The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, a skilled freelancer who charges 75,000 FCFA (about 115 USD) for a logo, a brand identity or a simple website often leaves more than half of the client's budget on the table. The problem is rarely talent: it is a vague offer, a quote sent too fast and a negotiation where you cut the price instead of the scope. The Kolonell course « Vendre ses services : offre, devis et négociation » (Selling your services: offer, quote and negotiation) costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR or 83 USD) for 10 hours and fixes exactly those three points, whether your clients are in Dakar or abroad.
What Dakar freelancers actually charge in 2026
Prices vary with skill, portfolio and client type. The gap is huge between the freelancer who answers « how much? » with a random number and the one who presents three clear options after a discovery call. Clients from English-speaking agencies, NGOs or startups often expect the second approach, with a written proposal.
| Service in Dakar | Common underpriced rate | Observed 2026 range (ballpark) | Typical client |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo and basic brand guide | 50,000 to 75,000 FCFA | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA (230 to 535 USD) | SME, retailer |
| Pack of 12 social media visuals | 30,000 FCFA | 80,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month | Restaurant, shop |
| WordPress showcase site | 150,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 600,000 FCFA (460 to 1,000 USD) | Firm, local NGO |
| Promotional video edit | 25,000 FCFA | 75,000 to 200,000 FCFA | Events, brand |
| Content writing (10 articles) | 40,000 FCFA | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA | Company, media |
| Monthly page management | 50,000 FCFA | 100,000 to 200,000 FCFA a month | SME |
Between the underpriced rate and the upper range, the difference is not only quality. It comes from how you present the offer, frame the scope and justify the price by the result the client expects.
What the course teaches you to do
The course Selling your services: offer, quote and negotiation is beginner level, taught in French, and has five modules: building an offer that almost sells itself, pricing on value rather than time, running discovery and writing a proposal that gets signed, negotiating without discounting, then closing, contracting and tracking your pipeline. You leave with a three-tier offer, a price grid, a quote template, a simple contract and a tracking sheet you can translate for English-speaking clients.
| Sales step | Common mistake | Method taught | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| First contact | Giving a price on WhatsApp | 20-minute discovery call | Understand budget and stakes |
| Offer | One price, take it or leave it | Three tiers: essential, standard, complete | The client picks, no longer haggles on principle |
| Quote | One line « logo: 75,000 » | Scope, deliverables, deadlines, revision rounds | Fewer end-of-project disputes |
| Negotiation | Cutting the price by 30% | Removing a deliverable or spreading payment | Hourly rate stays stable |
| Signature | Starting with nothing paid | 30 to 50% deposit by Wave, Orange Money or transfer | Fewer unpaid invoices |
| Follow-up | Forgetting unsigned quotes | Reminder at day 3 and day 10 | Signing rate of 20 to 40% |
The 20 to 40% signing rate is a ballpark seen among freelancers who send quotes after a real conversation. Below 15%, the course helps you find out whether the issue is the target, the offer or the price.
Comparing ways to learn to sell
| Option | 2026 price (ballpark) | Duration | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell online course | 50,000 FCFA (83 USD) | 10 h | Method built for Dakar, graded final project |
| One-to-one coaching in Dakar | 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 sessions | Depends heavily on the coach |
| Books and free videos | 0 to 15,000 FCFA | Variable | US examples, dollar pricing |
| Learning by losing clients | 0 FCFA | 1 to 2 years | Underpaid jobs in the meantime |
This course is level 2 of the Freelance and entrepreneurship track. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 and also covers finding first clients, managing invoicing and taxes, and growing into a small agency.
Mini case study
Moussa, 26, a freelance graphic designer in Parcelles Assainies, charges 75,000 FCFA per brand identity and signs 3 jobs a month, so 225,000 FCFA. After the course, he builds three tiers at 120,000, 200,000 and 350,000 FCFA, and never gives a price before a call. Two of his prospects are English-speaking NGOs, who receive the same proposal in English.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Quotes sent: 7 a month. Signing rate: 30%, so about 2 jobs.
- Average deal: 200,000 FCFA, most clients choosing the middle tier.
- Monthly revenue: 2 x 200,000 = 400,000 FCFA, versus 225,000 before, so 175,000 FCFA more.
- 40% deposit collected by Wave at signature: 160,000 FCFA secured before starting.
- Payback on the 50,000 FCFA course: under two weeks at that monthly pace.
Illustrative example; no income is guaranteed, results depend on your level, portfolio and niche.
FAQ
I am just starting out, can I raise my prices already?
Yes, if you frame the scope. A beginner can sell an essential tier at 100,000 FCFA by limiting revisions to two and setting a clear deadline, rather than unlimited work for 50,000 FCFA.
What deposit should I ask for?
The course recommends 30 to 50% at signature, paid by Wave or Orange Money locally, or by bank transfer for foreign clients. Above 300,000 FCFA, a three-step payment (40, 30, 30%) reassures both sides.
What do I do when the client says it is too expensive?
Offer the lower tier or remove a deliverable, never cut the same work by 30%. Module 4 gives ready answers to the six most common objections.
How long does the course take?
The 10 hours fit into two to three weeks at one hour each evening. The final project is your complete sales file, reviewed by an instructor.
How do I enroll?
Pay 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) by Wave or Orange Money, then get immediate access. A Kolonell Academy certificate is issued once your final project is approved.
Take the next step. Enroll in Selling your services: offer, quote and negotiation: 10 hours online, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), Kolonell Academy 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.
