The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, many traders already sell on WhatsApp and Instagram but hit the same wall: too many messages just to give a price, no catalogue visible on Google, and customers in Dakar or the diaspora who want to order on their own. An online store on your own domain, with mobile money payment and delivery set up, costs as an order of magnitude 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA in the first year in tools. A 20-hour course at 75,000 FCFA teaches you to build it, publish 20 products and run it every week without depending on a contractor.
The real cost of an online store from Thiès in 2026
Before choosing a platform, you need its full 12-month cost. This is the course's first exercise.
| Cost item | 2026 price (order of magnitude) | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Platform subscription (Shopify, Wix or WooCommerce hosting) | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA a month | 120,000 to 300,000 FCFA |
| Domain name (.com or .sn) | 10,000 FCFA a year | 10,000 FCFA |
| Mobile money and card fees (PayDunya, CinetPay) | 1.5 to 3.5% per transaction | Depends on revenue |
| Product photos (phone, backdrop, light) | 0 to 30,000 FCFA one-off | 0 to 30,000 FCFA |
| Delivery from Thiès to Dakar | 1,000 to 2,500 FCFA per parcel | Charged on or built into the price |
| Local delivery in Thiès | 500 to 1,000 FCFA per parcel | Charged on or built in |
| Kolonell level 3 course | 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) one-off | 75,000 FCFA |
Plan a starting budget of 60,000 to 200,000 FCFA for the domain, the first platform month and photo equipment.
Training: options compared
| 2026 option | Price | What you get | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA | Getting started with a platform | Nothing on Wave, Orange Money or delivery in Senegal |
| Classroom e-commerce workshop in Dakar | 30,000 to 100,000 FCFA plus travel | One day of basics | No store actually open at the end |
| Having a freelancer build the store | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA | A delivered store | You cannot evolve it on your own |
| Kolonell, level 3 Online store | 75,000 FCFA, 20 h | Open store with 20 products, payment and delivery set up | Requires a computer for the build |
The course Online store: build it, stock it and keep it running is level 3 Intermediate, at 75,000 FCFA, taught in French. It covers choosing a platform costed over 12 months, collection structure and the legal pages required in Senegal, a catalogue of at least 20 products with variants and CSV import, mobile money, card and cash-on-delivery payment, delivery zones, visibility on Google and Meta, then weekly management.
It is part of the E-commerce and online selling track, which goes from selling on WhatsApp (level 1, 25,000 FCFA) to running a profitable business (level 5). Level 2 is recommended first if your prices are not yet set. All 5 levels taken together cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
How many sales to cover the costs?
A well-run small store in West Africa commonly reaches 20 to 60 orders a month after 3 to 6 months. Here is the threshold depending on your margin, as a 2026 order of magnitude.
| Average basket | Margin per order (35%) | Orders to cover 20,000 FCFA monthly costs | Orders to pay back the course in 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 FCFA | 3,500 FCFA | 6 | 8 more per month |
| 20,000 FCFA | 7,000 FCFA | 3 | 4 more per month |
| 35,000 FCFA | 12,250 FCFA | 2 | 3 more per month |
| 50,000 FCFA | 17,500 FCFA | 2 | 2 more per month |
These calculations are examples: no sales volume is guaranteed.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Ndèye, 31, sells wax fabrics and tailor-made outfits from her workshop in Thiès, only on WhatsApp. Her average basket is 20,000 FCFA with a 35% margin, or 7,000 FCFA per order. She takes the course over 5 weeks, opens her Shopify store at 15,000 FCFA a month and publishes 24 designs. If the store brings 8 more orders a month, mostly from customers in Dakar delivered at 2,000 FCFA, she earns 56,000 FCFA of extra margin. After the subscription, 41,000 FCFA remains: the 75,000 FCFA course is covered in under 2 months. Illustrative scenario.
FAQ
Do I need to code to build my store?
No. Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix are configured through menus, and the 20 hours contain no code. A computer is needed for the build; daily follow-up is then done on a phone.
Will my customers be able to pay by Wave or Orange Money?
Yes. The course shows how to connect an aggregator such as PayDunya or CinetPay, which accepts mobile money and cards, with fees of 1.5 to 3.5% per transaction.
How do I handle delivery from Thiès?
You set up zones: Thiès town at 500 to 1,000 FCFA, Dakar at 1,000 to 2,500 FCFA, other regions case by case. Fees appear automatically at checkout.
Should I close my WhatsApp Business?
No. The store becomes your catalogue and till, WhatsApp remains the conversation channel. Product links can be shared directly in your status updates.
How do I pay for the course?
The 75,000 FCFA is paid by Wave or Orange Money from your phone. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Online store: build it, stock it and keep it running: 20 hours online, taught in French, 75,000 FCFA, an open store with 20 products and a verifiable certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
