The verdict in three sentences
A clinic that only books by phone loses patients who call after hours and buries its receptionist under calls. A site with online booking and SMS reminders captures demand 24/7 and drops no-shows by 20-40%. The module's extra cost (250,000-450,000 FCFA) is recovered in weeks by slots that no longer sit empty.
Brochure site vs online booking: the real gap
A brochure site shows the clinic, hours and a phone number. A booking-enabled site adds a synced calendar, automatic confirmation and reminders. You pay once, but it pays back every month.
| Element | Brochure site | Online booking |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | 300,000 - 600,000 FCFA | 550,000 - 1,050,000 FCFA |
| Booking module | No | +250,000 - 450,000 FCFA |
| Synced calendar | No | Yes (Google/Outlook) |
| SMS/WhatsApp reminders | No | Yes, automatic |
| Premium-slot deposit | No | Yes (mobile money) |
| Secure patient record | No | Option +150,000 FCFA |
| Delivery time | 7 - 12 days | 10 - 20 days |
| Monthly maintenance | 25,000 - 50,000 FCFA | 50,000 - 90,000 FCFA |
The true cost of no-shows
An empty slot is not neutral: it is an unbilled consultation nothing replaces. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for a Nairobi clinic with an average consult at 25,000 FCFA.
| Indicator | Without reminders | With SMS reminders |
|---|---|---|
| Appointments per month | 320 | 320 |
| No-show rate | 28% | 12% |
| Lost slots/month | ~90 | ~38 |
| Lost consults (FCFA) | 2,250,000 | 950,000 |
| Monthly revenue recovered | — | ~1,300,000 |
| SMS cost (0.15$/msg, ~640/mo) | — | ~55,000 FCFA |
Mini case study
Dr. Wanjiru, a GP in Nairobi, took 15-20 calls a day, half of them after hours and unanswered. After an 780,000 FCFA site with online booking and SMS reminders, her no-show rate fell from 28% to 13% in two months. On 52 slots recovered per month at 25,000 FCFA, she recovers 1,300,000 FCFA/month; the site pays for itself in under three weeks of net gain.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
How much does a doctor booking website cost in 2026?
Expect 550,000-1,050,000 FCFA depending on options. The booking module itself is 250,000-450,000 FCFA of the total, the rest being the brochure site and design.
Do SMS reminders really cut no-shows?
Yes. 2026 feedback across East and West Africa shows a 20-40% drop in missed appointments. A WhatsApp reminder 24h before is even more effective and nearly free.
Is patient data protected?
The patient-record module is encrypted with role-based access. We limit collection to the essentials (name, phone, reason) to stay compliant with local data-protection rules.
How fast is the site live?
Between 10 and 20 days for the booking version, depending on content approval speed and syncing your existing calendar.
Can we require a deposit to hold a premium slot?
Yes. A mobile-money deposit (M-Pesa, Airtel Money) filters out fake bookings and secures your most requested slots.
Let's talk about your project. We set up your calendar, reminders and deposits in under three weeks. 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.
