The verdict in three sentences
Software for an HR and consulting firm costs 12M to 30M FCFA in 2026, depending on consultant headcount and modules (staffing, time, billing, CRM). The return comes from margin per engagement finally visible and billing the hours lost today. Plan for a 3 to 6 month project and 15 to 20 % of the build in annual maintenance.
Modules and 2026 price ranges
A firm director in Bamako wants to stop running engagements on Excel: who is staffed on what, how many hours were really spent, what real margin at close.
| Module | Role | 2026 order of magnitude (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing & capacity plan | Consultant allocation, availability | 2,500,000 - 5,500,000 |
| Timesheets | Entry by engagement, approval | 2,000,000 - 4,500,000 |
| Billing & quotes | Fixed price, time & materials | 2,500,000 - 5,000,000 |
| CRM & sales pipeline | Prospects, proposals, win rate | 2,000,000 - 4,500,000 |
| Margin per engagement | Loaded cost vs invoiced | 1,800,000 - 4,000,000 |
| Client portal | Deliverables, invoices, tracking | 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 |
| Management reporting | Utilization, backlog, cash | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 |
A firm of 15 to 30 consultants most often lands between 18M and 26M FCFA with staffing, time and billing included.
The ROI math: recovered billable hours
The main gain is ending the leak of hours: without reliable timesheets, a firm regularly under-invoices.
| Metric | Before | After (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Consultants | 20 | 20 |
| Average daily rate | 180,000 FCFA | 180,000 FCFA |
| Billable utilization rate | 62 % | 72 % |
| Lost hours / month (unbilled) | 340 h | 120 h |
| Monthly invoiced revenue | 42,000,000 FCFA | 49,000,000 FCFA |
| Average collection delay | 74 days | 52 days |
Moving from 62 % to 72 % utilization adds roughly 7,000,000 FCFA of invoiced revenue per month here — more than the software cost within the first full quarter.
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Mini case study
Moussa, managing partner of a 20-consultant HR consulting firm in Bamako. He invests 22,000,000 FCFA in a custom solution (staffing, timesheets, billing, margin per engagement). Approved timesheets move billable utilization from 62 % to 72 %, i.e. about 7,000,000 FCFA of extra revenue per month. By cutting collection delay from 74 to 52 days, he also frees around 30,000,000 FCFA of cash. The project pays back in under 4 months, with 3,500,000 FCFA/year maintenance included.
FAQ
What does consulting firm software cost in 2026? Plan for 12M to 30M FCFA custom. A firm of 15 to 30 consultants often sits around 18M - 26M FCFA.
Why not stay on Excel? Excel doesn't reconcile logged hours, engagements and invoices. Beyond 12 to 15 consultants, the invisible loss of billable hours far exceeds software cost — often 8 to 12 % of margin per engagement.
What utilization gain can I expect? A realistic order of magnitude is +8 to +10 points of billable utilization in year one, thanks to staffing and timesheets.
Does it handle both time-and-materials and fixed-price billing? Yes: fixed price, daily rate, milestones and instalments, with quotes and reminders. It is a central scoping point for a firm.
How long does setup take? Between 3 and 6 months depending on modules. A staffing + time + billing core can ship in 3 months, then CRM and client portal are added.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your consultant count, engagement types (fixed/time & materials) and current billing tool: we'll frame a solution with budget and timeline. 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.
