The verdict in three sentences
Below 120 deliveries per month, a 3PL (Glovo, Yango) stays cheaper despite a 15-25% commission. Above 180 deliveries per month, an in-house fleet becomes profitable and hands you back control of after-sales and the customer experience. The hybrid model — in-house as a base, 3PL for peaks — trims 20-30% off your total delivery cost.
Three models, three cost structures
The logistics choice is not ideological: it is a volume question. A salaried rider is a fixed cost you must amortise over many trips; a 3PL is a variable cost that tracks your activity with no commitment. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude for Lagos, Nairobi and Accra.
| Line item | In-house fleet | On-demand 3PL | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost/trip (500 trips/month) | 900-1,400 FCFA | 1,500-3,500 FCFA | 1,100-1,800 FCFA |
| Break-even volume | ~120-180 trips/month | from trip #1 | ~80 trips/month |
| Flexibility (peaks) | Low | Excellent | Good |
| Brand/after-sales control | Total | Low | High |
| Fixed monthly cost | 130,000-220,000 FCFA/rider | 0 FCFA | 130,000 FCFA + variable |
An in-house fleet becomes unbeatable on unit cost once volume climbs, but it exposes you to slow days when the rider is paid without rolling.
Breaking down a salaried rider's cost
Many owners count only the wage. The real cost includes bike amortisation, fuel, maintenance and contingencies. Here is the full monthly 2026 structure.
| Line item | Monthly range (FCFA) |
|---|---|
| Rider wage | 90,000-150,000 |
| Bike amortisation (36 months) | 20,000-30,000 |
| Fuel | 25,000-45,000 |
| Maintenance + insurance | 8,000-15,000 |
| Phone + data | 5,000-10,000 |
| Fully loaded total | 148,000-250,000 |
At 250 trips a month, this total drops the unit cost below 1,000 FCFA — well under a commissioned 3PL trip.
Mini case study
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Amara runs a cosmetics store in Lagos with 200 orders delivered per month. On 100% Glovo, she pays an average 2,400 FCFA per trip, or 480,000 FCFA/month. Switching to an in-house rider (loaded cost 200,000 FCFA) for 150 dense-zone trips and Glovo for the 50 far ones (120,000 FCFA), she drops to 320,000 FCFA/month. Saving: 160,000 FCFA/month, or 1.9M FCFA a year, while gaining control of the customer relationship.
FAQ
At what trip count does an in-house rider pay off? The threshold sits between 120 and 180 trips per month depending on your zone. Below that, the 3PL's 15-25% commission stays cheaper than paying a fixed wage through slow days.
Does a 3PL hurt my customer relationship? Partly: you lose control of the last touchpoint, parcel care and dispute handling. That is the main non-financial argument for going in-house past a certain volume.
How much is an all-in 3PL trip in 2026? Budget 1,500 to 3,500 FCFA depending on distance and zone, platform commission of 15-25% included. Peaks (rain, rush hours) trigger surcharges.
Is the hybrid model hard to run? No, if your site routes orders automatically: in-house for dense zones during working hours, 3PL for far trips and peaks. A simple rules engine does the job.
Can I start with no salaried rider at all? Yes, and it is recommended below 100 orders/month. A 3PL lets you validate demand before locking in a fixed cost.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Know e-merchants whose logistics are maxing out? Refer them. Our referral programme pays 15% on a showcase-site sale + 5% recurring, 12% on e-commerce, 10% on a marketplace and 8% on institutional. A successful referral on a 2,000,000 FCFA e-commerce store means 240,000 FCFA for you.
Let's talk about your project. We will cost your in-house, 3PL or hybrid logistics setup to find your break-even point. 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.
