The verdict in three sentences
An Accra training provider stuck with in-person delivery caps at 30 to 60 learners per session and sells its time only once. An e-learning platform (video courses, quizzes, certificates, Mobile Money or card payment, progress tracking) is built for 6 to 13 M FCFA in 10 to 15 weeks. Capacity becomes unlimited, margin per learner rises 45 % and break-even sits around 350 sign-ups.
What each module costs
2026 order of magnitude for a training provider.
| Module | Scope | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue & video player | Courses, chapters, adaptive streaming | 1,400,000 - 2,600,000 |
| Quizzes & assessments | Questions, auto-grading, feedback | 900,000 - 1,700,000 |
| Certificates | PDF generation, online verification | 700,000 - 1,300,000 |
| Mobile Money & card payment | MoMo, cards, subscriptions | 1,200,000 - 2,200,000 |
| Progress tracking | Learner dashboard, completion rate | 900,000 - 1,700,000 |
| Instructor & admin space | Course publishing, revenue, cohorts | 900,000 - 1,500,000 |
| Total | Full MVP | 6,000,000 - 13,000,000 |
Build vs LMS SaaS over 3 years
LMS subscriptions bill 80,000 to 220,000 FCFA/month and often take a cut of sales. Over three years, owning your platform protects margin as volume grows.
| Item | Custom platform | LMS SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | 6,000,000 - 13,000,000 | 0 - 400,000 (setup) |
| Monthly cost | 70,000 - 180,000 | 80,000 - 220,000 |
| Sales commission | 0 % | 3 - 10 % |
| 3-year cost | 8.5 - 19.5 M FCFA | 2.9 - 8.3 M FCFA + commissions |
| Content ownership | Yes | Yes, but vendor-hosted |
| Brand & pricing | Free | Constrained |
12-month revenue projection
With an average price of 35,000 FCFA per course and a gradual ramp, here is a cautious projection.
| Quarter | Cumulative sign-ups | Cumulative revenue (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 120 | 4,200,000 |
| Q2 | 340 | 11,900,000 |
| Q3 | 650 | 22,750,000 |
| Q4 | 1,050 | 36,750,000 |
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The 350 sign-up threshold, reached near the end of Q2, covers the investment of a 9 M FCFA platform.
Mini case study
Ama, an accounting trainer in Accra, capped at 48 learners per quarter in person, i.e. 192/year at 35,000 FCFA: 6.7 M FCFA of revenue. With the platform she sells online 24/7 and reaches 1,050 sign-ups in year one: 36.75 M FCFA. Even after hosting and video production, her margin per learner rises from 19,000 to 27,500 FCFA (+45 %).
FAQ
Do videos play well on average connections? Yes. Adaptive streaming matches quality to bandwidth, and a download mode lets learners follow a course offline on mobile.
How are certificates issued? On passing the final quiz, the app generates a PDF certificate with a verification code an employer can check online.
Can we sell both subscriptions and single courses? Yes. Mobile Money handles single purchases, bundles and monthly subscriptions with auto-renewal.
How many instructors can we host? As many as needed. Each instructor gets a publishing space and revenue tracking by cohort.
What is the real break-even? Around 350 sign-ups at 35,000 FCFA for a 9 M FCFA platform, excluding marketing; it drops if your average price is higher.
Let's talk about your project. We size your e-learning platform and its profitability in 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.
