The verdict in three sentences
A custom business platform that centralizes your operations is budgeted between 15,000,000 and 45,000,000 FCFA in 2026, depending on the number of modules and roles. Success hinges on breaking it into lots: ship first the module that saves the most hours, then fund the rest with the savings released. Plan for 5 to 9 months and maintenance of 300,000 to 700,000 FCFA/month.
What the budget covers by tier
Price depends on the number of digitized processes and role complexity. Here are the 2026 ranges (estimate).
| Scope | 2026 range (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Core + 2 business modules | 15,000,000 - 22,000,000 | 5-6 months |
| + fine-grained roles and permissions | 22,000,000 - 32,000,000 | 6-7 months |
| + reporting and dashboards | 32,000,000 - 45,000,000 | 7-9 months |
| Existing data migration | 2,000,000 - 5,000,000 | included |
| Team training | 800,000 - 2,000,000 | included |
Recurring costs must be in the quote from day one to avoid surprises.
| Recurring item | 2026 cost (FCFA/month) |
|---|---|
| Corrective maintenance | 300,000 - 700,000 |
| Managed hosting | 60,000 - 180,000 |
| Backups + monitoring | 30,000 - 90,000 |
| Minor evolutions | 200,000 - 500,000 |
| User support | 100,000 - 300,000 |
MoSCoW prioritization and lot breakdown
The MoSCoW method classifies every function as Must, Should, Could, Won't. It stops you from paying for rarely used features. In practice, 60 % of the value comes from 30 % of the functions: put the first lot there.
| Category | Budget share | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Must have | 55 - 65 % | data entry, roles, core workflow |
| Should have | 20 - 25 % | reporting, exports, alerts |
| Could have | 10 - 15 % | customization, third-party integrations |
| Won't (V2) | 0 % now | AI, native mobile, client portal |
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Mini case study
Rindra, director of a distribution company in Miami, digitizes her order and delivery-route management. Lot 1 delivered for 19,000,000 FCFA, maintenance 420,000 FCFA/month. Previously, 4 employees each spent 2 h/day re-keying data, about 1,600,000 FCFA/month of unproductive time. The platform removes 80 % of that load, i.e. 1,280,000 FCFA/month saved: lot 1 pays back in 15 months, maintenance included.
FAQ
Why not buy off-the-shelf software? A standard ERP is often cheaper to buy but forces you to adapt your processes to the tool. Custom aligns with your business and avoids manual workarounds that would cost more than 500,000 FCFA/month in lost time.
Can I pay in lots? Yes, and it's recommended. Splitting into 3 lots lets you pay 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA per tranche and validate value before committing to the next.
How long until the first usable lot? The core plus the two priority modules ship in 5 to 6 months, giving you time savings without waiting for the full platform.
Is maintenance mandatory? Strongly advised: without it, a platform drifts within 12 to 18 months. Budget 300,000 to 700,000 FCFA/month to keep the tool secure and up to date.
Does reporting justify its cost? Yes: a consolidated dashboard often saves a director 2 to 3 days of manual reporting per month, a measurable ROI from the first quarter.
Let's scope your project. List your priority processes, indicative budget and deadline, and we'll frame lot 1 of your platform. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
