The verdict in three sentences
A billing/accounting connector budgets at 2.5 to 6 million FCFA in 2026, and a payroll module with filings climbs to 4 to 9 million FCFA depending on the complexity of contributions and CNPS declarations. Integrating Wave, Orange Money and Stripe payments adds 1.5 to 4 million FCFA. The line never to forget: legal and tax updates, which cost 15-20% of the build every year because the scales change.
Cost per module in 2026 (FCFA)
In Yaoundé, cost depends mostly on required compliance (VAT, withholdings, social filings) rather than document volume. 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Module | Build cost (FCFA) | Timeline | Maintenance/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing/accounting connector | 2,500,000 – 6,000,000 | 4-8 wks | 15% |
| Invoice + credit note generation | 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 | 3-5 wks | 15% |
| VAT + withholding handling | 1,200,000 – 2,500,000 | 2-4 wks | 18% |
| Payroll module + payslips | 3,000,000 – 6,000,000 | 6-10 wks | 18% |
| Social filings (CNPS) | 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 | 3-5 wks | 20% |
| Wave / OM / Stripe payment | 1,500,000 – 4,000,000 | 3-6 wks | 15% |
The high payroll maintenance (18-20%) isn't negotiable: every revision of contribution scales or VAT rate must be applied, or calculations are wrong and expose you to a tax reassessment.
What drives the payroll quote
The payroll module is the most sensitive: price depends on the number of contract types, bonuses and connection to agencies.
| Factor | Cost impact |
|---|---|
| < 20 employees, simple contracts | low-end build (3-4 M) |
| Variable bonuses/allowances | +1 – 2 M FCFA |
| Multi-agreement / sectors | +1.5 M FCFA |
| Automated CNPS filing | +1.5 – 3 M FCFA |
| PDF payslips + email/SMS delivery | +800,000 FCFA |
| History + digital vault | +1 M FCFA |
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Mini case study
Mr. Ngono, CFO of a 45-employee services SME in Yaoundé, wants to connect his HR app to client billing and payroll. Quote: billing connector 3.5 M FCFA, payroll module + payslips 5 M FCFA, CNPS filing 2 M FCFA, Wave/OM payment 2 M FCFA, i.e. 12.5 M FCFA delivered in 10 weeks. Maintenance ~18%/yr (2.25 M FCFA). By automating payroll (before: 4 days/month for 2 people, ~48 person-days/yr), he saves the equivalent of ~5.8 M FCFA of admin time per year: the project pays back in just over 2 years, excluding reliability gains.
FAQ
Why is payroll maintenance so high? Because social contribution scales, VAT rates and thresholds change regularly. Without updates, payslips and filings become wrong and expose you to reassessment.
Can Wave and Orange Money be integrated into billing? Yes, we wire Wave/OM collection directly onto the invoice: payment updates the "paid" status automatically via webhook. Budget 1.5 to 4 M FCFA depending on providers.
Do I need full accounting or just a connector? If you already have accounting software, a simple connector (2.5-6 M FCFA) is enough. Building full accounting costs far more and is rarely justified.
How long for the payroll module? From 6 to 10 weeks depending on contract types and CNPS filing automation. It's the longest module to make reliable.
Is payroll data secure? Yes: encryption, role-based access and logging are included. A digital payslip vault can be added for ~1 M FCFA.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, needs (billing, VAT, payroll, CNPS) and payment methods: we price each module and maintenance. 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.
