The verdict in three sentences
An imported solution poorly covers the procedural deadline calendar, fee management and secure document management expected in a busy practice. A custom tool at 10,000,000-28,000,000 FCFA (about USD 16k-46k) structures files, deadlines and fees onto your real processes and cuts procedural delays. The right reflex: cost by feature and ship a useful core in 5 to 8 months.
Imported solution or custom build
Imported software is designed for other legal systems and fee models. A custom build fits the local court calendar, your fee schedule and your document-confidentiality requirements.
| Criterion | Imported solution | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA | 10,000,000 to 28,000,000 FCFA |
| Procedural deadline calendar | Generic | Fitted to local courts |
| Fee management | Standard | Custom (fixed, hourly, retainer) |
| Secure DMS | Per offer | Built in, encrypted |
| Timeline | 1 to 2 months | 5 to 8 months |
| Maintenance | Currency subscription | 250,000 to 700,000 FCFA/month |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
Features and cost
Splitting by feature lets you prioritise the essentials (files, deadlines) and spread the investment. 2026 order of magnitude for a mid-sized firm.
| Feature | FCFA range | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Case/file management | 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 | 7 to 9 weeks |
| Procedural deadline calendar | 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Fee management and billing | 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Secure DMS and encryption | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Client portal and tracking | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Data migration + training | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
A files + deadlines + fees core around 10,000,000-15,000,000 FCFA is enough to launch, with advanced DMS and portal later.
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Mini case study
David, partner of a 12-lawyer firm in Toronto, currently manages deadlines on spreadsheets, with a real risk of a missed limitation date. A custom build at 16,000,000 FCFA, maintenance 450,000 FCFA/month (5,400,000 FCFA/yr), secures the calendar and eliminates oversights. If a single avoided procedural delay per year represents an 8,000,000 FCFA stake (fees + client risk), the project is justified from the first deadline saved, before counting admin time recovered.
FAQ
Why not use an imported solution? Because it is designed for other legal systems and fee models, with a generic procedural calendar. Custom fits the local court calendar and your fee schedule.
How much is monthly maintenance? Maintenance of 250,000 to 700,000 FCFA/month by scope covers fixes, evolutions, backups and supervised hosting.
Is the DMS really secure? Yes: encryption at rest and in transit, per-file permissions and access auditing. This is essential for lawyer-client confidentiality.
What timeline for a first version? Plan 5 to 8 months for the whole, but a files + deadlines core can be live in 3 months iteratively.
Can we pay in phases? Yes. The feature split enables staged payment aligned to deliveries, protecting the firm's cash flow.
Let's scope your project. Give us your headcount, file volume and your two biggest pain points: we cost a quote by feature. 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.
