60,000 FCFA/year, but a booming e-commerce site can move from 300,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA/year in server costs. That is a good problem to have.
Let's talk about your project. We price your annual cost of ownership even before building the site. 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.
