The verdict in three sentences
The cost of an online store splits across five lines — development, payment, hosting, domain and maintenance — and ignoring any one of them distorts the whole budget. An agency starter covers 50 products with Wave and Orange Money for roughly 1,000,000 FCFA (about 1,525 EUR), whereas a no-code solution looks cheaper upfront but costs more in recurring fees. The real question is not "which template?" but "what is the total cost over 12 months?"
The five lines that set the price
Many merchants compare quotes by looking only at the advertised build price. That is the classic mistake: a 700,000 FCFA quote with no local payment gateway and no maintenance ends up costlier than an all-inclusive 1,000,000 FCFA quote. Let's break it down.
| Line | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Starter build (50 products) | 1,000,000 | One-off |
| Growth build (unlimited) | 2,000,000 | One-off |
| .com domain name | 12,000 / year | Recurring |
| Managed hosting | 25,000 – 75,000 / month | Recurring |
| Maintenance & updates | 50,000 – 200,000 / month | Recurring |
| Mobile money integration | Included (starter) | One-off |
Payment is the line generic solutions underestimate: without native mobile money, you lose the majority of local buyers who have no bank card.
No-code vs custom agency build
The decision comes down to a trade-off between entry cost and cost of ownership. No-code appeals with fast launch, but the monthly bill climbs and transaction fees add up.
| Criterion | No-code | Custom agency |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 – 150,000 FCFA | 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 FCFA |
| Native mobile money | Rare / plugin | Yes, included |
| Fee per transaction | 1.5 – 2.9 % | ~1 % (Wave) |
| Customization | Limited | Full |
| Monthly cost | 20,000 – 60,000 FCFA | 25,000 – 75,000 FCFA (hosting) |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
2026 order of magnitude: in Tanzania, the equivalent store lands between 600 and 3,000 USD, with the same recurring lines. The reasoning is universal; only the amounts change.
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Mini case study
Halima, who runs a cosmetics shop in Dar es Salaam, hesitates between no-code at 40,000 FCFA/month and an agency starter at 1,000,000 FCFA. Over 12 months, no-code costs 480,000 FCFA plus 2.5% fees on 6,000,000 FCFA of sales, i.e. 150,000 FCFA — a 630,000 FCFA total for year one, but she doesn't own the code. The agency starter costs 1,000,000 FCFA once, plus 50,000 FCFA/month hosting (600,000 FCFA) and ~1% Wave fees (60,000 FCFA) — a 1,660,000 FCFA total year one, then only 660,000 FCFA/year afterward. From year two, the agency wins and Halima owns her asset.
FAQ
How much does an online store really cost in 2026? Budget a one-off of 1,000,000 FCFA for a starter (50 products, mobile money) and 660,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA of annual recurring cost depending on the maintenance chosen.
Is monthly hosting really necessary? Yes: a store must stay online, backed up and fast on 3G. Budget 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month for reliable managed hosting.
Can I start small and scale? Absolutely. A 1,000,000 FCFA starter handles 50 products; moving to Growth at 2,000,000 FCFA unlocks unlimited catalog, Stripe and promo codes when volume justifies it.
Is the domain name expensive? No: about 12,000 FCFA/year for a .com. It's the smallest line but it drives your credibility and SEO.
How long until launch? A starter store typically ships in 2 to 4 weeks depending on how ready your catalog and visuals are.
Let's talk about your project. We price your store line by line, with no surprises, mobile money included. 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.
