The verdict in three sentences
A custom app for a Lagos bookkeeping firm (client portal, document upload, invoicing, tax deadlines, Mobile Money fee payment) costs between 4,000,000 and 9,000,000 FCFA over 8 to 12 weeks, versus 55,000 to 160,000 FCFA per month for a generic accounting SaaS. The real ROI is operational: chasing -70%, fees collected faster (cash flow +20%) and capacity to take on +30 clients without hiring. Over 3 years the app becomes a firm asset, not a rental cost.
Where a firm's time goes today
The invisible cost of a firm is the email back-and-forth to retrieve a missing document and the chasing of unpaid fees. Each staffer loses several hours a week to it.
| Item | Without app (email/Excel) | With client portal app |
|---|---|---|
| Document chasing time | 6-10 h/week | -70% |
| Average fee payment delay | 45-60 days | 20-30 days |
| Lost / re-requested documents | frequent | almost none |
| Clients per staffer | ~40 | ~55 |
| Tax deadline tracking | manual, risky | automatic alerts |
Development cost per module (2026 estimate)
Start with the client portal and invoicing, which carry most of the ROI, then add tax deadlines and payments.
| Module | FCFA range | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Client portal + document upload | 1,200,000 - 2,400,000 | 3-4 weeks |
| Invoicing & quotes | 900,000 - 1,800,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| Tax deadlines & reminders | 700,000 - 1,500,000 | 2 weeks |
| Fee payment MoMo (Wave/Orange/MTN) | 800,000 - 1,600,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| Firm dashboard | 600,000 - 1,300,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| Staff roles & permissions | 400,000 - 900,000 | 1-2 weeks |
Build vs Buy over 3 years
A SaaS at 110,000 FCFA/month costs little up front but does not fit local standards or the local document flow, and the rent never stops.
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting SaaS (110,000 FCFA/month) | 1,320,000 | 1,320,000 | 1,320,000 | 3,960,000 |
| Custom app (build 6,500,000 + maintenance 800,000/yr) | 7,300,000 | 800,000 | 800,000 | 8,900,000 |
| Net gap with gains (chasing + cash flow) | — | — | — | app profitable from year 2 |
SaaS stays relevant under 40 clients. Beyond that, customization (branded portal, local standards, MoMo) tips the math toward custom.
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Mini case study
Koffi runs a Lagos firm with 120 clients and 4 staff. Each staffer spent 8 h/week chasing documents, i.e. 32 h/week total. With the portal, chasing drops 70%, freeing ~22 h/week, the equivalent of a half-time role. Meanwhile fee payment delay falls from 50 to 28 days: on monthly revenue of 9,000,000 FCFA, that improves cash flow by roughly +1,800,000 FCFA. The app pays for itself in under 18 months.
Kolonell referral program
Do you know firms, SMEs or professionals drowning in follow-ups? Become a Kolonell referral partner. Commissions: 15% + 5% recurring on a showcase site, 12% on e-commerce, 10% on a marketplace, 8% on an institutional project. A 6,500,000 FCFA firm app earns you an immediate commission at signature.
FAQ
How much is the starter version? A client portal with invoicing starts around 4,000,000 FCFA and ships in 8 weeks. Tax deadlines and MoMo payment are added afterward.
Can clients pay fees online? Yes, via Wave, Orange Money and MTN MoMo. Payment delay usually falls from 50 to 28 days, improving cash flow by about 20%.
Does the app handle local accounting standards? Yes, invoicing and labels are adapted to the OHADA/local framework, unlike most generic SaaS.
What does annual maintenance cost? Budget 700,000 to 900,000 FCFA per year (hosting, fixes, upgrades), less than 7 months of equivalent SaaS.
Can we take on more clients without hiring? Yes: by removing 70% of chasing, a staffer goes from ~40 to ~55 clients, i.e. +30 clients across a 4-person firm.
Let's talk about your project. We'll price your client portal and fee flow in one call. 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.
