The verdict in three sentences
A freelance photographer or videographer in Ouagadougou often earns well during wedding season, then runs out of cash when the camera or a lens fails. The problem is rarely talent: it is the lack of clear quotes, a 30 to 50% deposit, compliant invoices and a reserve for gear that costs 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA every 3 years. 18 hours of training are enough to set up clean documents, understand your tax obligations and manage your cash flow.
Your 2026 prices and what they must cover
Here are 2026 ballpark figures seen in Ouagadougou. The right price is not your neighbour's: it is the one that pays for your time, your gear and your taxes.
| Service | Typical 2026 price | Real time (shooting + editing) | Recommended deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait or portfolio session | 25,000 to 60,000 FCFA | 4 to 6 h | 50% |
| Christening or birthday, photo | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 8 to 12 h | 30 to 50% |
| Wedding, photo only | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 20 to 30 h | 40% |
| Wedding, photo and edited film | 250,000 to 400,000 FCFA | 35 to 50 h | 50% |
| Corporate or NGO event, half day | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 8 to 14 h | 30% or purchase order |
| 2-minute institutional video | 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA | 30 to 60 h | 30 to 50% |
NGOs, embassies and companies in Ouagadougou almost always require a signed quote, an invoice with an IFU tax number and sometimes a trade register entry. Without these papers, you stay limited to weddings paid in cash.
The hidden cost: your gear
Most freelancers forget to set money aside to replace their equipment. Example of a simple depreciation calculation over 36 months.
| Equipment | Indicative 2026 purchase price | Lifespan | Monthly reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recent used mirrorless body | 900,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA | 3 years | 25,000 to 50,000 FCFA |
| Two lenses (standard and portrait) | 500,000 to 1,400,000 FCFA | 4 years | 10,400 to 29,200 FCFA |
| Lighting, mic, gimbal | 200,000 to 500,000 FCFA | 3 years | 5,600 to 13,900 FCFA |
| Editing computer | 600,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA | 4 years | 12,500 to 25,000 FCFA |
| Drives and backups | 80,000 to 200,000 FCFA | 2 years | 3,300 to 8,300 FCFA |
| Total | 2,280,000 to 5,100,000 FCFA | 56,800 to 126,400 FCFA |
In other words, before paying yourself, each month should set aside roughly 60,000 to 125,000 FCFA for gear. That is what the course teaches you to build into your prices.
Taxes and paperwork: what you need to know
In Burkina Faso, very small businesses generally fall under the micro-enterprise contribution (CME), calculated according to turnover and zone, while larger businesses move to the actual-profit regime. Thresholds and scales change with the finance law: the course shows you how to check them with the Directorate General of Taxes and how to keep an income-expense register that protects you in an audit.
The course Run your business: invoicing, taxes and cash flow (taught in French) is level 3 of the freelance and entrepreneurship track, at 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR) for 18 h. It covers quote and invoice templates, terms and conditions (deposit, image usage rights, delivery time), unpaid invoice follow-up, tax filing, a 12-month cash flow sheet and pricing.
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Free templates found online | 0 FCFA | Rarely adapted to Burkinabè law |
| One-off accountant | 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per filing | Doesn't teach you to manage |
| In-person management training | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA | Generic, not geared to creatives |
| Kolonell Academy, level 3 | 75,000 FCFA, 18 h | Requires filling in your own sheets |
The full Freelance and entrepreneurship track bundles 5 levels for 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Issouf, 30, a videographer in Ouagadougou, shoots 4 weddings a month in season at 250,000 FCFA, with no deposit. In 2025, two clients cancelled the day before and a third paid 4 months late: a shortfall of about 500,000 FCFA, plus blocked Sundays.
After the course (75,000 FCFA), he requires a 40% deposit, i.e. 100,000 FCFA per wedding, non-refundable within 15 days, and now invoices with his IFU. A single covered cancellation repays more than the course. He also lands a 3-video contract for an NGO at 450,000 FCFA, previously impossible without a compliant invoice. He sets aside 70,000 FCFA a month in a separate account for gear. These figures are an illustrative example, not a guaranteed average.
FAQ
What deposit should I ask for a wedding?
Between 30 and 50% when the quote is signed, the balance on the day of the event or on file delivery. On a 300,000 FCFA wedding, that means 90,000 to 150,000 FCFA secured.
Do I need an IFU number to invoice a company?
Yes, companies and NGOs ask for it in almost all cases. Without an IFU, they may withhold tax or refuse to pay.
How much should I set aside for gear?
As a ballpark, 60,000 to 125,000 FCFA a month for equipment worth 2,300,000 to 5,100,000 FCFA replaced every 3 to 4 years.
How do I pay for the course?
Level 3 costs 75,000 FCFA, payable by Wave or Orange Money. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Does the course replace an accountant?
No. It makes you autonomous on day-to-day invoicing and cash flow, and helps you work better with an accountant once your turnover exceeds the CME thresholds.
Take the next step. Enroll in Run your business: invoicing, taxes and cash flow: 18 h, level 3, 75,000 FCFA, quote and invoice templates included, Kolonell Academy 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.
