The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, many artisans and traders already sell on WhatsApp, but every order takes ten messages, resent photos and repeated prices. A well-built online shop centralises the catalogue, Wave or Orange Money payment and delivery to Dakar and the diaspora, for a subscription of 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA a month. Online shop: build it, stock it and keep it running, taught in French, costs 75,000 FCFA for 20 hours and teaches you to run it yourself, without depending on a contractor.
Why WhatsApp alone caps a Thiès trader's growth
An upholsterer making wax-print sofas and cushions, or a bazin seller near the central market, can handle 10 to 15 WhatsApp conversations a day. Beyond that, customers wait, forget, or buy elsewhere. The diaspora in France, Italy or the United States wants to see prices, sizes and lead times without haggling at 11 pm Dakar time.
An online shop does not replace WhatsApp: it becomes the storefront you send the link to. The customer chooses, pays, and you receive a complete order with address and phone number.
| Comparison point | WhatsApp only | Online shop + WhatsApp |
|---|---|---|
| Time per order | 15 to 30 minutes of messages | 3 to 5 minutes of checking |
| Catalogue | Photos scattered across statuses | Product pages with price, sizes, stock |
| Payment | Wave screenshots to verify | Built-in Wave, Orange Money or card |
| Diaspora customers | Hard to serve | Orders 24/7 |
| Monthly cost | 0 FCFA | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA platform fee |
| Sales tracking | No reliable figures | Order dashboard |
What an online shop costs in Thiès in 2026
The starting budget stays modest if you do the work yourself. The biggest cost is usually your time: photographing, writing product pages and handling the first orders.
| Cost item | 2026 order of magnitude | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Online shop course | 75,000 FCFA, 20 h | Level 3 of the e-commerce track |
| E-commerce platform subscription | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA a month | Depends on products and features |
| Domain name | 8,000 to 15,000 FCFA a year | Optional at launch |
| Product photos | 0 FCFA with a smartphone | Natural light, plain background |
| Thiès to Dakar delivery | 2,000 to 3,500 FCFA per parcel | Courier or carrier |
| Mobile money fees | About 1% on the merchant side | Varies by operator |
| Full Kolonell e-commerce track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 levels |
The course is intermediate and is level 3 of the E-commerce and online selling track. Its six modules follow the real order of work: choosing a platform and budget, building the shop structure and key pages, filling the catalogue with product pages, variants and photos, connecting payment and delivery, attracting visitors who buy, then running the shop every week.
What you will be able to do in 20 hours
By the end, you will have a live online shop with your real products, product pages that answer questions before they are asked, working mobile payment and a weekly routine: update stock, follow up abandoned carts, post on social media. Photos are taken on a smartphone with a simple method for light and framing.
Plan on 3 to 4 hours a week for five to six weeks. Enrollment is paid with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mariama, 29, sells fabrics and tailored outfits in Thiès. She makes about 25 sales a month on WhatsApp, with an average margin of 6,000 FCFA per sale, or 150,000 FCFA of margin. She spends close to 20 minutes per order messaging.
After the course, she publishes 40 products on a 15,000 FCFA a month plan. Sharing the link in her statuses and in two diaspora groups brings 10 extra sales a month after two months, or 60,000 FCFA more margin. After the subscription, 45,000 FCFA net remains each month: the 75,000 FCFA course pays back in under two months. She also gets back about 5 hours a month of messaging. These are orders of magnitude, no result is guaranteed.
FAQ
Do I need to code to build my shop?
No. The course uses no-code platforms costing 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA a month. You need to be comfortable with a smartphone and ideally a computer for product pages.
Can I accept Wave and Orange Money?
Yes, the payment and delivery module shows how to offer mobile money and cards for the diaspora. Merchant fees are around 1% depending on the operator.
How do I deliver to Dakar from Thiès?
Most traders use a courier or carrier at 2,000 to 3,500 FCFA per parcel. The delivery module explains how to build that cost into your prices.
What do the course and full track cost?
The course costs 75,000 FCFA for 20 hours, payable by Wave or Orange Money. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
How many products do I need to launch?
About twenty well-photographed products are enough to start. You can then add 5 to 10 product pages a week with the routine you learn.
Take the next step. Enroll in Online shop: build it, stock it and keep it running: 20 hours, 75,000 FCFA, certificate of completion. 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.
