The verdict in three sentences
For a licensed SGI (brokerage and asset management firm) in Abidjan, the website is no longer a brochure: it is the front door for retail investors, the diaspora and institutions to the BRVM, the regional stock exchange. A serious project costs 12 to 35 million FCFA (about EUR 18,300 to 53,400) and ships in 14 weeks, with online account opening and KYC. Compliance with AMF-UMOA rules and security must be scoped from day one, not bolted on at the end.
Why the website has become a sales issue
IPOs and public bond offerings attract new savers every year in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso, as well as a diaspora that wants to invest remotely. These prospects compare SGIs on three criteria visible online: ease of account opening, brokerage fees and the quality of security information. An SGI that still requires a paper file at the branch loses these clients to competitors with an online journey.
For institutions (pension funds, insurers, asset managers), the site mainly proves credibility: annual reports, research, team, licence and regulatory disclosures.
Mandatory content and modules
| Item | Type | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|
| AMF-UMOA licence details, articles, executives | Mandatory | Included in core |
| Fee schedule (brokerage, custody, account fees) | Mandatory | Included in core |
| Regulatory disclosures and offering documents | Mandatory | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 |
| Delayed BRVM quotes, stock pages, indices | Module | 2,500,000 to 6,000,000 |
| Online account opening with KYC (ID, selfie, proof of address) | Module | 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 |
| Client portal: portfolio, statements, trade confirmations | Module | 3,000,000 to 9,000,000 |
| Research notes, newsletter | Module | 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 |
| Security: WAF, penetration test, two-factor login | Mandatory in practice | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 |
The core (design, CMS, corporate pages, French and English) accounts for about 4 to 7 million FCFA. The 12 to 35 million range depends mostly on the client portal, depending on whether it connects in real time to the securities accounting software or runs on daily exports.
KYC, AML/CFT and data protection
Online account opening must meet the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations set by the WAEMU uniform law and AMF-UMOA instructions: identification, verification, risk profile, politically exposed person screening. The journey collects documents, then a compliance officer approves the file in a back office. For the diaspora, video or selfie verification with liveness detection cuts opening time from 10 days to 48 hours.
Personal data falls under Ivorian law 2013-450 and must be declared to ARTCI. Hosting, encryption, access logging and retention periods belong in the specifications.
| Opening journey | Average delay | Abandonment rate | Processing cost per file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper file at the branch | 7 to 10 days | 45% | 15,000 FCFA |
| PDF form by email | 5 to 7 days | 35% | 10,000 FCFA |
| Online journey with digital KYC | 24 to 48 h | 20% | 4,000 FCFA |
| Online journey plus first deposit via Wave or transfer | 24 h | 15% | 3,500 FCFA |
| Diaspora journey with video verification | 48 h | 22% | 5,000 FCFA |
Mini case study
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Mr Kouassi, managing director of an SGI in Abidjan's Plateau district, invests 22 million FCFA. Before the project, the firm opened 60 retail accounts a month with an average first deposit of 1,500,000 FCFA. With the online journey, it reaches 150 accounts a month. Over a year, the 1,080 extra accounts represent about 1.6 billion FCFA of assets in custody; at 1% annual revenue (brokerage and custody fees), that is 16 million FCFA a year. The project pays back in about 16 months, before counting lower file processing costs.
FAQ
Can BRVM quotes be shown in real time?
Real time requires a market data licence with the BRVM, which costs more. Quotes delayed by 15 minutes or closing prices are enough for a sales website and cost 2.5 to 6 million FCFA to integrate.
How long does the project take?
Plan 14 weeks, including 3 for compliance review. A client portal connected in real time to the securities accounting system can add 4 to 6 weeks.
Does AMF-UMOA need to approve the site before launch?
The site does not require a visa, but marketing content and offering documents must follow public disclosure rules. Have your compliance officer review the journey.
Can clients fund their account with mobile money?
Yes, many SGIs accept Wave or Orange Money for small deposits, generally up to 2 million FCFA per transaction depending on limits, with bank transfer above that.
What annual maintenance budget?
About 15 to 20% of the initial cost, or 2 to 6 million FCFA a year, including security updates and an annual penetration test.
Let's scope your project. Online account opening, BRVM quotes, client portal and AMF-UMOA compliance: we define the scope, an indicative budget of 12 to 35 million FCFA and a 14-week plan. 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.
