The verdict in three sentences
Event ticketing turns on two nerves: the fee rate taken on each ticket and the gate fraud of fake tickets. An app that sells via Paystack / mobile money, generates a unique QR e-ticket and controls access in real time brings fees from 10-15 % down to 3-8 % while keeping the audience data. Realistic budget in Accra for 2026: between 800,000 and 3,500,000 FCFA.
The fee model that returns your margin
On an event of 2,000 tickets at 10,000 FCFA, the commission gap runs into millions. 2026 order-of-magnitude comparison.
| Item | External platform | Own ticketing app |
|---|---|---|
| Fee per ticket | 10-15 % | 3-8 % |
| Gross revenue (2,000 x 10,000) | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 |
| Fees taken (FCFA) | 2,500,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Net revenue (FCFA) | 17,500,000 | 18,900,000 |
| Audience data | No | Yes (full base) |
| Paystack / mobile money | Variable | Native |
On this single event, the gap reaches 1,400,000 FCFA, before counting the value of the reusable contact base for the next concert.
Anti-fraud and organiser data
The unique QR and gate scan kill fake-ticket resale and give a real-time view of the fill rate. What the app delivers by tier.
| Feature | Starter | Growth | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket sales Paystack / mobile money | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unique QR e-ticket | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gate control (scan) | Basic | Multi-gate | Multi-gate + offline |
| Real-time sales analytics | No | Yes | Yes |
| Named tickets / anti-resale | No | Option | Yes |
| Promo codes + quotas | No | Yes | Yes |
| Indicative cost (FCFA) | 800,000 | 1,800,000 | 3,500,000 |
In Dakar, the equivalent combines ticketing, Wave/OM, QR scan and analytics: same logic of reduced fees and gate control.
Mini case study
Kwame organises 6 concerts/year in Accra, 1,800 tickets on average at 12,000 FCFA. On an external platform at 12 % fees, he loses 2,592,000 FCFA per concert. He invests 1,800,000 FCFA in a Growth app at 5 % fees: the loss drops to 1,080,000 FCFA, or 1,512,000 FCFA saved per concert. From the first event the app is more than repaid, and he also gains a base of 10,800 contacts for the season.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know organisers, venues or promoters who need ticketing or a business app? The Kolonell referral (apporteur d'affaires) program pays you for every project you bring us. 2026 commission scale.
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| Project type | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | 5 % |
| E-commerce | 12 % | 5 % |
| Marketplace | 10 % | - |
| Institutional | 8 % | - |
On a ticketing project billed at 1,800,000 FCFA (e-commerce/business-app category), a partner earns 216,000 FCFA in commission. A single successful introduction can therefore pay several hundred thousand FCFA.
FAQ
How much does a ticketing app cost in Accra in 2026?
Between 800,000 FCFA for a Starter version (Paystack sales, QR, simple scan) and 3,500,000 FCFA for a Premium version with offline multi-gate control and named tickets. Growth sits around 1,800,000 FCFA.
What fees does an own ticketing app charge?
In-house, fees are typically framed between 3 and 8 % of the ticket, versus 10 to 15 % on external platforms, returning the margin to the organiser.
Does the QR really stop fake tickets?
Yes: each ticket has a unique QR invalidated on first scan. A reuse attempt is refused at the gate, blocking resale of copies.
Does the scan work without a network at the gate?
In the Premium version, offline control syncs scans locally then updates, useful when the network saturates as gates open.
Who keeps the audience data?
You. The buyer base (contact, history) belongs to you and serves to promote your next events, which third-party platforms do not allow.
Let's talk about your project. We scope your ticketing app or onboard you as a referral partner in a single conversation. 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.
