The verdict in three sentences
SaaS costs little to start but bills every month, forever, often per user. Custom demands a heavy upfront investment but amortizes: past the tipping point, each following month is nearly free. In Senegal in 2026, break-even sits around 24 to 36 months — below 10 users SaaS wins, above 20 or with a very specific need, custom takes the lead.
The 3-year TCO, line by line
Total cost of ownership (TCO) adds up everything: build or subscription, maintenance, and hidden costs (training, integrations, data export). Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Item (over 3 years) | Custom (build) | SaaS (subscription) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 FCFA | 0 - 150,000 FCFA (setup) |
| Recurring cost | ~15%/yr maintenance | 15,000 - 45,000 FCFA/mo |
| Recurring over 3 years | 675,000 - 1,575,000 FCFA | 540,000 - 1,620,000 FCFA |
| 3-year TCO (estimate) | 2,175,000 - 5,075,000 FCFA | 540,000 - 1,770,000 FCFA |
| Code ownership | You | The vendor |
| Data export / portability | Full | Variable (lock-in risk) |
| Customization | Unlimited | Bounded by the vendor |
The tipping point depends on user count
Most SaaS bill per seat. The more users you add, the wider the gap with custom (fixed cost). Here is a 36-month projection by team size, for a SaaS at 6,000 FCFA/user/month.
| Users | SaaS over 36 months | Custom (2,500,000 + maint.) | Who wins? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1,080,000 FCFA | ~3,625,000 FCFA | SaaS |
| 10 | 2,160,000 FCFA | ~3,625,000 FCFA | SaaS |
| 20 | 4,320,000 FCFA | ~3,625,000 FCFA | Custom |
| 30 | 6,480,000 FCFA | ~3,625,000 FCFA | Custom |
| 50 | 10,800,000 FCFA | ~3,625,000 FCFA | Custom |
Mini case study
Ibrahim, who runs a distribution SME in Thies, is torn between a route-management SaaS at 6,000 FCFA/rep/month and a custom app at 2,500,000 FCFA. He has 18 reps. SaaS: 18 x 6,000 x 36 = 3,888,000 FCFA over 3 years. Custom: 2,500,000 + 3 x 375,000 = 3,625,000 FCFA. The gap is small today, but Ibrahim targets 30 reps within 18 months — then SaaS would blow past 6,000,000 FCFA. Custom becomes the rational choice, with data ownership as a bonus.
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FAQ
What's the real risk with SaaS?
Lock-in: annual price hikes, features gated behind higher tiers, and sometimes limited data export. Always check the export clause before signing.
Does custom really have no recurring cost?
It does: budget about 15% of the build per year for maintenance (hosting, fixes, evolutions). That's well below a per-seat subscription once the team grows.
When does SaaS stay the best choice?
Below 10 users, for a standard need (invoicing, generic CRM) and if you want zero technical management. SaaS remains unbeatable on speed to launch.
Can we start with SaaS then switch to custom?
Yes, it's a common path: validate the process with a SaaS, then bring it in-house via a custom app when volume justifies the investment. Clean data export is the key to that switch.
Let's talk about your project. We'll compute your 3-year TCO together to settle build vs SaaS without guesswork. 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.
