The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, freelance community management is mostly sold as a monthly package, between 75,000 and 200,000 FCFA per SME depending on the number of networks and posts. The real income lever is the written contract: precise scope, number of revisions, payment at the start of the month. With 3 to 5 loyal clients, the activity becomes a credible main income, provided you know how to scope and bill from your very first client.
What to charge: three standard packages in Dakar in 2026
Dakar SMEs (restaurants in Almadies, shops in Sacré-Cœur, clinics in Mermoz, driving schools in Grand Yoff) first compare the monthly price and what it actually includes. Three packages are enough: beyond that, clients hesitate.
| Package | Networks | Posts per month | Included | Monthly price 2026 (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 1 (Facebook or Instagram) | 8 | Canva visuals, message replies 5 days a week | 75,000 FCFA |
| Standard | 2 (Facebook + Instagram) | 12 | Weekly stories, monthly report | 120,000 FCFA |
| Premium | 3 (+ TikTok or LinkedIn) | 16 to 20 | 2 short videos, ad budget management | 180,000 to 200,000 FCFA |
| Option: photo shoot | - | 1 session | 15 to 20 edited photos | 35,000 to 60,000 FCFA |
| Option: Meta Ads management | - | - | Targeting, monitoring, report | 15 to 20% of ad budget, minimum 25,000 FCFA |
| Setup (one-off) | - | - | Audit, guidelines, calendar | 50,000 to 75,000 FCFA |
The setup fee protects your first month of work, which always takes more hours than the following ones. State it clearly in your proposal.
The contract template: clauses that prevent unpaid invoices
A one to two page contract is enough. It must answer the questions that cause disputes: how many posts, how many edits, who supplies the photos, when payment is due.
| Clause | What it specifies | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Networks, number of posts, stories, videos | Avoids unpaid extra requests |
| Revisions | 2 rounds per visual | Limits wasted hours |
| Approval deadline | 48 h, otherwise automatic publication | The calendar never stalls |
| Payment | On the 1st of the month, via Wave or Orange Money | You work paid in advance |
| Term and notice | 3 months minimum, 15 days notice | Stabilises your income |
| Access and ownership | The client keeps ownership of its pages | Reassures the client, clarifies the exit |
| Ad budget | Paid directly by the client to Meta | You never advance money |
Payment at the start of the month is the most useful rule. A client who pays at month end can slip two or three weeks, and your cash flow with it.
How many clients to make a living?
A Standard package takes in practice 12 to 18 hours a month (creation, copywriting, moderation, report). With 4 Standard clients, you work about 60 hours a month and bill 480,000 FCFA. At 6 clients, you approach 100 hours and 720,000 FCFA, but quality becomes hard to maintain alone.
| Number of clients | Package mix | Estimated gross monthly income | Hours per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 Essential | 150,000 FCFA | 25 h |
| 3 | 2 Essential + 1 Standard | 270,000 FCFA | 40 h |
| 4 | 2 Standard + 2 Essential | 390,000 FCFA | 55 h |
| 4 | 4 Standard | 480,000 FCFA | 60 h |
| 5 | 3 Standard + 2 Premium | 740,000 FCFA | 90 h |
| 6 | 4 Standard + 2 Premium | 860,000 FCFA | 105 h |
These figures are 2026 orders of magnitude, not an income promise: they depend on your prospecting, your portfolio and client retention.
Getting trained: options and costs
| Option | Cost | Duration | Contracts and packages covered | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person training in Dakar | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 2 to 6 weeks | Rarely | Varies |
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA | Unlimited, scattered | No | No |
| Free online certificates (Meta, Google) | 0 FCFA | 5 to 15 h | No, tool-focused | Yes |
| Kolonell Academy, level 4 Career | 100,000 FCFA | 34 h, self-paced | Yes, templates provided | Yes |
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
The Kolonell Academy freelance community manager course, taught in French, is level 4 Career of its track, at 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR): it covers prospecting SMEs, packages, contracts and monthly billing. It belongs to the Digital marketing and social media track, whose full 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Mini case study
Awa, 24, a management graduate in Dakar, already posts for her aunt's shop. She takes the course (100,000 FCFA) then signs two SMEs on the Essential package in her first month, with a 50,000 FCFA setup fee each. Calculation: 2 × 75,000 + 2 × 50,000 = 250,000 FCFA collected in month one. The course pays for itself in under 3 weeks. By month three, she moves one client to Standard and signs a third: 75,000 + 120,000 + 75,000 = 270,000 FCFA a month, for about 40 hours of work.
FAQ
Do I need a legal status to invoice SMEs in Dakar?
To start, many freelancers work with a simple contract and a receipt. Once you pass 3 or 4 regular clients, registering for a NINEA and the trade register (a few tens of thousands of FCFA via APIX) reassures companies that require an invoice.
How long does it take to find the first client?
As an order of magnitude, 2 to 6 weeks of active prospecting: 30 to 50 SMEs contacted, 5 to 8 meetings, 1 to 2 signatures. A mini portfolio of 3 managed pages, even unpaid, speeds this up noticeably.
Does the client pay for advertising on top of the package?
Yes. The Meta Ads budget (often 25,000 to 100,000 FCFA a month for an SME) is paid directly by the client, and you bill management separately, 15 to 20% of the budget.
Is the course suitable for a complete beginner?
It is a level 4 Career course: it assumes you can already post and create a simple visual. If you start from zero, begin with the first levels of the track, or take the full track at 350,000 FCFA.
How many clients can I handle alone without losing quality?
Most freelancers cap out at 5 or 6 clients, or 90 to 105 hours a month. Beyond that, you need to outsource visual creation or raise your prices.
Take the next step. Enroll in Freelance community manager: manage SME social media and bill every month: 34 h self-paced, 100,000 FCFA, certificate included. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
