The verdict in three sentences
The cost of an online store in Lagos is not just the website: you must budget for product photos, initial stock and launch advertising. A realistic project runs from 1,500,000 FCFA at Starter to over 6,000,000 FCFA at Premium, delivered in 15 to 45 days. The real metric is not price but the number of monthly orders needed to make it profitable.
The real cost items
Many merchants budget only for the site and end up with no stock or ad budget on launch day. Here is the full breakdown as a 2026 order of magnitude.
| Item | FCFA range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce site | 1,000,000 – 4,000,000 | By tier and features |
| Product photos | 200,000 – 500,000 | 30 to 80 products |
| Initial stock | 500,000 – 2,000,000 | By sector |
| Domain + hosting | 40,000 – 120,000/yr | .ng or .com domain |
| Launch advertising | 150,000 – 600,000 | Meta + Google Ads |
| Logo / identity | 100,000 – 400,000 | Optional if existing |
| Realistic total | 1,990,000 – 7,620,000 | Starter to Premium |
The three offer tiers
Tier choice depends on catalogue size and growth ambition, not just the available budget.
| Tier | Site price FCFA | Included | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 | 50 products, Wave + OM, admin | 15 – 20 days |
| Growth | 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 | Unlimited catalogue, Stripe, promos, stock | 25 – 35 days |
| Premium | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 | PWA, loyalty, multi-currency, AI | 35 – 45 days |
Mini case study
Fatou launches a shoe store in Lagos on the Growth tier for 2,500,000 FCFA, plus 400,000 for photos and 1,200,000 for stock, i.e. 4,100,000 FCFA. With an average basket of 25,000 FCFA and a 35% net margin (8,750 FCFA/order after Wave fees), she needs about 470 orders to recoup her investment. At 100 orders/month, break-even is reached in under 5 months.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
What is the minimum budget to start seriously?
Allow at least 1,990,000 FCFA at the Starter tier with a small stock and a launch ad budget. Below that, the site exists but does not generate enough traffic.
Do I really need professional photos?
Yes, photos are the top conversion driver in fashion and lifestyle. A budget of 200,000 to 500,000 FCFA pays off from the first sales.
How much does launch advertising cost?
A Meta + Google Ads budget of 150,000 to 600,000 FCFA in the first month lets you test audiences and generate first orders.
How long before going live?
From 15 days at Starter to 45 days at Premium, depending on product count, integrations and content approval.
How many orders to be profitable?
As an order of magnitude, 90 to 150 monthly orders with a 20,000 to 25,000 FCFA basket cover a Growth-tier investment in under 6 months.
Let's talk about your project. We'll build a full budget and a quantified break-even for your sector together. 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.