The verdict in three sentences
A corporate website breaks into 5 clear phases (discovery, design, development, multilingual content, acceptance) for an order of magnitude of 4,200,000 FCFA (about 6,400 EUR) and 8 to 12 weeks in 2026. The most underestimated item is not technical, it is editorial governance: a poorly scoped multi-level approval workflow easily adds 3 weeks and blocks go-live. A demanding executive committee must approve the sitemap and content approval circuit before design, not after.
The 5 phases and their 2026 cost
Here is the typical budget structure of a corporate website project in 2026, phase by phase.
| Phase | Deliverable | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery & strategy | Brief, sitemap, personas | 300,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| UI/UX design | Mockups 8-12 pages, brand | 1,200,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| Development & CMS | Integration, Sanity back-office | 1,800,000 | 3-4 weeks |
| Multilingual content EN/FR | Copy, translation, SEO | 600,000 | 2 weeks |
| Acceptance & go-live | Tests, fixes, training | 300,000 | 1 week |
| Total | Delivered corporate site | 4,200,000 | 8-12 weeks |
These figures match the "Corporate Standard" tier (15-30 pages, CMS with editorial workflow). A Premium project with ERP integrations starts closer to 10,000,000 FCFA.
Editorial governance: the hidden line item
In an institution, publishing passes through several approval levels. That circuit is what derails projects, not the code. Here is the workflow impact.
| Governance element | Without scoping | With scoping | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content approval circuit | 4-5 back-and-forths | 2 back-and-forths | -3 weeks |
| CMS roles (author/approver) | Confusion | 3 defined roles | -40 % errors |
| EN/FR translation | Ad hoc | 15 FCFA/word scoped | Controlled budget |
| Editorial guidelines | Missing | 8-page guide | +60 % consistency |
| Page publish time | 5-7 days | 1-2 days | 3x faster |
| CMS governance cost | Unbudgeted | 400,000 FCFA | No surprise |
Budgeting editorial governance at discovery avoids an average 600,000 FCFA overrun at project end.
Mini case study
Mr. Sarr, communications lead at a financial institution, runs a project approved by a 5-member executive committee. Without a defined approval circuit, mockups cycle through 5 back-and-forths and the project slips 3 weeks: estimated overrun 500,000 FCFA. On the second project he enforces a 3-role Sanity workflow (author, comms approver, leadership approver) and a 3-day sign-off SLA per step. Result: delivery in 9 weeks instead of 13, budget held at 4,200,000 FCFA, and editorial responsiveness cut to 1-2 days per page after go-live.
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FAQ
How much does a corporate website cost in 2026?
Expect an order of magnitude of 4,200,000 FCFA (about 6,400 EUR) for a Corporate Standard tier (15-30 pages, CMS, EN/FR). Premium projects with integrations start at 10,000,000 FCFA and Group projects exceed 25,000,000 FCFA.
Why does the design phase cost 1,200,000 FCFA?
It covers 8 to 12 mockups, the brand system and 2-3 executive sign-off rounds. This phase drives 70 % of an institution's perceived credibility, hence the investment.
How much time does EN/FR multilingual add?
Around 2 weeks and 600,000 FCFA for copy, professional translation (order of 15 FCFA/word) and hreflang QA. Unedited machine translation erodes institutional credibility.
What derails the schedule?
The approval circuit. Without a defined workflow, back-and-forths add 3 weeks. Defining 3 CMS roles and a 3-day sign-off SLA solves 80 % of the problem.
Do I need a CMS with editorial workflow?
Yes for an institution: a headless CMS like Sanity with roles and approval enables page publishing in 1-2 days instead of 5-7 and logs every approval, essential in a regulated environment.
Let's scope your project. Share your target sitemap, languages and approval circuit: we return a phased breakdown costed in FCFA and a 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.
