The verdict in three sentences
A custom practice management tool for a commercial law firm costs between 9,000,000 and 22,000,000 FCFA (roughly 13,700 to 33,500 EUR) in 2026 depending on the modules chosen. The secure client portal (+3,500,000 FCFA) is the module that most impresses corporate clients and can justify the project on its own. The real gain: 5 hours per week per lawyer recovered on retainer tracking and fee billing.
2026 quote, module by module
A commercial practice does not need everything at once. Custom work is priced module by module, letting you launch a core then extend.
| Module | 2026 range (FCFA) | Lead time | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matter management | 3,000,000 - 6,000,000 | 4 - 6 wks | high |
| Calendar & deadlines | 1,200,000 - 2,500,000 | 2 - 3 wks | high |
| Fee & retainer billing | 2,500,000 - 5,000,000 | 3 - 5 wks | high |
| Document management (DMS) | 1,800,000 - 4,000,000 | 3 - 4 wks | medium |
| Secure client portal | 3,500,000 - 5,500,000 | 4 - 6 wks | medium |
| Reporting & dashboards | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | 2 - 3 wks | low |
| Full project | 9,000,000 - 22,000,000 | 12 - 18 wks | — |
Hosting, maintenance and compliance
The hosting choice affects both compliance and cost. Many practices handling international matters require EU hosting to reassure clients.
| Item | Local hosting | EU hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | 40,000 - 90,000 FCFA | 90,000 - 180,000 FCFA |
| Latency | low | medium |
| Corporate client argument | medium | strong (GDPR) |
| Maintenance | 250,000 - 600,000 FCFA/mo | 250,000 - 600,000 FCFA/mo |
| Encrypted backups | require in quote | standard included |
Maintenance (250,000 to 600,000 FCFA/month) covers fixes, light evolutions and security updates. Require a data processor contract and access logging for privilege protection.
Mini case study
Aoife, managing partner of a 12-staff commercial firm in Dublin, bills corporate clients on retainers. Manual retainer tracking and reminders take 5 hours a week for each of her 6 billing lawyers. At an average billing rate of 35,000 FCFA/hour, those 30 weekly unproductive hours are 6 x 5 h x 35,000 x 46 weeks = 48,300,000 FCFA/year of lost capacity. A 14,000,000 FCFA project (matters + billing + portal) recovering 40% of that time frees ~19,000,000 FCFA/year: paid back in under 9 months.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
How much does a law firm tool cost in 2026?
Between 9,000,000 and 22,000,000 FCFA for a full custom build. A matters + billing core starts around 6,000,000 FCFA, then you extend module by module.
Is the secure client portal worth the extra cost?
Yes for a commercial firm: at +3,500,000 FCFA it lets clients view their matters, invoices and deadlines 24/7, cutting follow-up calls and enhancing the firm's image.
Should data be hosted locally or in the EU?
Both are possible. EU hosting (90,000 to 180,000 FCFA/month) reassures international clients and eases the GDPR argument; local hosting cuts latency and cost.
What lead time should I expect?
Budget 12 to 18 weeks for a full project in 2026. A minimal core (matters + calendar) can ship in 6 to 8 weeks.
What maintenance should I budget?
250,000 to 600,000 FCFA/month depending on scope. It is essential for security, evolutions and service continuity.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your priority modules (matters, billing, portal, DMS), user count and indicative budget, and we will build a phased quote. 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.