The verdict in three sentences
A B2B store sells your products; a marketplace orchestrates other people's and takes a commission. In 2026, a custom B2B store costs 3,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA, a multi-vendor marketplace 8,000,000 to 20,000,000 FCFA, with a platform commission of 10 to 20 %. The real trade-off is not technical: it is who carries stock, logistics and collections.
Two models, two economics
The B2B store suits an industrial or distributor selling its own catalogue to pro customers. The marketplace targets the entrepreneur who wants to aggregate many vendors' supply and live off commission.
| Criterion | Own B2B store | Multi-vendor marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 build budget | 3-8 M FCFA | 8-20 M FCFA |
| Timeline | 10-16 weeks | 16-28 weeks |
| Who carries stock | You | Vendors |
| Revenue | Product margin | Commission 10-20 % |
| Payment complexity | Simple collection | Automatic split |
| Collections | Your customers | Multi-party disputes |
Payment, split and FCFA budget
In West Africa, Wave and Orange Money are unavoidable. On a marketplace, each sale triggers an automatic split between vendor and platform.
| Line item | B2B store | Marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Wave / Orange Money integration | 800,000-1,800,000 FCFA | 1,500,000-3,500,000 FCFA |
| Automatic payment split | — | 2,000,000-4,500,000 FCFA |
| Vendor space & KYC | — | 2,000,000-5,000,000 FCFA |
| Catalogue & pro ordering | 2,000,000-4,000,000 FCFA | included multi-vendor |
| Disputes & payouts | Simple | 1,500,000-3,500,000 FCFA |
| Annual maintenance | 600,000-1,500,000 FCFA | 1,500,000-4,000,000 FCFA |
On a 10,000 FCFA basket at 15 % commission, the platform keeps 1,500 FCFA and pays 8,500 FCFA to the vendor, with a weekly payout via Wave or Orange Money.
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Mini case study
Aminata, director of an agri-food purchasing central in Dakar, hesitates between digitising her own distribution and launching a regional marketplace. Her catalogue generates 45 M FCFA of annual revenue at 18 % margin. A B2B store (5 M FCFA) secures that flow and saves 40 % of order-taking time. A marketplace (14 M FCFA) would target 200 M FCFA of GMV in 3 years: at 12 % commission, that would mean 24 M FCFA of annual revenue, but requires recruiting vendors and carrying disputes. She starts with the B2B store, faster to profitability, and keeps the marketplace for phase 2.
FAQ
Store or marketplace to begin? The B2B store pays back faster and secures an existing flow. The marketplace is a volume bet requiring vendors and buyers to be attracted simultaneously.
Is the Wave/Orange Money split reliable? Yes, with robust webhooks and tests on real amounts. It is the most critical point: we validate it before any go-live.
What commission to set on a marketplace? Between 10 and 20 % depending on category and vendor margin. Below 10 %, the model struggles to cover logistics and support.
How are vendor payouts handled? Automatic weekly transfer via Wave or Orange Money, after a retention period covering disputes and returns.
Can we move from store to marketplace? Yes, the architecture is designed to open a vendor space in phase 2 without a full rebuild, if the foundation is planned from the start.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your catalogue, target GMV and model (own or multi-vendor): indicative budget 3-20 M FCFA, deployment 10-28 weeks. 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.
