The verdict in three sentences
In Mbour and along the Petite-Côte, tourists, the diaspora and Dakar customers already order through WhatsApp and Instagram, but an online store with Wave payment turns those chats into tracked orders. Having a provider build the store costs 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA (about 455 to 1,220 EUR), while a platform at 15 to 40 USD a month is enough if you can set it up and run it yourself. Kolonell's course Online store: build it, stock it and keep it running, 20 h for 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR), aims for first orders in about 30 days.
The Mbour context: selling to tourists and beyond
Saly, Somone, Ngaparou, Mbour's central market: customers are seasonal. A jeweller or weaver sells a lot from November to April, then revenue drops. An online store lets you keep selling to tourists back in Europe, to the diaspora and to customers in Dakar or Thiès, with delivery by bus, courier or international post.
| Sales channel | Indicative 2026 monthly cost | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business only | 0 FCFA | Free, customers already there | No structured catalogue, lost orders |
| Instagram or Facebook page | 0 to 30,000 FCFA in ads | Visibility with tourists | No cart, manual payment |
| Store on a platform (Shopify, Wix, hosted WooCommerce) | 15 to 40 USD, i.e. 9,000 to 24,000 FCFA | Catalogue, cart, tracking | Needs method and consistency |
| Store built by a provider | 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA upfront (455-1,220 EUR) | Quick to get | You depend on them for every change |
| Marketplace (Jumia, Expat-Dakar) | 10 to 20% commission per sale | Existing traffic | Lower margin, no customer base of your own |
These figures are 2026 orders of magnitude: subscriptions vary with the plan and the dollar rate.
What the launch costs, line by line
| Expense | Do it yourself after the course | Outsourced to a provider |
|---|---|---|
| Kolonell course (20 h) | 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) | 0 FCFA |
| Building the store | 0 FCFA | 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA |
| Platform, first 3 months | 27,000 to 72,000 FCFA | 27,000 to 72,000 FCFA |
| .com or .sn domain name | 8,000 to 25,000 FCFA a year | Often included |
| Product photos (smartphone, plain background) | 0 to 15,000 FCFA | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA |
| Wave fees on 500,000 FCFA of sales | 5,000 FCFA (1%) | 5,000 FCFA (1%) |
| Total for the first 3 months | about 115,000 to 190,000 FCFA (175-290 EUR) | about 380,000 to 1,050,000 FCFA (580-1,600 EUR) |
The Online store course: build it, stock it and keep it running, taught in French, is level 3 Advanced of the e-commerce track: 6 modules, 20 hours, 75,000 FCFA. You choose the platform, publish a real catalogue of 20 products, connect mobile money payment and delivery, attract visitors and manage the store every week. You pay for the course with Wave or Orange Money.
Still selling only on WhatsApp? The E-commerce and online selling track starts with selling on WhatsApp and goes all the way to running a profitable business, in 5 levels, for 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA (about 535 EUR instead of 685 EUR).
The first 30-day plan
| Week | Goal | Metric to track |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose the platform, domain name, legal pages | Store online, even if empty |
| 2 | Photograph and publish 20 products priced in FCFA and EUR | 20 complete product pages |
| 3 | Connect Wave, Orange Money and card, set up delivery | Paid test order |
| 4 | Share on WhatsApp, Instagram, with Saly hotels and guides | 300 visits, 3 to 5 orders targeted |
First sales within 30 days are a realistic goal, not a guarantee: they depend on your products, prices and network.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Fatou, 29, sells wax-print bags and woven baskets at the Saly craft market. She makes about 400,000 FCFA in sales a month in high season and 120,000 FCFA in low season.
- She takes the course: 75,000 FCFA, plus 3 months of platform at 15,000 FCFA, i.e. 120,000 FCFA in total (about 183 EUR).
- A provider had quoted her 450,000 FCFA: a saving of 330,000 FCFA (about 503 EUR).
- With a 40% margin, she needs 300,000 FCFA in online sales to recover the 120,000 FCFA.
- If the store adds 100,000 FCFA of sales a month in low season (orders from the diaspora and former tourist customers), the outlay is covered in about 3 months.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to code?
No, the course uses no-code platforms. You need a smartphone, a computer for a few steps and a 4G connection; the 20 hours are self-paced.
How do I take payments from European tourists?
You connect card payments through the platform for foreign customers, and Wave or Orange Money for Senegalese customers. Wave charges 1% per merchant payment, cards about 2.5 to 3.5%.
Which platform should I choose in Mbour?
Module 1 compares the options against your budget, from 15 to 40 USD a month, and your delivery needs. The choice mainly depends on the number of products and the payment methods you want.
How do I deliver from the Petite-Côte?
The course covers the options: local rider at 1,000 to 2,000 FCFA within Mbour, courier to Dakar at 2,500 to 5,000 FCFA, international shipping with DHL or La Poste. You set clear delivery fees on every product page.
How much is the course and how do I pay?
It costs 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR) for 20 hours, with a verifiable certificate. You pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Take the next step. Enroll in Online store: build it, stock it and keep it running: 20 h in 6 modules, 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR), verifiable certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
