The verdict in three sentences
A custom online store ready to collect payments in Kampala costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 FCFA, excluding advertising and stock. Budget 3 weeks from idea to first payment if your photos and prices are ready, with MTN MoMo or Airtel Money integration being the most sensitive step. The real hidden cost isn't development, it's the time you lose if your catalogue and delivery logistics aren't scoped from day one.
The budget line by line
The classic trap is looking only at the price of the site. A store that sells is a set of one-off and recurring costs. Here is a realistic breakdown for a Kampala launch in 2026.
| Item | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com domain name | 10,000 / year | Recurring | Local TLD possible but .com reassures |
| Managed hosting | 25,000 – 75,000 / month | Recurring | Must be fast on 3G |
| Custom store development | 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 | One-off | Catalogue, cart, checkout |
| MTN MoMo / Airtel integration | Included (Starter tier) | One-off | Confirmation webhooks |
| Product photos (30 refs) | 75,000 – 150,000 | One-off | Or a well-set-up smartphone |
| Maintenance | 50,000 – 200,000 / month | Recurring | Updates, backups |
For year one, plan on an initial investment of roughly 1,200,000 FCFA plus 80,000 to 275,000 FCFA per month in running costs.
No-code vs custom: which one for you?
Not all stores are equal. No-code starts fast but hits a ceiling on local mobile money and SEO. Custom costs more upfront but belongs to you.
| Criterion | No-code (e.g. Shopify) | Custom (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch cost | 0 – 200,000 FCFA | 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Monthly subscription | 20,000 – 45,000 FCFA | 25,000 – 75,000 FCFA (hosting) |
| Native MoMo / Airtel | Rare / fragile plugin | Native, tested webhooks |
| Time to launch | 2 – 5 days | 15 – 21 days |
| 3G optimization | Average | Advanced (< 200 KB/image) |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Break-even point | ~15 orders/month | ~35 – 45 orders/month |
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Mini case study
Sarah runs a natural-cosmetics store in Kampala. She invests 1,200,000 FCFA in a custom store plus 60,000 FCFA/month in running costs. Her average basket is 18,000 FCFA with a 40% net margin, i.e. 7,200 FCFA margin per order. To cover her monthly costs (60,000 FCFA) she needs 9 orders/month. To amortize the initial investment over 12 months (an extra 100,000 FCFA/month) she needs 160,000 / 7,200 ≈ 23 orders/month. Once she passes 1 order per day, the store is comfortably profitable and replaces her scattered WhatsApp sales.
FAQ
How long before my first online payment? On average 3 weeks if your photos, prices and product pages are ready. MTN MoMo integration and confirmation webhooks account for about 3 to 5 days of that timeline.
Can I start with less than 1,000,000 FCFA? Yes, with a Starter offer built around 50 products and MoMo payment, a launch can be scoped near 1,000,000 FCFA. Below that you move to no-code, which is weaker on local mobile money.
Does mobile money integration cost extra? In a Starter offer it is included. The operator may charge per-transaction fees (order of magnitude 1 to 2%), to be confirmed under your merchant contract.
How many orders a month to break even? With an 18,000 FCFA basket and 40% margin, plan on 20 to 25 orders/month to amortize a 1,200,000 FCFA investment over a year, running costs included.
Do I need a site or is an Instagram page enough? Instagram is a storefront, but without checkout or integrated payment you lose sales at night and on weekends. A store collects 24/7 with no manual step.
Let's talk about your project. We'll cost your Kampala store line by line and aim for your first MoMo payment within 3 weeks. 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.
