Since DGID Order 2024-1182, every invoice issued in Senegal must carry the seller's NINEA, an explicit 18% VAT when applicable, and the FNE number for eligible businesses. Craftsmen still invoicing on Word or notepad are now out of compliance. Here is the honest comparison of invoicing software for Senegalese craftsmen in 2026.
TL;DR
- Saari (Sage): historic leader, XOF 45,000/month, heavy but complete
- Sage 50: local version, XOF 38,000/month, banking integration
- Local SaaS (Kolonell, Yobantel): XOF 12,000-25,000/month, mobile-first
- DGID + NINEA + FNE mentions mandatory since 2024
- 10-year legal archive, cloud authorised
The 2026 Senegal invoicing legal framework
Mandatory DGID mentions
- NINEA of the seller (National Business and Association ID)
- Legal name + full address
- Issue date DD/MM/YYYY
- Sequential invoice number with no gaps
- Service or goods description
- Unit price excl. tax and quantity
- 18% VAT explicit if applicable (otherwise "VAT not applicable")
- Total excl. VAT, VAT, incl. VAT
- FNE number for eligible businesses
- "Paid invoice" mention if already settled
Penalties for non-compliance
- Flat fine: XOF 200,000 per non-compliant invoice
- Customer denied VAT deduction
- Tax adjustment risk during DGID audit
The role of the National Business Levy (FNE)
The FNE applies to businesses with revenue below XOF 50M. Simplified flat tax, does not exempt from compliant invoicing. Must be shown on every invoice.
Invoicing software: honest comparison
Saari (Sage): the mammoth
- Pricing: XOF 45,000/month (≈ XOF 540,000/year)
- Strength: exhaustive, full accounting included, audit-ready
- Weakness: aging UI, no mobile, 3-5 days training
- Target: craftsman + 5 employees, BTP with subcontractors
- Senegal footprint: strong, distributed by EOH, Dakar Software
Sage 50
- Pricing: XOF 38,000/month
- Strength: bank integration (BICIS, SGBS, Ecobank), auto balance sheet
- Weakness: no Wolof French, international support
- Target: structured BTP business
Sage Business Cloud Accounting
- Pricing: XOF 25,000/month starter
- Strength: cloud, mobile, auto DGID updates
- Weakness: learning curve
Emerging local SaaS
| SaaS | XOF/month | Mobile | DGID 2024 | Auto NINEA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Invoice | 18,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yobantel | 15,000 | Yes | Yes | Manual |
| Senfacture | 12,000 | Yes | Yes | Manual |
| Wuri Pro | 25,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saari (Sage) | 45,000 | No | Yes | Yes |
For a craftsman: which choice?
Profile 1: solo craftsman (1-2 people)
Kolonell pick: local SaaS at XOF 12,000-18,000/month. Saari is oversized — you pay for 70% unused features. Yobantel, Senfacture or Kolonell Invoice are plenty.
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Profile 2: team of 5-15
Pick: local SaaS + payroll module. If accounting is outsourced (firm), ask for the Sage-compatible export. Wuri Pro or Kolonell Invoice handle this case.
Profile 3: structured BTP business (15+ employees)
Pick: Sage Business Cloud or Saari. Transaction volume, subcontractors, inventory, analytical accounting justify the investment.
The Kolonell Invoice workflow
- Mobile invoice entry (phone or tablet) in 90 seconds
- NINEA and FNE pre-filled from company profile
- Automatic sequential numbering, no gaps
- 18% VAT auto-calculated
- Sent via WhatsApp or email to the customer
- Embedded Wave/OM QR code for payment
- Automatic 10-year cloud archive
- DGID export ready for audits
Migrating from Excel or Word
A craftsman migrating from a manual system must:
- Import history: minimum 12 months for VAT tracking
- Verify numbering: no gaps allowed by DGID
- Re-enter customer NINEAs: forces a database refresh
- Train the team: 2-3h on SaaS, 2-3 days on Saari
- Backup: Excel does not back up by default, SaaS cloud does
FAQ
Q: Saari or local SaaS — what to recommend to a Dakar plumber?
A: Local SaaS. For a solo craftsman or small team, Saari is XOF 27,000/month overpriced for unused features. Yobantel, Senfacture or Kolonell Invoice at XOF 12-18,000/month cover 95% of DGID-compliant needs.
Q: Is electronic invoicing mandatory in Senegal?
A: Not yet in 2026, but DGID is preparing the obligation for businesses > XOF 100M revenue around 2027-2028. Get ahead by switching to SaaS now.
Q: How long to migrate from Excel to a SaaS?
A: 3 to 5 hours for a solo craftsman, 1-2 days for a 10-person team. Kolonell offers migration support at a flat XOF 35,000.
Q: Which software do listed Senegal BTP companies use?
A: Sage 50 or Saari for 80% of them. A few use SAP Business One (international groups). Local SaaS is growing but still minority among large players.
Conclusion
Compliant invoicing is no longer optional in Senegal — DGID Order 2024-1182 raised the bar. For a craftsman, a local SaaS at XOF 12-25,000/month beats Saari at XOF 45,000 on features/price by a wide margin. Kolonell Invoice is built for this profile. Request a free quote or 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.
