The verdict in three sentences
A 12-lawyer boutique corporate firm advising investors on West and Central African deals should budget 2,800,000 to 5,500,000 FCFA (about USD 4,600 to 9,100) for a premium website built by a specialist Dakar agency, then 75,000 FCFA (about USD 125) per month for maintenance. Three elements justify the budget: EN/FR bilingual content written by lawyers, structured OHADA practice pages and encrypted booking that protects confidentiality from first contact. The realistic timeline is 8 weeks, half of it spent on content.
What a foreign investor looks for on your site
A London fund, a US industrial group or a Moroccan company expanding into Francophone Africa checks three things before calling: command of OHADA business law, the ability to work in both English and French, and the firm's credibility. A dated or single-language site drops the firm from the shortlist.
| Investor expectation | Answer on the site | Impact on the decision |
|---|---|---|
| Proven OHADA expertise | Pages per Uniform Act: companies, security interests, insolvency, arbitration | Strong |
| Bilingual work | Full EN and FR versions, not a summary | Very strong |
| Sector references | Energy, mining, construction, banking, telecoms, with client consent | Strong |
| Identifiable team | 12 profiles with bar admission, languages, education | Medium |
| Confidentiality | Encrypted form, secure booking | Strong |
| Responsiveness | Commitment to reply within 24 business hours | Medium |
| Regional reach | Correspondents in WAEMU and CEMAC | Medium |
Bar rules on attorney advertising apply: no comparative claims, no promise of results. The site informs and demonstrates competence; it does not solicit.
The budget: 2,800,000 to 5,500,000 FCFA
| Item | Essential version | Premium version |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, sitemap, positioning | 250,000 FCFA | 400,000 FCFA |
| Art direction and mockups | 550,000 FCFA | 1,000,000 FCFA |
| Next.js development and bilingual CMS | 900,000 FCFA | 1,600,000 FCFA |
| OHADA practice pages (8 then 16) | 450,000 FCFA | 900,000 FCFA |
| Legal translation FR to EN | 400,000 FCFA | 900,000 FCFA |
| Encrypted booking | 250,000 FCFA | 500,000 FCFA |
| SEO and LegalService JSON-LD | Included | 200,000 FCFA |
| Total | 2,800,000 FCFA | 5,500,000 FCFA |
The Premium version adds a publications area (briefings on OHADA reforms and regional tax), sector pages with anonymised cases, professional team photography and a newsletter signup. For reference, the top of the range is about EUR 8,400 (USD 9,100), versus EUR 15,000 to 25,000 for an equivalent site from a Paris agency and often more in New York.
Encrypted booking, the detail that makes the difference
An executive preparing an acquisition will not describe the matter in an ordinary contact form. Encrypted booking lets them pick a slot with the right partner, upload an encrypted attachment and receive confirmation without the content passing in clear text through a generic inbox.
| Option | Monthly cost | Confidentiality level | Prospect experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple contact form | 0 FCFA | Low | Waits for a callback |
| Calendly + email | 7,000 to 10,000 FCFA | Medium | Good |
| Built-in encrypted module | Included in maintenance | High | Very good, slot per partner |
| Full client portal | 150,000 FCFA and up | Very high | Excellent, separate project |
For a 12-lawyer firm, the built-in module offers the best balance. A client portal makes sense later, once recurring matter volume calls for it.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Daniel, managing partner of a boutique corporate firm, bills an inbound investment matter for a client entering Côte d'Ivoire (incorporation, agreements, compliance) at around 9,000,000 FCFA (about USD 14,900). The firm handles 4 such matters a year today, almost all by referral.
- Investment: 4,200,000 FCFA + 900,000 FCFA annual maintenance, i.e. 5,100,000 FCFA (about USD 8,400) in year one.
- Conservative assumption: the site generates 2 extra inbound investment matters per year.
- Additional fees: 2 x 9,000,000 = 18,000,000 FCFA (about USD 29,800) per year.
- Return: about 3.5 times the outlay in year one, and the first matter already covers the project.
FAQ
Why 8 weeks when a brochure site takes 3?
Because legal content needs partner sign-off. Writing and translating the OHADA pages takes about 4 weeks, with development running in parallel.
Must the translation be done by a lawyer?
Yes, an error on a term like "pledge" or "collective proceedings" undermines the firm. Count 40 to 60 FCFA (about USD 0.07 to 0.10) per word for reviewed legal translation.
What does 75,000 FCFA per month of maintenance cover?
CDN hosting, daily backups, security updates, SSL certificate management and 2 hours of changes per month, for example publishing briefings.
Can we pay in instalments?
Yes, usually 40% on order, 30% on mockup approval and 30% at go-live, by wire transfer, card via Stripe, Wave or Orange Money.
Does the site comply with data protection rules?
It is designed for GDPR-style requirements and Ivorian law 2013-450: explicit consent, privacy policy, defined retention periods and filings with local authorities where required.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practice areas and target investors: we will price a bilingual site at 2,800,000 to 5,500,000 FCFA (about USD 4,600 to 9,100), delivered in 8 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.
