The verdict in three sentences
For a Toronto hotel, a custom PMS with point-of-sale and online booking is priced in 2026 between 3,500,000 and 9,000,000 FCFA. The real profitability lever is the direct booking engine coupled with mobile payment, which removes part of the OTA commissions. Monthly maintenance runs between 80,000 and 300,000 FCFA depending on scope.
PMS modules and 2026 ranges
The base (rooms, planning, POS) is essential; the booking and payment modules drive the return. Here are orders of magnitude for a 40 to 120-room hotel.
| Module | 2026 range (FCFA) | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Base PMS (rooms, planning, POS) | 3,500,000 to 9,000,000 | operational core |
| Direct booking engine | +1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | removes OTA commission |
| Mobile / instant payment | +500,000 to 1,500,000 | instant mobile collection |
| Channel manager (OTA sync) | +1,200,000 to 3,000,000 | anti-overbooking |
| Restaurant / room service module | +800,000 to 2,200,000 | unified billing |
| Reporting & dashboard | +700,000 to 1,800,000 | RevPAR steering |
Foreign SaaS or local custom
Many hotels use foreign SaaS PMS billed in currency, poorly suited to local mobile payments. 2026 comparison.
| Criterion | Foreign SaaS | Local custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | low (subscription) | 3,500,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA |
| Recurring cost | 90,000 to 250,000 FCFA/month | 80,000 to 300,000 FCFA/month |
| Native mobile payment | rarely | yes, integrated |
| Currency billing | often (FX risk) | FCFA |
| Local support | limited | direct, on site |
| Customisation | low | full |
| Time to launch | 2 to 4 weeks | 4 to 7 months |
Local custom takes the lead once the hotel wants native mobile payment, nearby support and no FX risk.
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Mini case study
Mr Kone runs a 70-room hotel, with room revenue of ~420,000,000 FCFA per year. Nearly 45 % of nights come through OTAs at 18 % commission, i.e. ~189,000,000 FCFA of OTA volume and ~34,000,000 FCFA in annual commissions. He invests 7,000,000 FCFA in a custom PMS with direct booking engine and mobile payment, plus 200,000 FCFA/month maintenance. By shifting 20 % of OTA nights to direct, he reclaims ~37,800,000 FCFA of volume, i.e. ~6,800,000 FCFA in commissions saved per year. The investment pays back in about 13 months including maintenance.
FAQ
How much is a custom PMS in 2026? Expect 3,500,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA for the base, then 80,000 to 300,000 FCFA/month maintenance, excluding booking and payment modules.
Can mobile payment be integrated into the PMS? Yes, via mobile-money APIs, for +500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA: the hotel collects deposits and payments instantly.
How much do OTA commissions drop with a direct engine? By pushing direct bookings, a 15 to 20 % drop in OTA nights is realistic, i.e. several million FCFA saved per year for a 70-room hotel.
Foreign SaaS or local custom? SaaS is cheaper to start but often bills in currency and handles mobile money poorly; local custom becomes more profitable once you want native mobile payment and nearby support.
How long to build the software? Between 4 and 7 months depending on modules (channel manager, restaurant, reporting) and migration of existing data.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your room count, OTA share and whether you want mobile payment: we quote your custom PMS with a commission-savings projection. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
