The verdict in three sentences
An imported vertical license costs 30 to 60 EUR/month/user, in foreign currency, with no hearing calendar or native FCFA billing. A custom local build ranges from 7 500 000 to 14 000 000 FCFA (about 11 400-21 300 EUR), delivered in 8 to 14 weeks, with maintenance of 800 000 to 1 500 000 FCFA/year. It manages OHADA deadlines, an encrypted vault and multi-currency billing, reclaiming 3 to 6 hrs per week per lawyer.
Imported vertical vs local build: the comparison
The imported vertical knows neither the local court calendar nor FCFA payment. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for a 6-lawyer firm.
| Criterion | Imported vertical | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0-1 500 000 FCFA | 7 500 000-14 000 000 FCFA |
| Annual license | 1 400 000-2 800 000 FCFA/user | 0 FCFA |
| OHADA hearing calendar | No | Yes |
| FCFA/EUR billing | Partial | Native multi-currency |
| Encrypted vault | Optional | Included |
| Support | Foreign, EN | Local, FR |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
For 6 lawyers, the imported vertical quickly accumulates 8 to 17 million FCFA in licenses over 4 years, with no suitable hearing calendar.
Detailed custom-build budget
The budget breaks down by block. Ranges match an 8-to-14-week delivery.
| Block | Scope | 2026 budget (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping + UX | Workshops, mockups | 800 000-1 500 000 |
| Cases + calendar | OHADA deadlines | 2 500 000-4 500 000 |
| Encrypted vault | Document vault | 1 500 000-3 000 000 |
| Multi-currency billing | FCFA/EUR, disbursements | 2 000 000-3 500 000 |
| Hosting | Local/regional | 500 000-1 000 000/yr |
| Maintenance | 10-14 %/yr of build | 800 000-1 500 000/yr |
| Initial build | — | 7 500 000-14 000 000 |
Mini case study
Me Njoya, partner at a 6-lawyer firm in Douala-Bonanjo (a client of the Amsterdam agency), invests 11 000 000 FCFA + 1 300 000 FCFA/year maintenance. The hearing calendar and encrypted vault reclaim 4 hrs/week per lawyer: 4 × 6 × 45 = 1 080 hrs/year. Valued at 6 000 FCFA internal hourly cost, that is 6 480 000 FCFA of freed capacity per year, plus the end of missed hearing deadlines. The build pays off in under 24 months, excluding reputation gains.
FAQ
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Does the hearing calendar really handle OHADA deadlines?
Yes, it is a core block of the local build. It computes procedure deadlines, alerts before each hearing and syncs with case files. Budget 2 500 000 to 4 500 000 FCFA with case management.
Is multi-currency FCFA/EUR billing native?
Yes, a custom build handles FCFA and EUR billing, with configurable exchange rate and disbursement re-billing. That is an asset for the firm's international clients.
Does the encrypted vault respect professional secrecy?
Yes: documents encrypted at rest, access traceability and controlled hosting. Budget 1 500 000 to 3 000 000 FCFA for this block.
What are the go-live timelines?
Budget 8 to 14 weeks depending on scope. A cases + calendar base ships in 6 to 8 weeks; billing and the vault follow.
What does maintenance cover?
About 10 to 14 %/year of the build: fixes, security, OHADA updates and small improvements, i.e. 800 000 to 1 500 000 FCFA/year for a 7.5-14M FCFA project.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of lawyers, priorities (OHADA calendar, vault, FCFA/EUR billing) and an indicative 7.5-14M FCFA budget. 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.
