The verdict in three sentences
For a London-headquartered microfinance institution running 28 branches and 160,000 members in West Africa, the website must save advisers time by pre-qualifying loan requests before the first meeting. A budget of GBP 5,300 to 11,200 (4,000,000 to 8,500,000 FCFA) funds a site with a loan simulator capped at the applicable regulatory rate (24% for BCEAO-zone microfinance), a map of 28 branches and online requests with adviser callback, delivered in 9 to 12 weeks. Secure hosting costs GBP 40 to 80 per month, a line not to underestimate for a financial institution.
A useful and compliant simulator
A trader at a Ouagadougou market or the treasurer of a women's savings group wants to know what she will repay each month. The simulator must show the monthly instalment, the total cost of credit and the annual percentage rate, while respecting the usury ceiling for decentralised financial systems in the West African Monetary Union (24% a year). Fees and credit life insurance must be shown clearly, or the tool loses credibility at the first meeting. Investors and donors in London also read these pages.
| Simulated product | Amount | Term | Indicative nominal rate | Indicative instalment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade loan (working capital) | 500,000 FCFA (GBP 660) | 12 months | 18% | about 45,800 FCFA |
| Trade loan | 2,000,000 FCFA (GBP 2,640) | 18 months | 17% | about 126,000 FCFA |
| Seasonal farm loan | 750,000 FCFA (GBP 990) | 8 months (deferred) | 16% | repaid at harvest |
| Artisan equipment loan | 3,000,000 FCFA (GBP 3,960) | 24 months | 15% | about 145,500 FCFA |
| Group solidarity loan (10 members) | 150,000 FCFA per member | 6 months | 20% | about 26,500 FCFA per member |
| School fees loan | 300,000 FCFA (GBP 400) | 10 months | 14% | about 32,000 FCFA |
These are 2026 orders of magnitude to be replaced by your actual grids. The simulator is configured product by product from the back office, with a hard cap at a 24% APR.
Site budget and running costs
| Item | Content | 2026 price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core site EN/FR (optional Mooré, Dioula) | Savings and loan products, governance, impact reports | GBP 2,000 to 3,700 | 5 weeks |
| Configurable loan simulator | 6 to 10 products, usury cap, PDF export | GBP 1,050 to 2,400 | 3 weeks |
| 28-branch map | Opening hours, phones, directions, region filter | GBP 530 to 1,200 | 2 weeks |
| Online loan request + adviser callback | Routing to nearest branch, SMS confirmation | GBP 1,200 to 2,600 | 3 weeks |
| Security (audit, encryption, logging) | Financial institution requirements | GBP 520 to 1,300 | 1 week |
| Project total | GBP 5,300 to 11,200 | 9 to 12 weeks | |
| Secure hosting | Dedicated server, daily backups, web application firewall | GBP 40 to 80/month | ongoing |
| Maintenance | Support, rate updates, improvements | GBP 100 to 160/month | ongoing |
The online request does not replace credit analysis: it collects the activity, estimated turnover, requested amount and phone number, then notifies the adviser at the chosen branch, who calls back within 48 h.
Reassuring members, investors and supervisors
A microfinance institution is also read by impact investors, donors and the supervisory authority. A governance page with financial statements, licence number, portfolio at risk and member count builds trust, especially for a London-based head office raising funds from UK and European investors. For members, the most visited page is often the branch map, opened on an entry-level Android phone: the site must load in under 3 seconds on 3G.
Mini case study
David, CEO of a London-based microfinance institution operating in Burkina Faso, invests GBP 8,200, plus GBP 60 hosting and GBP 120 maintenance per month, GBP 10,360 in year one. The site receives 600 online loan requests a month, 40% of them pre-qualified. Each pre-qualified file saves 30 minutes of first interview, 120 adviser hours a month. If 35% of pre-qualified requests lead to an average loan of 900,000 FCFA (about GBP 1,190), that is 84 new loans a month, part of them from new members attracted by the simulator.
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FAQ
How much does a microfinance institution website cost?
Between GBP 5,300 and 11,200 depending on the number of simulated products and the online request integration. Secure hosting costs GBP 40 to 80 per month.
Does the simulator comply with BCEAO rules?
It is configured with a hard cap at the 24% usury rate applicable to decentralised financial systems. Fees and insurance are included in the displayed APR.
Is the online request connected to our core banking system?
A connection is possible via export or API depending on your system, for an extra GBP 660 to 2,000. Otherwise, the adviser receives the file by email and SMS.
Do we need local-language versions?
A Mooré or Dioula version of key pages costs GBP 400 to 920. It improves product understanding for members who do not read French or English.
How long until launch?
Between 9 and 12 weeks, 3 of them for the simulator. Plan for risk department sign-off on rate grids from week three.
Let's scope your project. Send us your loan product list, branch count and security constraints, and we will price a site between GBP 5,300 and 11,200, delivered in 9 to 12 weeks. 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.
