The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, many freelance translators, web writers and proofreaders work a lot and earn little, because they accept the 5 to 15 FCFA per word offered locally without discussion. International clients nevertheless pay 0.05 to 0.10 EUR per word, or 33 to 66 FCFA, for comparable work when it is well presented. What makes the difference: a clear offer, a professional quote and a negotiation where every discount has something in return.
Real rates in 2026
The gaps are huge depending on the client and how you sell. The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude observed in Dakar and on platforms, not official scales.
| Service | Local client (Dakar) | Foreign translation agency | Direct international client |
|---|---|---|---|
| French to English translation | 8 to 15 FCFA per word | 0.05 to 0.07 EUR per word (33 to 46 FCFA) | 0.08 to 0.12 EUR per word (52 to 79 FCFA) |
| English to French translation | 7 to 12 FCFA per word | 0.05 to 0.08 EUR per word | 0.08 to 0.10 EUR per word |
| SEO web writing | 5 to 10 FCFA per word | 0.04 to 0.06 EUR per word | 0.06 to 0.10 EUR per word |
| Proofreading and editing | 2 to 5 FCFA per word | 0.02 to 0.03 EUR per word | 0.03 to 0.05 EUR per word |
| Legal or financial translation | 15 to 25 FCFA per word | 0.08 to 0.12 EUR per word | 0.10 to 0.15 EUR per word |
| E-commerce product page | 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA per page | 5 to 10 EUR per page | 10 to 20 EUR per page |
Over a 40,000-word month, the gap between 10 FCFA and 40 FCFA per word means 400,000 FCFA versus 1,600,000 FCFA. Even keeping some local clients, moving upmarket changes your income.
Building an offer and a quote that get signed
The per-word price is only a base. Freelancers who earn well sell tiers: a basic offer, a standard offer with review by a second translator or SEO optimisation, a premium offer with express delivery and a client glossary. The client compares your tiers with each other more than your prices with other people's.
| Quote element | What to write | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Word count, languages, document type | Avoids free add-ons |
| Three tiers | Essential, Standard, Premium with price and lead time | The client chooses instead of haggling |
| Lead time | Delivery date and express surcharge (+30 to 50%) | Puts a value on urgency |
| Revisions | 1 or 2 rounds included, extra rounds billed | Limits endless requests |
| Payment terms | 30 to 50% deposit, balance on delivery, within 15 days | Protects your cash flow |
| Payment methods | Wave, Orange Money, bank transfer, Wise or PayPal for abroad | Makes paying easy |
| Validity | Quote valid 15 or 30 days | Creates a deadline |
To negotiate, one simple rule: never a discount without something in return. Cheaper, yes, but with a longer lead time, a larger volume or payment upfront.
Training to sell your services
The Kolonell course Selling your services: offer, quote and negotiation, taught in French, is level 2 Practical, 50,000 FCFA for 10 hours, online. It teaches how to package a three-tier offer, price on value, write a proposal that gets signed and negotiate without underselling, with quote and payment terms templates. It belongs to the Freelance and entrepreneurship track, whose 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
| Option | 2026 cost | What you get | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free advice on forums and YouTube | 0 FCFA | General ideas | Nothing adapted to the Senegalese market |
| One-to-one coaching | 25,000 to 50,000 FCFA per session | Personal feedback | Expensive over time |
| Kolonell Selling your services course | 50,000 FCFA | Method, quote templates, certificate | Requires reworking your offers |
| Full Freelance track | 350,000 FCFA | 5 levels, from first client to business | Longer |
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Aïssatou, 29, an English-French translator in Dakar, translates 35,000 words a month at an average of 10 FCFA for local clients, so 350,000 FCFA. After the course, she creates three tiers, sends structured quotes to European agencies and wins two regular clients who give her 15,000 words a month at 0.06 EUR, about 39 FCFA per word.
Calculation: 15,000 × 39 = 585,000 FCFA, plus 20,000 local words she keeps at 12 FCFA, so 240,000 FCFA. Total: 825,000 FCFA (about 1,260 EUR) a month instead of 350,000 FCFA, for fewer words translated. The 50,000 FCFA course is repaid by the first international order of 1,300 words. Illustrative scenario, results not guaranteed.
FAQ
Should I lower my prices to win foreign clients?
No, foreign agencies compare quality and reliability on deadlines before price. At 0.05 EUR per word, you stay competitive while earning 3 to 5 times more than locally.
How do I get paid from abroad in Senegal?
Wise, PayPal or an international bank transfer are the usual solutions, with fees of 1 to 4%. Ask new clients for a 30 to 50% deposit.
Should I charge per word, per hour or a flat fee?
Per word remains the norm in translation. For writing and specialised proofreading, a flat fee per document or an hourly rate (8,000 to 20,000 FCFA locally) better protects your time.
How do I pay for the course?
With Wave or Orange Money, in one payment: 50,000 FCFA for this level 2 course, or 350,000 FCFA for the full Freelance and entrepreneurship track.
What do I say to a client who says it is too expensive?
Offer the lower tier or a trade-off: longer lead time, larger volume, payment upfront. A 10% discount with nothing in return gets paid on every later order.
Take the next step. Enroll in Selling your services: offer, quote and negotiation: 10 hours online, taught in French, 50,000 FCFA, verifiable certificate. 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.
