The verdict in three sentences
A reliable quote for a business app in Bamako starts with a scoping workshop billed at 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA in 2026: without scoping, any estimate is guesswork. Development then sits between 8,000,000 and 25,000,000 FCFA depending on scope. A good quote itemises every line, the 15 %/yr maintenance and hosting, not just a bottom total.
The mandatory line items of a serious quote
A credible quote is not just a price. It lists every item with an amount. If an item is missing, it returns later as a change order. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Quote line item | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA) | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping workshop | 500,000 - 1,500,000 | one-off |
| UX/UI design | 1,500,000 - 4,000,000 | one-off |
| Development | 8,000,000 - 25,000,000 | one-off |
| Mobile payment integration | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | one-off |
| Data migration | 1,000,000 - 4,000,000 | one-off |
| User training | 500,000 - 1,500,000 | one-off |
| Maintenance (TMA) | 15 %/yr of development | recurring |
| Managed hosting | 300,000 - 900,000 | per year |
A quote that omits maintenance or hosting underestimates the real cost by 20 to 30 % over three years.
The questions to ask before signing
Comparing two quotes without asking these questions is comparing apples and oranges. Here is the grid to use.
| Question | What the answer reveals |
|---|---|
| Is the source code delivered? | Independence from the provider |
| What is the payment schedule? | Financial risk distribution |
| How many acceptance cycles? | Final product quality |
| Who hosts and backs up? | Service continuity |
| What is the maintenance fix time? | Responsiveness after delivery |
| Is training included? | Real adoption by teams |
A serious provider answers each of these questions precisely in writing, in the quote or an annex.
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Mini case study
Fatoumata runs a 30-employee trading company in Bamako. She requests three quotes for a stock-and-purchasing management app. Two providers offer a flat total; the third includes a 1,000,000 FCFA scoping workshop leading to a detailed 16,000,000 FCFA quote, 2,400,000 FCFA/yr maintenance and 600,000 FCFA/yr hosting. She picks the third. Six months later, no unexpected change order has inflated the bill, whereas a vague quote could have drifted by 20 to 30 %, i.e. 3,200,000 to 4,800,000 FCFA saved thanks to scoping.
FAQ
Why pay for a scoping workshop? Scoping turns a fuzzy idea into quotable specifications. It costs 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA but avoids change orders that often exceed 20 % of the initial budget.
What exactly is maintenance (TMA)? Application maintenance covers fixes, security and small evolutions. It runs about 15 % of development cost per year, i.e. 2,400,000 FCFA for a 16,000,000 FCFA app.
Should the source code belong to me? Yes, require a source-code assignment clause. It guarantees your independence if you switch providers later.
How long for a business app in Bamako? Expect 3 to 6 months depending on scope. Scoping accounts for 2 to 4 weeks, often skipped in low-cost quotes.
How do I spot an unreliable quote? A single total with no breakdown, no maintenance or hosting, and no number of acceptance cycles. Those omissions always cost more later.
Let's scope your project. Send us your business need and a target budget between 8,000,000 and 25,000,000 FCFA, and we will start with a scoping workshop that secures the estimate. 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.
