The verdict in three sentences
An online store in Lagos costs 1,000,000 FCFA at Starter, 2,000,000 FCFA at Growth and 4,000,000 FCFA at Premium for the initial build (prices anchored to the West African market, EUR shown for reference). But the real budget is the recurring cost: maintenance, hosting and SEO run 75,000 to 475,000 FCFA per month. Picking a tier too high freezes your cash flow; picking too low blocks you at the first scale-up.
The three-tier grid in 2026
The Nigerian market has settled around three clear tiers. Each maps to a stage of commercial maturity, not a budget whim.
| Tier | Price FCFA | Price EUR | Products | Payments | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1,000,000 | 1,525 € | 50 max | Paystack + Flutterwave | 15 d |
| Growth | 2,000,000 | 3,050 € | Unlimited | + Stripe + cards | 20-25 d |
| Premium | 4,000,000 | 6,100 € | Unlimited | All + multi-currency | 30 d |
Starter fits a merchant testing online sales with a limited catalog. Growth unlocks unlimited catalog, promo codes and the analytics dashboard. Premium adds the installable PWA, loyalty program and AI recommendations.
What each tier actually covers
Features matter more than page count. Here is the real breakdown.
| Feature | Starter | Growth | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimized mobile checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orders dashboard | Basic | Analytics | Analytics + AI |
| Promo codes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Verified customer reviews | No | Yes | Yes |
| PWA (mobile app) | No | No | Yes |
| Multi-currency NGN/USD/EUR | No | No | Yes |
| Support included | 1 month | 3 months | 12 months |
The real budget: the recurring cost
A merchant who budgets only the build gets stuck. Here are the 2026 monthly costs to plan from day one.
| Recurring item | Range FCFA/month |
|---|---|
| Technical maintenance | 50,000 - 200,000 |
| Managed hosting | 25,000 - 75,000 |
| SEO & content | 75,000 - 300,000 |
| Paystack fees (per transaction) | ~1.5 % |
| Flutterwave fees | ~1.4 % |
Over 12 months, a well-run Starter costs roughly 1,000,000 FCFA build + 900,000 FCFA minimal recurring, close to 1,900,000 FCFA in year one.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Chidi, who runs a cosmetics store in Lekki, starts on Starter (1,000,000 FCFA). He sells 45 orders/month at an average of 18,000 FCFA, or 810,000 FCFA monthly revenue. Paystack fees ~1.5 % = 12,150 FCFA. Maintenance + hosting = 90,000 FCFA/month. His net margin after platform costs stays clearly positive by month 3, and he recovers his build in about 5 months. By month 8, his catalog exceeds 50 products: he moves to Growth.
FAQ
Can I start on Starter and upgrade later?
Yes, this is the recommended strategy. Moving from Starter to Growth is billed on the difference (~1,000,000 FCFA) and takes 7 to 10 days, with no full rebuild.
Are Paystack and Flutterwave included from Starter?
Yes. Both gateways are native from the first tier, with tested confirmation webhooks. That is the key differentiator for the Nigerian market.
How long until I go live?
Expect 15 days at Starter, 20 to 25 days at Growth and 30 days at Premium, provided you deliver your visuals and product sheets on time.
Is maintenance mandatory?
It is not contractually forced, but a store without maintenance accumulates security holes and payment bugs. Budget at least 50,000 FCFA/month.
Does the price include payment fees?
No. Those fees (~1.5 % per transaction) are charged by the operators, separate from the development price. They scale with your revenue.
Let's talk about your project. We price your Lagos online store with the right tier on the first call. 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.
