The verdict in three sentences
If you can already write, make visuals on Canva, edit a video, run an Instagram page or enter data cleanly, you can start selling that skill to SMEs in Dakar without any legal status, with a simple Wave or Orange Money account. What is usually missing is the method: a clear offer, a calculated rate, 10 prospects contacted and a first client paid. Kolonell Academy's level 1 Digital Freelancing course (25,000 FCFA, about 38 EUR, 6 h) is a 30-day plan to get there, with no income promise: the result depends on how many prospects you actually contact.
Who this career change is realistic for
Part-time digital freelancing suits an employee looking for extra income, a young graduate seeking a first income, a student, or a mother working from home in Pikine, Guédiawaye or Parcelles. The course Digital Freelancing: landing your first clients in 30 days, taught in French, covers seven skills: writing, community management, Canva design, video editing, simple website creation, data entry and virtual assistance, translation.
Prerequisites: already practising one of these skills, even at beginner level; a smartphone with WhatsApp and a connection; a Wave or Orange Money account in your name. No legal status and no sales experience are required to start. Module 4 explains at what volume and for which clients (structured companies, NGOs, public bodies) it becomes useful to get a NINEA tax number.
The method in 4 modules, week by week
| Week | Module | What you do | What you produce |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a sellable offer and set your rate (free preview) | Pick the skill, phrase it in one sentence, calculate the rate in 4 lines | Your written offer, 3 packages, your rate card |
| 2 | Find 10 prospects and get a meeting | List built from WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google Maps and your network, first message and 2 follow-ups | Your list of 10 prospects and your first 3 messages sent (project) |
| 3 | Sell, get paid via Wave and deliver without drift | One-page proposal, 50% deposit, invoice with the right mentions | Your quote and invoice templates |
| 4 | Measure, get a review and land the next client | Dashboard, written review published, follow-ups, rate increase, choice of status | Your first-client file (final project) |
The rate calculation covers your time, Wave and Orange Money fees, a tax provision and a margin. Plan about 1 hour of lessons and 2 to 3 hours of action per week for 4 weeks, in the evening or at the weekend. Module 1 has you produce a real sample in two hours, for example 3 posts for a shop in your neighbourhood, which serves as proof in your first messages.
What a beginner can charge in Dakar in 2026
The amounts below come from the program (rates charged in Dakar in September 2026). They are 2026 orders of magnitude, they vary by profile, and no income is guaranteed.
| Simple mission | Beginner range (FCFA) | Example client |
|---|---|---|
| Series of social media posts | 25,000 to 75,000 (38 to 115 EUR) | Clothing shop at Sandaga market |
| Canva campaign visual | 25,000 to 75,000 | Restaurant in Almadies |
| Simple website page | 25,000 to 75,000 | Small firm or private school |
| Short translation | 25,000 to 75,000 | SME answering an English-speaking client |
| 3 to 5 missions a month | 100,000 to 300,000 extra (150 to 460 EUR) | Depending on skill and available time |
| Training option | Cost (2026 order of magnitude) | What you get |
| Kolonell Academy, level 1 Beginner | 25,000 FCFA, 6 h | 30-day plan, templates, 2 projects, verifiable certificate |
| In-person entrepreneurship workshop in Dakar | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Varies by provider |
| Free online videos | 0 FCFA, data aside | General advice, rarely adapted to Wave and local SMEs |
| Freelancing and Entrepreneurship track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (535 EUR instead of 686) | From first client to structuring the business |
This level opens the Freelancing and Entrepreneurship track, whose next levels cover topics such as invoicing and growing the business.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Fatou, 34, mother of two in Parcelles Assainies, a former sales assistant who already makes Canva visuals for her church and neighbours. Illustrative calculation: the course costs 25,000 FCFA. If she signed a single visuals mission at 25,000 FCFA, the bottom of the range, she would cover the price of the course. With 3 missions at 35,000 FCFA in a month, the extra income would be 105,000 FCFA, before Wave fees and tax provision. This is only a scenario to reason with: nothing guarantees she signs within the month, especially if she contacts fewer than 20 prospects.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Do I need existing clients or a portfolio?
No. Module 1 has you produce a real sample of your work in two hours, which serves as proof in your first messages.
Do I need a NINEA to invoice?
Not for your first missions: many SMEs pay a freelancer on a simple invoice and a Wave or Orange Money transfer. Module 4 explains when a NINEA becomes useful.
How much time per week?
About 1 hour of lessons and 2 to 3 hours of action for 4 weeks, 6 hours of course content in total, compatible with a job or studies.
How much can I earn, and how fast?
The quoted range is 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per simple mission. The method aims for 1 to 3 first clients in 30 days, with no guarantee: people who send fewer than 20 messages rarely sign within the month.
What is the certificate worth?
It is a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code), that you can add to LinkedIn, earned by passing the module quizzes with at least 70%; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. Access is lifetime, works on a phone over 3G and is activated within 24 working hours after payment.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Digital Freelancing: landing your first clients in 30 days: 6 hours, level 1 Beginner, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), verifiable Kolonell Academy certificate, taught in French. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
