The verdict in three sentences
A custom client portal for a services SME costs between 3,500,000 and 10,000,000 FCFA in 2026, driven by module count and security level. The MVP ships in 3 to 5 months and should stick to authentication, a document vault and notifications: everything else waits for V2. The real risk is not price, it is the poorly bounded scope that doubles the bill.
What a client portal actually costs in 2026
Cost depends on functional depth, not the number of screens. A portal that displays documents and invoices is far cheaper than a transactional one with payment and signature. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for the Brazzaville and francophone Central African market.
| Portal level | Typical scope | 2026 range (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential MVP | Login, documents, PDF invoices, notifications | 3,500,000 - 5,000,000 | 3 months |
| Standard | + case tracking, internal messaging, roles | 5,000,000 - 7,500,000 | 4 months |
| Advanced | + online payment, signature, dashboard | 7,500,000 - 10,000,000 | 5 months |
| Heavy custom | + ERP/accounting integration, third-party APIs | 10,000,000 - 16,000,000 | 6 months + |
| Annual maintenance | Hosting, fixes, minor evolutions | 700,000 - 1,800,000 /yr | recurring |
Maintenance is often forgotten. Budget 15 to 20% of the build cost per year to stay secure and keep the product evolving.
Which modules belong in the MVP
Golden rule: an MVP does one thing well. For a client portal, that means giving access to documents and invoices without calling the front desk. The table below separates launch essentials from what can wait.
| Module | MVP (V1) | V2 | Indicative cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication + MFA | Yes | - | 600,000 - 1,000,000 |
| Document vault | Yes | - | 800,000 - 1,500,000 |
| Invoice viewing | Yes | - | 500,000 - 900,000 |
| SMS/WhatsApp notifications | Yes | - | 400,000 - 800,000 |
| Client messaging | No | Yes | 700,000 - 1,200,000 |
| Online payment (Mobile Money) | No | Yes | 900,000 - 1,800,000 |
| E-signature | No | Yes | 800,000 - 1,500,000 |
| Analytics dashboard | No | Yes | 600,000 - 1,200,000 |
By focusing the budget on the first four modules, you ship a useful portal in 3 months, gather real feedback, then fund V2 from the value already created.
Mini case study
Mr. Ngoma runs an 18-person HR consulting firm in Brazzaville. Each month, his assistants spend roughly 45 hours manually e-mailing payslips, certificates and invoices at a loaded cost of 2,500 FCFA/hour, i.e. 112,500 FCFA/month of unproductive time, not counting errors and follow-ups. He invests 4,200,000 FCFA in an MVP portal (login, vault, invoices, WhatsApp notifications). Admin time drops to 10 hours/month, saving 87,500 FCFA/month. Add reduced unpaid invoices thanks to automated reminders (estimated +300,000 FCFA of cash recovered per quarter): the investment is paid back in 30 to 36 months on time savings alone, faster with the cash-flow effect.
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FAQ
How long to ship a first client portal?
A well-scoped MVP ships in 3 to 5 months. The limiting factor is not code but your teams' availability to validate mockups and provide content.
Can you integrate Wave, Airtel Money or MTN Mobile Money?
Yes, Mobile Money integration is a V2 module priced between 900,000 and 1,800,000 FCFA depending on the number of providers and confirmation-webhook handling.
Is client data secure?
The MVP includes two-factor authentication, encryption of documents at rest and access logging. A full security audit is recommended before opening online payment.
Is there a monthly subscription after delivery?
You own the code, there is no per-user license. Only maintenance (700,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA/year) covers hosting, fixes and small evolutions.
Can we start small and grow later?
That is the best approach: MVP first, then V2 funded by the value created. The architecture is designed from the start to add messaging, payment and signature without rebuilding everything.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your user count, priority MVP modules and target budget (3.5 to 10M FCFA): we will frame a scope deliverable in 3 to 5 months. 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.
