The verdict in three sentences
SaaS software is perfect to start fast and cheap, but its cost is recurring and cumulative: every month adds to a bill that builds no asset. A custom application demands a heavy upfront investment (2 to 6M FCFA) but becomes your property and stops charging a subscription. The right call is made on a 3-year TCO and a tipping point that in 2026 usually falls between 24 and 36 months of heavy use.
The real cost: 3-year TCO
The SaaS trap is comparing its monthly price to a custom quote — two numbers that don't compare. Bring both to the same horizon: total cost of ownership (TCO) over 36 months, maintenance included.
| Item (2026 ballpark) | SaaS software | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket | 0 to 150,000 FCFA setup | 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA |
| Monthly cost | 15,000 to 60,000 FCFA/month | 0 (maintenance optional) |
| Annual maintenance | Included in subscription | 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA/yr |
| Cost over 36 months | 540,000 to 2,160,000 FCFA | 2,900,000 to 8,700,000 FCFA |
| Code ownership | None | Full (yours) |
| Business customization | Limited to options | Unlimited |
| Vendor dependency | High (lock-in) | Low |
At 5 users and a single feature, SaaS is unbeatable. Multiply seats, modules and payment integrations, and the SaaS curve climbs and crosses the custom one.
When does it really tip?
The threshold depends on user count and the value of customizations SaaS can't deliver.
| Profile | Estimated SaaS fee | SaaS 36-month TCO | Custom tipping point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo / 3 seats | 15,000 FCFA/month | 540,000 FCFA | Rarely worth it |
| SME 10 seats | 35,000 FCFA/month | 1,260,000 FCFA | Review around 30 months |
| SME 25 seats | 60,000 FCFA/month | 2,160,000 FCFA | Worth it from 24-30 months |
| Multi-site / own process | 80,000 FCFA+/month | 2,880,000 FCFA+ | Worth it, ownership is key |
Simple rule: if your subscription tops 50,000 FCFA/month and you patch its gaps with Excel exports, a custom quote is worth requesting.
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Mini case study
Awa runs a chain of 3 shops in Dakar with 12 employees. Her management SaaS costs 45,000 FCFA/month, i.e. 1,620,000 FCFA over 3 years, but it doesn't handle inter-store transfers — she loses 6h/week in Excel. A custom tool at 3,500,000 FCFA + 500,000 FCFA/year maintenance totals 5,000,000 FCFA over 3 years. Pricier on paper, but from year 4 the custom app only costs maintenance (500,000 FCFA/yr) while the SaaS restarts at 540,000 FCFA/yr — and Awa reclaims 6h weekly, ~300h/year worth far more than the gap.
FAQ
Is SaaS always cheaper at first? Yes, almost always: 0 to 150,000 FCFA setup versus 2M FCFA minimum for custom. The initial gap only closes with time and user count.
Can I start on SaaS then migrate? That's the safest strategy: validate the need for 12-18 months on SaaS, then build custom once processes are locked. Budget for your data export cost.
Is custom maintenance mandatory? No, but strongly advised: 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA/year cover security, updates and evolutions. Without it, the app ages and becomes a risk.
What happens to my SaaS if the vendor shuts down? You lose the tool and sometimes data access. That's the lock-in risk custom ownership eliminates.
How to decide in 5 minutes? Multiply your monthly fee by 36. If it exceeds 2M FCFA and SaaS misses your core processes, request a custom quote.
Let's talk about your project. We compute your 3-year TCO and tipping point together so you choose without regret. 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.
