The verdict in three sentences
If you already turn down jobs in Dakar, your limit is no longer demand, it is your production time. Becoming an agency means handing part of the work to supervised subcontractors while keeping a calculated margin on every project. Without written processes and revised prices, hiring often lowers your income, which is why learning the method before signing your first freelancer pays off.
What a small agency costs in Dakar in 2026
Moving from freelancer to agency adds fixed and variable costs. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for a setup with 1 founder and 2 regular subcontractors.
| Item | Indicative monthly cost | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Junior subcontractor (per job) | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | Design, front-end, community management |
| Shared office or coworking | 75,000 FCFA | Point E, Mermoz, Sacré-Cœur, Ouakam |
| Company setup (NINEA, RCCM) | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA one-off | Sole proprietorship or SUARL |
| External accountant | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA | Tax returns and annual accounts |
| Tools (project management, design, hosting) | 30,000 to 60,000 FCFA | Subscriptions billed in dollars |
| Fibre and mobile internet | 25,000 to 40,000 FCFA | Fibre plus backup data plan |
| Fixed total excluding subcontracting | 180,000 to 275,000 FCFA | Before the first salaried hire |
The key point: a subcontractor paid 200,000 FCFA on a job sold at 450,000 FCFA (about 686 EUR / 790 USD) only leaves you a margin if you spend less than 30% of the job's time correcting and coordinating. Without a standard brief or quality control, that time doubles.
Solo freelancer or small agency: the comparison
| Indicator | Solo freelancer | Small agency (1 + 2 subcontractors) |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs delivered per month | 2 to 3 | 5 to 7 |
| Monthly revenue | 400,000 to 800,000 FCFA | 1,500,000 to 2,800,000 FCFA |
| Subcontracting costs | 0 FCFA | 600,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA |
| Fixed costs | 50,000 to 80,000 FCFA | 180,000 to 275,000 FCFA |
| Founder's net income | 350,000 to 720,000 FCFA | 700,000 to 1,300,000 FCFA |
| Founder's production hours | 50 to 60 h a week | 25 to 30 h, the rest on sales and review |
These amounts remain a 2026 estimate for Dakar. They assume standardised offers with a fixed price and at least a 40% margin on every subcontracted job.
Training options in 2026
| Option | Indicative cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube and LinkedIn advice | 0 FCFA | Motivation, little costed method |
| Incubator or support programme | 0 to 300,000 FCFA | Network, selection on application, fixed calendar |
| In-person management training in Dakar | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA | General management, not agency-specific |
| Kolonell Academy, level 4 of the track | 100,000 FCFA | Offers, procedures, subcontracting, hiring, agency finance |
The recommended course is Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring, level 4 (intermediate), at 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR / 175 USD) for 28 h. It is taught in French (an English version is also available) and belongs to the Freelance and entrepreneurship track, whose full 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA (about 534 EUR instead of 686 EUR). You build your standard offers, your brief template, your quality checklist and your subcontractor pay grid.
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, a freelance graphic designer in Dakar, bills 650,000 FCFA a month and turns down about two brand identity projects a month. She takes the course, standardises a "brand identity" offer at 450,000 FCFA and hands execution to two subcontractors paid 180,000 FCFA per project. With 5 projects a month, she bills 2,250,000 FCFA, pays 900,000 FCFA in subcontracting and 220,000 FCFA in fixed costs. Her net income rises to about 1,130,000 FCFA, or 480,000 FCFA more per month. The 100,000 FCFA course is paid back with the first subcontracted project. A 2026 order of magnitude, with no guarantee: everything depends on your ability to sell the extra projects.
FAQ
At what income level should I move to an agency?
A good signal is turning down at least 2 jobs a month with stable income above 400,000 FCFA. Below that, work on your pricing and prospecting first.
Do I need a NINEA to subcontract in Dakar?
To invoice companies and pay subcontractors properly, yes. A sole proprietorship usually costs 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA to set up, formalities included.
How much should I pay a junior subcontractor?
In Dakar in 2026, allow 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA per job depending on complexity. Set the amount per deliverable, not per hour, and keep at least 40% margin on the selling price.
How long is the course?
It contains 28 hours of material, about 6 weeks at 5 hours a week. Each module produces a reusable document: procedure, contract or margin sheet.
Should I hire an employee right away?
Rarely. Most small agencies start with 2 to 3 regular subcontractors, then hire a first employee once revenue exceeds 2,500,000 FCFA a month for 3 months.
Take the next step. Enroll in Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring: 28 h online, 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR / 175 USD), 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.
