The verdict in three sentences
Buying a foreign package puts you in production within weeks, but bills you in foreign currency, imposes a roadmap and poorly models local realities. Building custom costs more upfront but fits OHADA tax rules, Mobile Money and makes you the owner of your data. The right call depends on three variables: timeline, user count and process specificity.
Buy vs build: the 2026 figures
| Item | Imported package (buy) | Custom software (local) |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | 25,000 - 120,000 FCFA/user/mo | — |
| Year-1 cost (15 users) | 4.5 - 21.6M FCFA | 8 - 25M FCFA (build) |
| Annual recurring cost | 4.5 - 21.6M FCFA | 2.4 - 9.6M FCFA (maintenance) |
| Rollout time | 2 - 8 weeks | 10 - 20 weeks |
| Billing currency | EUR / USD (volatile) | FCFA (stable) |
| OHADA tax rules | Little to no support | Native |
| Mobile Money | Rarely | Integrated |
| Data ownership | With vendor (abroad) | With you |
The imported package starts fast but its annual foreign-currency cost is exposed to exchange rates and grows with users. Custom ties up more upfront but stabilizes the cost and fits it to the ground truth.
3-year break-even (15 users)
| Scenario | 3-year cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Package at 40,000 FCFA/user/mo | 21.6M FCFA | Recurring, rises with users and FX |
| Package at 80,000 FCFA/user/mo | 43.2M FCFA | Premium tier |
| Custom 15M + 400,000/mo | 29.4M FCFA | Capitalized asset, stable cost |
| Custom 20M + 600,000/mo | 41.6M FCFA | Extended scope |
At a mid-to-high package rate, custom becomes competitive by year 2-3, while removing FX risk and integrating OHADA and Mobile Money.
Mini case study
Mr. Fotso, director of a services SME in Yaounde (18 users), evaluates an imported package at 55,000 FCFA/user/month, i.e. 11.88M FCFA/year — indexed to the euro. Over 3 years, with 2 FX hikes, he projects ~38M FCFA. Local custom software is quoted at 18M FCFA + 500,000 FCFA/month, i.e. 36M FCFA over 3 years, in stable FCFA and OHADA-compliant. From year 4, custom costs only maintenance (6M/year) versus ~13M/year for the package. Mr. Fotso picks custom for cost and data control.
FAQ
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Does the imported package handle OHADA tax rules?
Rarely natively. It often needs adaptations or manually reworked exports, adding hidden cost and error risk. Custom bakes OHADA in from the start.
Is foreign-currency billing really a risk?
Yes. A license billed in EUR or USD exposes your budget to rate swings and vendor price hikes you can't control. Custom is paid in FCFA.
How long to deliver custom software?
In 2026, budget 10 to 20 weeks depending on scope, versus 2 to 8 weeks to deploy an off-the-shelf package.
Who owns my data?
With a foreign package, it's hosted with the vendor, outside the country. With custom, you choose the hosting and keep control, an advantage for sensitive data.
Can I integrate Orange Money / MTN MoMo?
With custom, yes, natively. With an imported package, Mobile Money integration is rare and often patched via third-party gateways.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your user count, your OHADA / Mobile Money constraints and target timeline: we'll compare buy vs build with an FCFA-costed budget. 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.
