The verdict in three sentences
One-stop shops have cut company registration down to 24 hours - 5 days in most markets, for 5,000 to 41,000 FCFA-equivalent in official fees. The real cost is no longer the paperwork but online presence: a business without a website loses 60 % of prospects who search for it on Google. A referral partner who sells the "registration + showcase website" bundle earns a 15 % + 5 % recurring commission on every deal.
2026 one-stop shop comparison
Investment promotion agencies have centralised the steps. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for a private limited company / sole trader.
| Country / agency | Official delay | Registration fee | Minimum capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa — CIPC | 1-5 days | ZAR 175 (~19,000 FCFA) | none |
| Nigeria — CAC | 48 h | ₦10,000 (~24,000 FCFA) | none |
| Côte d'Ivoire — CEPICI | 24 h | 15,000 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA (symbolic) |
| Gabon — ANPI | 48-72 h | 41,000 FCFA | 1,000,000 FCFA |
| Ghana — RGD | 3-5 days | GHS 230 (~23,000 FCFA) | none |
| Kenya — eCitizen/BRS | 1-3 days | KES 10,650 (~48,000 FCFA) | none |
Minimum capital is now symbolic across the reformed OHADA zone (5,000 FCFA in Côte d'Ivoire), with exceptions like Gabon.
Real steps and costs of a filing
Beyond the agency fee, a founder pays side items. Estimate for a private company in Johannesburg in 2026.
| Item | Estimated cost | Recurring? |
|---|---|---|
| One-stop shop fee (CIPC) | ~19,000 FCFA | No |
| Articles + attorney (if required) | 100,000-250,000 FCFA | No |
| Legal publication | 20,000-40,000 FCFA | No |
| Business bank account | 0-50,000 FCFA | Monthly fees |
| Kolonell showcase site (Starter) | 250,000 FCFA | Optional maintenance |
| Tax regime (simplified) | depends on turnover | Annual |
A complete "register AND be visible" package runs around 450,000 - 700,000 FCFA in year one, and the website is the highest-ROI brick of it.
The referral bundle: registration + website
An accounting firm, a consultant or a registration agent sees dozens of founders a month. Each one needs a website. By joining the Kolonell referral programme, they earn:
| Product sold | Referral commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | 5 % / month maintenance |
| E-commerce | 12 % | 5 % / month |
| Marketplace | 10 % | — |
| Institutional | 8 % | — |
On a 500,000 FCFA Growth site, the referral pays 75,000 FCFA upfront plus 5 % of the monthly maintenance. The partner produces nothing: they make an introduction, Kolonell delivers.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Rachid, a registration agent in Johannesburg, handles 12 company registrations a month. He systematically offers the showcase-site bundle. Of 12 founders, 4 sign a Growth site at 500,000 FCFA.
- Referral commission: 4 × 500,000 × 15 % = 300,000 FCFA / month
- Recurring maintenance (4 × 30,000 × 5 %) = 6,000 FCFA / month, cumulative
- Over 12 months, with a growing book: > 3,600,000 FCFA in referral commissions, without writing a line of code.
Rachid turned a flow he already had into structural side income.
FAQ
Which country registers a company fastest?
Côte d'Ivoire (CEPICI) and Benin (APIEx) issue in 24 hours for 11,000-15,000 FCFA. Nigeria's CAC delivers in 48 hours for about 24,000 FCFA.
Do I need large capital?
No. Across the reformed OHADA zone, private-company capital can fall to a symbolic 5,000 FCFA (Côte d'Ivoire). Gabon is the exception at 1,000,000 FCFA.
How much does a website cost for a new business?
A Kolonell showcase site starts at 250,000 FCFA (Starter, 5 pages). The Growth version with blog and analytics is 500,000 FCFA.
How much does a referral partner earn per deal?
15 % of a showcase-site sale plus 5 % recurring on maintenance. A 500,000 FCFA site pays 75,000 FCFA upfront.
Can the website be paid in instalments?
Yes, payment in 3 instalments is available to ease a founder's cash flow, which is often tight in the early months.
Let's talk about your project. Whether you're registering your company or want to refer founders, we structure your registration + website bundle in one conversation. 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.
