The verdict in three sentences
In Thies, many small web agencies plateau because the founder does everything: sales, design, code, support. Growing takes three things, in this order: written processes, costed subcontracting project by project, then a first employee once the workload is steady, while keeping a 30% target margin. The course Grow your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring, level 4 Intermediate, taught in French, gives you that method in 28 hours for 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR).
Subcontract or hire: comparing real costs
The choice depends on project volume and regularity. 2026 ballpark figures for a Thies agency selling showcase sites and small apps to SMEs, schools and shops in the region, and sometimes to clients in Dakar:
| Production option | 2026 indicative cost | Advantages | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcontracted freelancer (showcase site) | 75,000 to 250,000 FCFA per project | Variable cost, no commitment | Missed deadlines, uneven quality |
| Freelancer on monthly retainer | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA a month | Reserved availability | Dependence on one person |
| Salaried junior developer | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA a month, plus social charges | Skills growth, loyalty | Fixed cost even with no projects |
| Intern (local school or university) | 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA monthly stipend | Low cost | Heavy supervision, leaves after internship |
| Freelance designer (mockups) | 40,000 to 150,000 FCFA per project | Visual quality | Poorly scoped revisions |
| Founder alone | Your time | Full control | Projects turned down, burnout |
A practical rule taught in the course: hire when subcontracting the same profile consistently exceeds the cost of a loaded salary for three months in a row, and when cash covers at least three months of that salary.
Calculate a project's margin before saying yes
Most losses come from a quote signed without a calculation. Example: a showcase site sold for 600,000 FCFA to a Thies SME.
| Line | Amount | Share of price |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | 600,000 FCFA | 100% |
| Freelance developer | 220,000 FCFA | 37% |
| Freelance designer | 80,000 FCFA | 13% |
| Founder time (sales, project management, QA): 20 h valued | 80,000 FCFA | 13% |
| Tools, test hosting, travel | 40,000 FCFA | 7% |
| Agency margin | 180,000 FCFA | 30% |
If the client asks for two extra rounds of changes and the freelancer bills 60,000 FCFA more, margin drops to 20%. Hence the importance of processes: a signed brief, a fixed number of revisions, payment milestones via Wave or Orange Money.
What the course covers
- Processes: from incoming request to delivery, with reusable templates.
- Project management: schedule, milestones, acceptance, handling out-of-scope requests.
- Subcontracting: finding, testing and contracting freelancers, contract and price grid.
- Hiring: job description, technical test, probation period, pay.
- Margin and cash: per-project calculation, hiring threshold, 12-month plan.
The stated goal: an agency that delivers every project without you, with a team paid on a fixed date. This is level 4 of the Freelance and entrepreneurship track. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA, payable by Wave or Orange Money.
| Ways to learn how to structure your agency | Cost | Duration | Fit for a small Senegalese agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free content on agency management | 0 FCFA | Scattered | Low, often designed for Europe or the US |
| One-to-one business coaching | 200,000 to 500,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 months | Good, depends on the coach |
| Business management seminar in Dakar | 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 days | Medium, not web-specific |
| Kolonell Grow your agency course (level 4) | 100,000 FCFA | 28 h | High: FCFA, local freelancers, mobile payment |
Mini case study
Ibrahima, 30, runs a 3-person agency in Thies. He turns down about 2 projects a month and subcontracts the rest without calculation. On his last 4 projects, his average margin was 12%.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
After the course, he applies the margin grid and sets his subcontracting rates:
- 5 projects a month at 600,000 FCFA, so 3,000,000 FCFA of revenue;
- margin at 12%: 360,000 FCFA; margin at 30%: 900,000 FCFA;
- difference: 540,000 FCFA a month.
With that margin, he can pay a junior developer 250,000 FCFA and keep a reserve. The 100,000 FCFA course fee is less than a fifth of the targeted monthly gain. These amounts are an estimate: they depend on his ability to sell and stick to his processes.
FAQ
Do I need an agency already?
The course is Intermediate level: it targets a freelancer with existing clients or a team of 2 to 4 people. To start from scratch, the full track at 350,000 FCFA includes the earlier levels.
How much should I pay a freelancer in Thies?
As a 2026 ballpark, 75,000 to 250,000 FCFA per showcase site depending on complexity. Always set a fixed price, a number of revisions and a delivery date.
When should I hire my first employee?
When subcontracting the same profile exceeds the cost of a loaded salary three months running, and you hold three months of salary in cash. For a junior, that means a reserve of 450,000 to 900,000 FCFA.
How long is the course?
28 hours online, about 6 weeks at 5 hours a week.
How do I pay?
100,000 FCFA by Wave or Orange Money, with a certificate at the end.
Take the next step. Enroll in Grow your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring: 28 hours online, taught in French, 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.
