The verdict in three sentences
The price of a vertical business app in Africa follows payment and user-role complexity first, not the number of screens. In 2026, budget 1.5-3M FCFA for a simple app, 3-6M for a mid-range app, and 6-12M for a complex multi-actor marketplace-style app. Add maintenance of 25,000-75,000 FCFA/month, essential for security and updates.
The price grid by complexity
A booking app is nothing like a three-role delivery platform (customer, courier, admin). Here are 2026 ranges.
| Level | Example | Price FCFA | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | Menu, booking, catalog | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | 4 - 6 wks |
| Mid | Order + MoMo payment | 3,000,000 - 6,000,000 | 6 - 10 wks |
| Complex | Marketplace, 3 roles, split | 6,000,000 - 12,000,000 | 10 - 16 wks |
| Custom | ERP, heavy integrations | 12,000,000+ | 16 wks+ |
What drives the bill up
Some features double the budget. Knowing them lets you arbitrate must-have vs nice-to-have during scoping.
| Feature | Price impact | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Wave/OM/MoMo payment | +500,000 - 1,000,000 | medium |
| Multi-vendor split payment | +1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | high |
| Multiple roles + permissions | +800,000 - 2,000,000 | high |
| Push + SMS notifications | +300,000 - 700,000 | low |
| Offline mode / sync | +500,000 - 1,500,000 | medium |
| Analytics dashboard | +400,000 - 1,000,000 | medium |
Monthly maintenance (25-75k FCFA) covers hosting, security patches and minor evolutions.
Mini case study
Dr Mensah wants an app for his clinic in Accra: booking, SMS reminders and deposit payment via mobile money. That's a mid-range app. Quote: base 3,500,000 FCFA + payment 700,000 + notifications 400,000 = 4,600,000 FCFA, delivered in 9 weeks, with 50,000 FCFA/month maintenance. By cutting no-shows by 20%, the app pays for itself in under a year on recovered deposits alone.
FAQ
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Why does payment raise the price so much?
Wave/OM/MoMo integration requires reliable webhooks, failure handling and testing. It's critical code, hence a 500,000-1,000,000 FCFA add-on.
PWA or native for a business app?
In most cases a PWA is enough and costs three times less. Native is justified for advanced hardware needs.
Is maintenance really mandatory?
Yes: without security and compatibility updates, an app degrades within months. Budget 25,000-75,000 FCFA/month.
How long to deliver?
From 4 weeks for a simple app to 16 weeks and more for a complex multi-role platform.
Can I start with an MVP then expand?
Yes, it's recommended: a first version with the core feature, then iterations funded by early revenue.
Let's talk about your project. We scope your business app to invest in the feature that pays, not the superfluous. 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.
