The verdict in three sentences
In Accra, a restaurant selling through a delivery aggregator gives up 20-30 % commission on every order, plus the customer relationship. Building your own full app (ordering, rider dispatch, tracking, mobile money/cash) costs 8-16 M FCFA in 12-16 weeks; a single-restaurant MVP starts at 4 M FCFA. The switch pays off once volume passes about 1,200 orders a month.
Two ambitions, two scopes
| Scope | Single-restaurant MVP | Multi-restaurant marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Digitise your delivery | Aggregate several brands |
| Features | Ordering, payment, 1 fleet | Multi-vendor, split, advanced dispatch |
| Timeline | 6 - 9 weeks | 12 - 16 weeks |
| Indicative cost | 4,000,000 - 6,500,000 | 9,000,000 - 16,000,000 |
| Riders | In-house | Dedicated rider app |
| Payment | MoMo + cash | MoMo + cash + auto split |
Aggregator commission vs own app
| Item | Via aggregator | Own app |
|---|---|---|
| Commission per order | 20 - 30 % | 0 % |
| Delivery fee | Set by platform | Controlled |
| Customer data | Not accessible | 100 % yours |
| Monthly cost | Variable (commission) | Hosting ~50,000 FCFA |
| Brand | The aggregator's | Yours |
| Margin on 12,000 FCFA basket | ~8,800 FCFA | ~11,400 FCFA |
On an average basket, the own app keeps about 2,600 FCFA more margin per order.
Delivery app unit economics in Accra
| Metric | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|
| Average basket | 8,000 - 18,000 FCFA |
| Customer acquisition cost | 1,500 - 4,000 FCFA |
| Logistics / delivery cost | 1,200 - 2,500 FCFA |
| Net margin / order | 2,000 - 4,500 FCFA |
| Orders / month for break-even | ~1,200 |
| Payback on app (single-resto) | 6 - 11 months |
Mini case study
Ibrahim, a restaurateur in Accra, does 1,800 orders/month via an aggregator at 25 % commission, average basket 12,000 FCFA. He pays 1,800 x 12,000 x 25 % = 5.4 M FCFA/month in commission. After a 5.5 M FCFA own app, he removes that commission (minus ~800,000 FCFA of in-house logistics and acquisition). Estimated net monthly gain: around 4.6 M FCFA. The app is repaid in just over a month of volume.
FAQ
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What does a food delivery app cost in Accra in 2026?
A single-restaurant MVP costs 4-6.5 M FCFA; a multi-restaurant marketplace with a rider app runs to 9-16 M FCFA. The choice depends on your ambition.
At what volume is it profitable?
Expect about 1,200 orders/month to cover logistics, acquisition and amortisation. Above that, each order becomes far more profitable than via an aggregator.
How do I manage riders?
A dedicated rider app handles assignment, route and status in real time. For an MVP, a simple interface with an in-house fleet of 2-5 riders is enough.
Are MoMo and cash on delivery compatible?
Yes, both coexist. Mobile money secures collection at order time, cash stays available for customers who prefer it, with automatic reconciliation.
Should I start small or go straight to a marketplace?
Start with a single-restaurant MVP to validate demand and logistics, then evolve to multi-vendor. This lowers risk and spreads the investment.
Let's talk about your project. We model your unit economics and scope your delivery app. 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.
