The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, a digital freelancer who gets paid through Wave with no invoice or legal status shuts out companies, NGOs and public bodies, which require an invoice with a NINEA. For small turnovers, the single global contribution (CGU) offers a simplified tax framework, provided you file and keep a record of every payment. The basic rule to apply this month: set aside 15 to 25% of every payment received and build three months of expenses in reserve, which the Kolonell course Running your business: invoicing, taxes and cash flow (75,000 FCFA) teaches you to organize.
Why getting paid without invoices costs you clients
Thiès has a growing community of freelancers: graphic designers, video editors, web developers, community managers, often trained at Iba Der Thiam University, ISEP or self-taught. They work for local traders, private schools, Dakar SMEs and sometimes clients abroad. As long as the client is an individual, a Wave receipt is enough. As soon as it is a company, an NGO or a funded project, the question comes: Send us an invoice with your NINEA.
Without registration, without an invoice template and without tracking, three problems recur: lost contracts, money mixed with personal spending, and a vague fear of the tax office that keeps you small.
| Situation | Informal freelancer | Organized freelancer |
|---|---|---|
| Access to corporate and NGO clients | Very limited | Possible with invoice and NINEA |
| Average contract size | 30,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 150,000 to 800,000 FCFA |
| Payment tracking | Mixed Wave history | Monthly sheet per client |
| Reserve for taxes and surprises | None | 15 to 25% of payments |
| Hard months | Borrowing from relatives | Covered by 3 months of expenses |
| Late payments | Random reminders | Due dates and penalties written in the quote |
These amounts are 2026 orders of magnitude observed among digital freelancers in Senegal.
The steps and rules to know
Registering for a NINEA (national identification number for businesses and associations) is the first step, often combined with RCCM registration for a sole proprietorship, through APIX desks or the relevant offices. For small taxpayers, the CGU bundles several taxes into a single payment based on turnover, under ceilings set by the General Tax Code. Exact rules, rates and deadlines should be checked with the Thiès tax office, as they change with each finance law.
| Item | What to know in 2026 | Concrete action |
|---|---|---|
| NINEA | Mandatory identifier on your invoices | Request it before your first corporate client |
| Status | Usually a sole proprietorship | Compare with a single-member LLC (SUARL) as turnover grows |
| Tax regime | CGU for small turnovers | Confirm your regime at the tax office |
| Invoice | Number, date, NINEA, client, service, amount | Use a numbered template with no gaps |
| Tax reserve | 15 to 25% of each payment | Automatic transfer to a separate account |
| Safety fund | 3 months of expenses | Built over 6 to 12 months |
Going it alone, hiring an accountant or getting trained
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Researching alone on forums | 0 FCFA | Contradictory, often outdated information |
| Accounting firm for a freelancer | 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per month | Useful later, heavy at the start |
| One-off help with registration | 30,000 to 100,000 FCFA | Covers neither invoicing nor cash flow |
| Kolonell course Running your business | 75,000 FCFA one time, certificate | Does not replace personalized tax advice |
The course Running your business: invoicing, taxes and cash flow is level 3 of the track, 75,000 FCFA, 18 hours, taught in French. It covers choosing a status, getting your NINEA and RCCM, compliant invoices, declaring your income and managing cash flow. It belongs to the Freelance and digital entrepreneurship track, from first client to growth: the complete 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
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.
Ibrahima, 27, a graphic designer and video editor in Thiès, Grand Standing neighborhood, receives on average 400,000 FCFA per month through Wave. His fixed costs (internet, electricity, software subscriptions, transport) are 120,000 FCFA per month. Without organization, he spends everything and turns down two NGO contracts a year for lack of a proper invoice, about 1,200,000 FCFA in lost work.
After the course at 75,000 FCFA, paid with Wave, he gets his NINEA, creates an invoice template and sets aside 20% of each payment, or 80,000 FCFA per month. In 4 months he has 320,000 FCFA, enough to cover nearly three months of expenses (360,000 FCFA) with one extra month of savings. A single 600,000 FCFA NGO contract pays back the course 8 times.
FAQ
Do I need a NINEA to invoice a client in Dakar?
For a company, an NGO or a public body, yes in almost every case. An individual paying you 25,000 FCFA through Wave will not ask, but contracts of 300,000 FCFA and more nearly always require it.
Why set aside 15 to 25% and not less?
That range covers tax, any contributions and surprises such as a 250,000 FCFA laptop failure. The exact amount depends on your tax regime, which you will confirm with the tax office.
Does the course replace an accountant?
No. It makes you independent on invoicing, tracking and preparing filings, and helps you know when an accountant becomes worth it, often beyond 2 to 3 million FCFA of monthly turnover.
How long does it take?
18 hours, about 4 weeks at 4 to 5 hours per week. You can apply for your NINEA during the course.
How do I pay from Thiès?
With Wave or Orange Money, 75,000 FCFA in one go. Access opens as soon as the payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Running your business: invoicing, taxes and cash flow: 18 hours at your own pace, 75,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate, taught in French. 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.
