The verdict in three sentences
A custom ticketing app only makes sense once your annual volume passes the point where platform commissions (5 to 15 %) cost more than building your own. For an organiser running 3 to 5 large events a year, a proprietary app (QR codes, Wave/Orange Money payment, door scanning) pays for itself in a single season. Below that, a commission-based platform or a hybrid setup is smarter.
Platform commission vs custom app
The real cost of a platform isn't the subscription, it's the percentage taken on every ticket sold. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for a typical concert.
| Scenario (10,000 FCFA ticket) | Volume | 10 % commission | Custom app amortised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small event | 500 tickets | 500,000 FCFA | Not worth it |
| Mid-size night | 1,500 tickets | 1,500,000 FCFA | Break-even |
| Concert | 3,000 tickets | 3,000,000 FCFA | Profitable from day 1 |
| 2-day festival | 8,000 tickets | 8,000,000 FCFA | Very profitable |
| Season (5 dates) | 15,000 tickets | 15,000,000 FCFA | Massive ROI |
As soon as annual commission exceeds 2 to 3 M FCFA, building your own becomes the cheapest option.
What a ticketing app costs and contains
| Item | Essential tier | Full tier |
|---|---|---|
| Development cost | 1,500,000 FCFA | 4,000,000 FCFA |
| Wave / Orange Money payment | Included | Included + Stripe diaspora |
| Unique QR code per ticket | Yes | Yes + reinforced anti-fraud |
| Door scanning (mobile) | 1 point | Multiple simultaneous points |
| Seat categories | 3 | Unlimited + seating map |
| Configurable service fee | No | Yes (re-billable to buyer) |
| Monthly maintenance | 50,000 FCFA | 150,000 FCFA |
The app generates a unique encrypted QR code per ticket: impossible to duplicate, invalidated on first scan. No more photocopied fake tickets or double entries that distort your true capacity.
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Mini case study
Fatou runs 4 concerts a year in Dakar, averaging 2,500 tickets sold at 8,000 FCFA. On a 10 % platform she hands over 2,500 × 8,000 × 10 % × 4 = 8,000,000 FCFA in commission per year. A custom app at 3,000,000 FCFA + 150,000 FCFA/month maintenance (1,800,000 FCFA/year) costs 4,800,000 FCFA in year one, then 1,800,000 FCFA after. Net saving: 3.2 M FCFA in the first year, and over 6 M FCFA every year after.
FAQ
How long to build a ticketing app? Plan 4 to 8 weeks depending on the tier. An essential version (sales, QR, scanning, Wave/OM) ships in about a month; options like seating maps, multi-point scanning and advanced anti-fraud add a few weeks.
Does scanning work offline? Yes, in offline mode with sync. Validated tickets are stored locally on the checker's phone and synced once the network returns, avoiding queues at 3G entrances.
How do you fight fake tickets? Each ticket carries a single-use encrypted QR code. On scan, the app instantly shows "valid", "already used" or "unknown". Fraud drops to nearly zero versus 3 to 8 % with classic paper tickets.
Can the service fee be passed to the end buyer? Yes. You set a service fee (say 500 FCFA/ticket) added to the price, which covers mobile money transaction fees (1 to 2 %) and funds maintenance.
Let's talk about your project. We size your annual volume and tell you within an hour whether a custom ticketing app is profitable for you. 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.
