The verdict in three sentences
A customer billing portal lets your clients view invoices, download documents and pay online via Wave and Orange Money. Custom-built, expect 4,000,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA one-off; as SaaS, 15,000 to 60,000 FCFA/month. The choice depends on your horizon: SaaS wins short-term, custom becomes cost-effective beyond 3 years and keeps you in control of your data.
Custom vs SaaS: the direct comparison
SaaS is fast to start with no heavy upfront investment, but every month adds up and features stay those of the vendor. Custom requires an upfront budget but natively integrates Wave and Orange Money, matches your processes and charges no per-user subscription.
| Criterion | Custom build | SaaS subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 4,000,000 - 9,000,000 FCFA | 0 - 300,000 FCFA |
| Monthly cost | hosting 25,000 - 75,000 | 15,000 - 60,000 FCFA |
| Wave/OM integration | Native, custom | Vendor-dependent |
| Data control | Full (you) | Vendor |
| Customization | Unlimited | Limited |
| Time to launch | 6 - 12 weeks | 1 - 3 weeks |
The real trade-off: 3-year TCO
To decide, compare the total cost of ownership over 3 years, hosting and maintenance included. SaaS looks cheaper at first, but the subscription accumulates; custom amortises its upfront cost and becomes competitive by year three.
| Item (3 years) | Custom build | SaaS (40,000 FCFA/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 6,000,000 FCFA | 150,000 FCFA |
| 36-month subscription | 0 | 1,440,000 FCFA |
| 36-month hosting | 1,800,000 FCFA | included |
| 3-year maintenance | 1,200,000 FCFA | included |
| 3-year TCO | 9,000,000 FCFA | 1,590,000 FCFA |
| Final ownership | Asset you own | None |
Mini case study
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Mr Fall, manager of a B2B distribution company in Dakar, invoices 220 professional clients. His agents spend around 10 hours per week resending invoices and chasing payments by phone. At a loaded cost of 3,500 FCFA/hour, that is 35,000 FCFA/week, or 1,820,000 FCFA/year. He invests 6,000,000 FCFA in a custom client portal with Wave and Orange Money payment. Automation removes 70 % of this work, saving 1,274,000 FCFA per year and speeding collections. Return on investment, hosting included, lands in about 4.5 years; measured as an owned, evolvable asset, the maths favours custom for sustained volume.
FAQ
How much does a custom client portal cost in Dakar? Between 4,000,000 and 9,000,000 FCFA in 2026 depending on modules: invoice viewing, documents, Wave/Orange Money payment and a dashboard. A core build starts around 4,000,000 FCFA.
Is SaaS cheaper? Short-term yes: 15,000 to 60,000 FCFA/month with no big investment. But over 3 years, the cumulative subscription can exceed an amortised custom project, without you owning the solution.
Can Wave and Orange Money be integrated? Yes, that is custom's strength: native payment integration, automatic invoice reconciliation and real-time payment notifications.
What is the timeline for the custom version? Expect 6 to 12 weeks depending on scope: 6 weeks for an invoices + documents core, up to 12 weeks with payment and an advanced dashboard.
Who owns the client data? With custom, you do. You host the database, control access and are not dependent on a vendor that could change prices or shut down the service.
Let's scope your project. Share your client count, monthly invoice volume and preferred payment methods (Wave, Orange Money): we compare a costed custom build and SaaS for you. 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.
