The verdict in three sentences
Migrating from a consumer store to a B2B platform costs between 6,000,000 and 18,000,000 FCFA in 2026, versus 10,000,000-22,000,000 FCFA for a full rebuild. Migration is the right call if your catalogue and customers are usable and your existing SEO holds value. The key items: catalogue and customer reuse, trade pricing and customer accounts, and SEO redirects to avoid losing traffic.
Migration vs rebuild
Migration preserves history (catalogue, customers, ranking); a rebuild starts fresh with more freedom but more SEO risk. The table below compares the 2026 order of magnitude for a growing merchant.
| Criterion | Migration | Rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 6,000,000-18,000,000 FCFA | 10,000,000-22,000,000 FCFA |
| Timeline | 4-7 months | 6-10 months |
| Catalogue/customer reuse | Included | Re-enter |
| SEO risk | Controlled with redirects | High |
| Trade pricing / accounts | Added | Native |
| Business disruption | Low | Medium |
| Monthly maintenance | 150,000-450,000 FCFA/mo | 200,000-500,000 FCFA/mo |
Migration steps and budget
A successful migration follows quotable increments. SEO redirects are the most underestimated and most profitable item.
| Step | 2026 range | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Audit & data mapping | 500,000-1,500,000 FCFA | Catalogue/customer quality |
| Catalogue + variants reuse | 1,500,000-4,000,000 FCFA | Listings, images, stock |
| Trade pricing + accounts | 1,500,000-4,000,000 FCFA | B2B core |
| 301 SEO redirects | 500,000-2,000,000 FCFA | Preserves traffic |
| Payment + credit | 1,000,000-3,500,000 FCFA | Wave, OM, deferred |
| Testing + cutover | 500,000-2,000,000 FCFA | Zero downtime |
Mini case study
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Koffi, who runs an online electrical-supplies store, posts 25,000,000 FCFA/month, 40% of it with resellers demanding trade pricing. His consumer store has neither customer accounts nor negotiated prices. A migration at 11,000,000 FCFA adds trade pricing, multi-user accounts and credit while preserving his SEO via 301s. Within six months, resellers order self-service and the B2B average basket rises 18%, about 1,800,000 FCFA/month of extra margin. With 300,000 FCFA/month maintenance, the migration pays back in about 8 months.
FAQ
Migrate or rebuild? Migrate if your catalogue is clean and your SEO drives traffic; rebuild if the technical base is a blocker. Migration often costs 30-40% less and disrupts less.
Will I lose my ranking? Not if 301 redirects are done SKU by SKU. Without that item (500,000-2,000,000 FCFA), traffic loss can reach 30-50% for months.
Can I keep both (consumer + B2B)? Yes, a B2B platform can coexist with a consumer storefront via differentiated accounts and prices. It is often the best growth compromise.
How much downtime? The final cutover happens overnight with a test plan. Plan 4 to 7 months of project work before it.
What maintenance budget after migration? 150,000 to 450,000 FCFA/month. The first three months usually need tuning on pricing and customer accounts.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current platform, your catalogue size and your B2B needs, and we will price migration vs rebuild with a redirect plan. 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.