The verdict in three sentences
A corporate rebuild through a Dakar nearshore agency costs in 2026 between 5,000,000 and 18,000,000 FCFA (about 7,600-27,400 EUR), depending on template count, multilingual and governance level. A headless CMS (Sanity/Strapi) adds 1,500,000-3,500,000 FCFA, FR/EN multilingual about +1,200,000 FCFA. Expect 8-14 weeks of production and maintenance of 150,000-400,000 FCFA/month: the recurring cost must be settled at quote stage.
The 2026 FCFA price grid
Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for a corporate site built in Dakar, from standard to group-level. Prices assume a structured agency able to deliver international quality.
| Configuration | Templates | Budget FCFA | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard corporate | 15-20 pages | 5,000,000-8,000,000 | 8 weeks |
| Premium corporate | 20-30 pages | 8,000,000-12,000,000 | 10 weeks |
| Multi-entity group | 30+ pages | 12,000,000-18,000,000 | 14 weeks |
| Headless CMS (add-on) | Sanity/Strapi | 1,500,000-3,500,000 | +2 weeks |
| FR/EN multilingual (add-on) | 2 languages | +1,200,000 | +1 week |
| + Arabic RTL (add-on) | 3 languages | +2,500,000 | +2 weeks |
The headless CMS is the item that guarantees editorial autonomy: the comms team publishes without depending on the vendor. That is what separates a real corporate project from a hard-coded, frozen site.
Freelance, local agency or nearshore: which to choose
The production model changes the price but above all the risk. Here is the 2026 comparison for the same premium corporate scope.
| Criterion | Freelance | Local Dakar agency | Nearshore (Dakar agency for EU client) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative budget | 3,000,000-6,000,000 FCFA | 8,000,000-12,000,000 FCFA | 12,000,000-20,000,000 FCFA |
| Timeline | Variable, 10-16 wks | 8-12 weeks | 10-14 weeks |
| Governance / SLA | Weak | Solid | Contractual |
| Multilingual & compliance | Limited | Yes | Yes, WCAG/GDPR |
| Continuity risk | High | Medium | Low |
| Billing | FCFA | FCFA | EUR or FCFA |
For a group putting its international brand on the line, the structured agency (local or nearshore) cuts continuity risk: multidisciplinary team, maintenance contract and documented knowledge transfer.
Mini case study
Mr Ndiaye, director of an agri-industrial group in Dakar (4 West-African subsidiaries), rebuilds a 2017 corporate site. He picks the multi-entity group configuration at 15,000,000 FCFA, plus headless CMS (2,500,000 FCFA) and FR/EN multilingual (1,200,000 FCFA), i.e. 18,700,000 FCFA. Over 12 months, maintenance at 300,000 FCFA/month adds 3,600,000 FCFA. Year-one total: 22,300,000 FCFA. By centralising the 4 subsidiary sites on a single CMS, he removes 3 local vendors (saving ~7,200,000 FCFA/year) and publishes investor releases with no delay: the investment pays back in under two years.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Why does a corporate rebuild exceed 5,000,000 FCFA in Dakar?
An international-grade corporate site requires bespoke design, a governed CMS, multilingual and hardened security. These requirements carry the group's image with foreign investors and partners; they can't be improvised with a template.
Is the headless CMS worth its premium?
Yes for any group that publishes regularly. It gives the comms team editorial autonomy and separates content from presentation, making future changes far cheaper. Budget 1,500,000-3,500,000 FCFA.
What timeline for a multi-entity group site?
12 to 14 weeks, discovery included. Content approval by each subsidiary is the main timeline driver; a dedicated client-side project lead clearly speeds it up.
How much is annual maintenance?
Between 150,000 and 400,000 FCFA/month depending on SLA and update volume, i.e. 1,800,000-4,800,000 FCFA/year. That's the price of security, backups and evolutions: budget it at quote stage.
Can the project be billed in EUR for an international client?
Yes; in a nearshore model a Dakar agency often bills a European client in EUR at a competitive rate. Scope then includes GDPR/WCAG compliance and documentation in French and English.
Let's scope your project. Give us the number of entities, the multilingual scope and your governance requirements: we'll price your corporate rebuild between 5,000,000 and 18,000,000 FCFA. 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.
