The verdict in three sentences
For an Ivorian SME, SaaS subscription appeals through its low entry cost but bills you in hard currency and swells with every hire. Custom demands an upfront investment of several million FCFA but locks the cost and removes currency risk. Beyond a certain headcount and a 3-4 year horizon, custom becomes markedly cheaper.
Subscription vs custom: the benchmark
Two opposite logics for an Abidjan SME. 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Criterion | SaaS subscription | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 15,000-45,000 FCFA/user/month | 6,000,000-20,000,000 FCFA once |
| Upfront outlay | Low | High |
| Currency risk | High (EUR/USD billing) | None (paid in local FCFA) |
| Cost evolution | Grows with headcount | Fixed |
| Ownership | No (foreign vendor) | Yes (local asset) |
| Maintenance | Included | 12-18% of build/year |
| Data sovereignty | Hosted out of zone | Locally controllable |
5-year TCO and currency exposure
2026 inputs: SaaS at 25,000 FCFA/user/month, custom at 12,000,000 FCFA + 1,800,000 FCFA/year maintenance (i.e. 21,000,000 FCFA over 5 years).
| Users | SaaS 5 yrs | Custom 5 yrs | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 15,000,000 FCFA | 21,000,000 FCFA | SaaS |
| 15 | 22,500,000 FCFA | 21,000,000 FCFA | Break-even |
| 20 | 30,000,000 FCFA | 21,000,000 FCFA | Custom |
| 30 | 45,000,000 FCFA | 21,000,000 FCFA | Custom |
| 50 | 75,000,000 FCFA | 21,000,000 FCFA | Custom |
At 25,000 FCFA/user/month, break-even lands around 14-15 users. Add currency risk: a 10% rise in EUR/USD inflates your SaaS bill by as much, leaving custom (paid in FCFA) untouched.
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Mini case study
Aminata, CEO of a 24-person distribution SME in Abidjan-Plateau, compares both options for her inventory software. In SaaS at 25,000 FCFA/user/month: 25,000 × 20 users × 60 months = 30,000,000 FCFA over 5 years, exposed to the exchange rate. In custom: 12,000,000 FCFA + 1,800,000 FCFA/year = 21,000,000 FCFA, paid in FCFA with no surprises. She saves 9,000,000 FCFA, shields her budget from currency swings and owns an asset fit for Ivorian logistics.
FAQ
Why does currency risk matter so much? Most SaaS bill in EUR/USD: an FCFA depreciation or a currency rise mechanically raises your cost, with no upside.
At how many users does custom win in Abidjan? With these 2026 inputs, around 14-15 users. The threshold drops if SaaS raises prices or bills modules.
Can custom be paid in installments? Yes: milestone-based (MVP then modules), often 30-40% at kickoff then on each batch delivery.
Does custom handle Wave and Orange Money? Yes, a major advantage: native Wave/OM integration, impossible or limited on many foreign SaaS.
What's the delivery timeline? Expect 2-4 months for a focused business tool, shortened via an MVP covering your most critical process first.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, business process and FCFA budget: we price custom and its TCO against SaaS. 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.
