The verdict in three sentences
For a family holding in Dakar, the right architecture in 2026 is a single shared core (one CMS, one design system) that powers the group website and derived subsidiary mini-sites. This setup costs 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA (about 6,100 to 12,200 EUR) at launch, 30 to 45% less than five separate websites, and cuts maintenance costs by three. The real challenge is not technical: it is editorial governance between the holding and subsidiary managers.
Three possible architectures
A holding has two audiences: partners, banks and funders who want to understand the group, and customers of each subsidiary looking for a product or service. The three options below answer that dual need differently.
| Criterion | Single site with sections | Shared core + subsidiary mini-sites | 5 independent sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 launch budget | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA | 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA | 7,000,000 to 12,000,000 FCFA |
| Time to launch | 6 to 8 weeks | 10 to 14 weeks | 12 to 20 weeks, in parallel |
| Subsidiary identity | Weak | Strong, within a shared brand | Full, risk of inconsistency |
| Domains | group.sn/agro | group.sn + agro-group.sn | 5 separate domains |
| Yearly hosting | 150,000 FCFA | 300,000 FCFA | 5 x 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA |
| Monthly maintenance | 70,000 FCFA | 120,000 FCFA | 5 x 60,000 to 90,000 FCFA |
| SEO per business line | Average | Good | Good but fragmented |
The shared core wins as soon as 3 subsidiaries are active: components (header, news pages, forms, careers pages) are built once and reused.
Detailed shared-core budget
Here is a realistic breakdown for 5 subsidiaries, as a 2026 order of magnitude for a Dakar agency.
| Item | Scope | Budget FCFA |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and site map | Holding + subsidiary workshops, 2 weeks | 400,000 to 700,000 |
| Design system and mockups | Group brand + 5 color variants | 900,000 to 1,600,000 |
| Group website (15 to 20 pages) | History, governance, key figures, CSR, careers, press | 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 |
| Subsidiary mini-sites (5 x 5 to 8 pages) | Offer, references, contact, quote | 1,000,000 to 2,400,000 |
| CMS with approval workflow | Writer, subsidiary approver, holding approver roles | 400,000 to 800,000 |
| English version | Professional translation + integration | 300,000 to 500,000 |
| Total launch | 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 | |
| Hosting and security | Server, CDN, SSL, backups | 300,000 / year |
| Maintenance | Updates, monitoring, 4 h of improvements | 120,000 / month |
Payment is usually staged as 40% on order, 40% on acceptance and 20% at go-live, by bank transfer or Wave Business.
Governance: who publishes what
The approval workflow prevents two common pitfalls: a subsidiary publishing a promotion that contradicts the group line, or a holding blocking every update for months. An effective scheme has three roles. The subsidiary writer prepares news and offers. The subsidiary director approves content within 48 hours. Group communications only approves sensitive content (financial figures, appointments, press releases). Group institutional pages stay locked at holding level.
Also plan a digital lead per subsidiary, trained in half a day, and a quarterly 1-hour editorial committee. The English version mainly serves technical and financial partners (AfDB, IFC, regional banks): it can be limited to the group site and key pages of exporting subsidiaries.
Mini case study
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Mr Ndiaye, general secretary of a Dakar family holding (agro-industry, construction, distribution, real estate, logistics), receives two quotes. Option A: 5 independent websites at 1,800,000 FCFA each, or 9,000,000 FCFA, plus 5 maintenance contracts at 75,000 FCFA per month. Option B: a shared core at 6,200,000 FCFA, plus a single maintenance contract at 120,000 FCFA per month.
Over 3 years, option A costs 9,000,000 + (375,000 x 36) = 22,500,000 FCFA. Option B costs 6,200,000 + (120,000 x 36) + 900,000 of hosting = 11,420,000 FCFA. Savings: about 11,000,000 FCFA (around 16,800 EUR), plus a consistent group image for the bank financing file under review.
FAQ
How much does a holding website with subsidiaries cost in Dakar in 2026?
Plan 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA for a shared core and 3 to 6 subsidiary mini-sites, depending on page count and features. A group website alone starts around 2,500,000 FCFA.
Does each subsidiary need its own domain?
Not necessarily. A subfolder (group.sn/construction) concentrates SEO authority, a dedicated domain (construction-group.sn) strengthens commercial identity. The shared core handles both, for about 15,000 FCFA per domain per year.
How long does it take to launch?
Between 10 and 14 weeks for the core and 5 subsidiaries, including 2 weeks of scoping. The timeline mostly depends on collecting content from subsidiaries, which often takes 3 to 4 weeks.
Is the English version essential?
It is if the group works with funders, international banks or foreign suppliers. Budget 300,000 to 500,000 FCFA for the group site and key pages.
What does maintenance at 120,000 FCFA per month include?
Security updates, daily backups, 24/7 monitoring and about 4 hours of monthly improvements shared across subsidiaries, with response within 8 business hours in case of an outage.
Let's scope your project. Tell us how many subsidiaries you have and your priority audiences: we will propose an architecture, a 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA budget and a 10 to 14 week plan. 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.
