The verdict in three sentences
For a building materials dealer, a fit-for-purpose e-commerce site costs between 4,000,000 and 9,000,000 FCFA (about 6,100 to 13,700 EUR) in Dakar in 2026 and 40,000 to 120,000 USD in Miami, because it must handle quantity pricing, quotes for large jobs and delivery priced by zone, features missing from standard stores. The two customer groups pay differently: local contractors by Wave or 30-day transfer, the diaspora by card from France or the United States. Targeting 20% of sales online in year one is realistic if the site is tied to real stock.
What each package includes
Cement sells by the tonne, rebar per 12 m bar by diameter, tile by the square metre with 10% waste. The site must speak that language.
| Package | Features | 2026 price (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalog + quote request | 300 SKUs, indicative prices, quotes via WhatsApp | 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 | 4 weeks |
| Essential store | Cart, tiered pricing, Wave and Orange Money, depot pickup | 4,000,000 to 5,500,000 | 7 weeks |
| Jobsite store | Delivery by zone and tonnage, area and quantity calculator, trade accounts | 5,500,000 to 7,500,000 | 10 weeks |
| Diaspora + trade platform | International cards, photo delivery tracking, 30-day credit, ERP link | 7,500,000 to 9,000,000 | 12 to 14 weeks |
| Maintenance and hosting | Price updates, backups, support | 100,000 to 150,000 per month | ongoing |
These are 2026 ballpark figures for Dakar. Volatile cement and steel prices require simple price updates, ideally by Excel import or sync with your point-of-sale software.
The Miami version
| Package | 2026 price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Catalog + quote request | 15,000 to 25,000 |
| Essential store (Shopify Plus or BigCommerce B2B) | 40,000 to 60,000 |
| Jobsite store with delivery zones and contractor accounts | 60,000 to 90,000 |
| Platform with ERP sync (Epicor, Spruce) and net-30 terms | 90,000 to 120,000 |
| Maintenance | 1,500 to 4,000 per month |
In Miami-Dade, delivery pricing typically ranges from 75 USD for a box truck in the urban core to 250 USD or more for a flatbed with crane to the Keys, and Florida sales tax must be calculated by county.
Delivery and payment: the core of the project
A 10-tonne cement order for Keur Massar is not delivered like a box of tiles to Almadies. The site prices delivery by zone and vehicle.
| Delivery zone (Dakar) | 10 t truck (FCFA) | Indicative lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Dakar Plateau, Médina, Fann | 35,000 | 24 h |
| Almadies, Ngor, Ouakam | 40,000 | 24 h |
| Pikine, Guédiawaye, Keur Massar | 45,000 | 24 to 48 h |
| Rufisque, Bargny | 55,000 | 48 h |
| Diamniadio, Lac Rose | 65,000 | 48 h |
| Thiès, Mbour | 90,000 to 120,000 | 72 h |
| Payment method | Merchant fee | Typical use |
| Wave | 1% | Contractors and individuals in Dakar |
| Orange Money | 1 to 1.5% | Customers in the regions |
| Card (Stripe, PayDunya) | 2.9 to 3.5% | Diaspora in France, the US, Italy |
| Bank transfer | 0% | Orders above 5,000,000 FCFA |
| 30-day trade credit | cash-flow cost | Approved construction firms |
Diaspora customers often spend 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA per family build. They buy when they see time-stamped delivery photos and a contact reachable on WhatsApp.
Mini case study
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Mamadou runs a materials depot in Pikine with 1.2 billion FCFA in annual revenue. He picks the jobsite store at 6,800,000 FCFA plus 120,000 FCFA a month, so 8,240,000 FCFA in year one. If 20% of sales move online, or 240,000,000 FCFA, half of it new business (diaspora, contractors outside the area), additional revenue reaches 120,000,000 FCFA. At an 8% net margin, that is 9,600,000 FCFA, covering the investment in year one.
FAQ
How much does a building materials e-commerce site cost?
In Dakar, 4,000,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA depending on quantity pricing, zone delivery and diaspora payment. In Miami, 40,000 to 120,000 USD for comparable scope.
Can we sell to the diaspora?
Yes, with international card payment at 2.9 to 3.5% fees and photo delivery tracking. Diaspora orders often weigh 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA each.
How do we handle changing cement and steel prices?
By Excel import or sync with your management software, in under 5 minutes. Online quotes show a validity period, for example 7 days.
How long until the store launches?
Seven weeks for the essential store, 10 weeks for the jobsite store and 12 to 14 weeks for the diaspora platform. Entering the 300 SKUs and price tiers is the longest step.
Will contractors really order online?
Yes for restocking and quick quotes, especially if they can pay by Wave at 1% or on 30-day terms. Twenty percent of sales online in year one is a realistic ballpark.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your SKU count, delivery zones and share of diaspora customers, and we will price the scope, indicative budget and timeline. 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.
