The verdict in three sentences
A custom management platform for a law firm in Dakar costs between 12,000,000 and 20,000,000 FCFA in 2026 depending on the depth of the case, deadline and OHADA billing modules. The real challenge is not the development price but confidentiality and attorney-client privilege: controlled hosting, encryption and access logging. Over 5 years, a well-designed tool pays for itself through time saved on missed deadlines and fee billing.
What each module costs in 2026
The budget breaks down by functional building block. The ranges below match a firm of 4 to 12 staff in Dakar (2026 order of magnitude).
| Module | Scope | Cost FCFA |
|---|---|---|
| Case management | Matter files, parties, documents, history | 4,000,000 |
| Calendar & deadlines | Procedural deadlines, alerts, shared calendar | 2,500,000 |
| Billing & fees | Quotes, OHADA invoices, retainers, reminders | 3,000,000 |
| Document vault | Encrypted storage, versions, per-case rights | 2,500,000 |
| Secure client portal | Case tracking, document upload, messaging | 2,000,000 |
| Reporting & steering | Revenue, profitability per partner | 1,500,000 |
| Integration & training | Data migration, training, go-live | 2,000,000 |
A core of cases + deadlines + billing runs about 12,000,000 FCFA; adding the client portal, reporting and an advanced vault pushes the total toward 18,000,000 to 20,000,000 FCFA.
Custom vs legal SaaS: the 5-year TCO
Generic legal SaaS tools exist but handle OHADA specifics and data residency poorly. Comparison over 5 years for 8 users.
| Item | Legal SaaS | Custom Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 1,500,000 FCFA | 14,000,000 FCFA |
| Subscription (8 users) | 4,800,000 FCFA/yr | 0 |
| Hosting & maintenance | included | 1,500,000 FCFA/yr |
| OHADA customization | limited | included |
| Data residency | often out of zone | controlled (Dakar/EU) |
| 5-year total | 25,500,000 FCFA | 21,500,000 FCFA |
Beyond cost, custom wins on data ownership and no dependence on a foreign vendor's price list.
Mini case study
Me Diop, managing partner of a 7-lawyer firm in Dakar, lost about 6 hours a week to re-keying and manual deadline tracking. Two missed procedural deadlines in 2025 cost him a client and roughly 3,500,000 FCFA in fees. With an automated-alert deadline module (2,500,000 FCFA) and integrated OHADA billing, he recovers ~24 hours a month, the equivalent of 1,800,000 FCFA/month of billable time. The 14,000,000 FCFA investment pays back in under 9 months.
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FAQ
Is attorney-client privilege compatible with online software?
Yes, provided data is encrypted at rest and in transit, every access is logged and rights are restricted per case. Hosting can sit in Dakar or the EU to control jurisdiction.
How long to deliver the project?
Budget 14 to 20 weeks for a cases + deadlines + billing scope, training included. A minimal core can go live in 8 to 10 weeks.
Does billing handle OHADA rules?
Yes: legal mentions, fee retainers, applicable VAT and compliant numbering. Templates are configured with your accountant.
Can we start small then extend?
Absolutely. Many firms launch the cases + deadlines core (around 6,500,000 FCFA) then add billing and the client portal over 12 months.
What happens to the old software and its data?
Data migration is included in the integration line: import of cases, contacts and billing history from Excel or the legacy tool.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, priority modules (cases, deadlines, OHADA billing) and indicative budget. 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.
