The verdict in three sentences
Outsourcing app development to a francophone agency in West Africa saves 35 to 45% of the total cost, not the 50% a simple quote comparison suggests. The difference comes down to hidden management costs (10 to 15% of the budget), the quality of the specifications and a contract under English or French law that guarantees you own the code. With a time difference of 0 hours with London (Dakar and Abidjan run on GMT all year) and English-speaking leads, Dakar is an easier nearshore option to manage than India or Eastern Europe.
London versus Dakar: compare like with like
Take the typical case of a UK or European SME commissioning a business application (client portal, back office, React Native mobile app) estimated at 120 person-days. The two quotes do not measure the same thing until everything is brought back to day rates and scope.
| Item | London agency | Dakar agency |
|---|---|---|
| Senior developer day rate | EUR 650 to 800 (GBP 560 to 690) | EUR 300 to 400 |
| Project manager day rate | EUR 700 to 900 | EUR 350 to 450 |
| UX/UI designer day rate | EUR 600 to 750 | EUR 250 to 350 |
| Estimated effort (person-days) | 120 | 130 to 140 |
| Quote amount | EUR 90,000 | EUR 45,000 |
| Time difference with London | 0 h | 0 h (winter) to 1 h (summer) |
| Working language | English | French, English-speaking lead |
Look at the estimated effort row: a serious offshore agency often quotes slightly more days, because it adds documentation and reviews to compensate for distance. If an African quote shows exactly the same number of days as a London quote at half the price, ask for the breakdown.
The real total cost, hidden costs included
The quote is only part of the bill. On the client side, outsourcing takes internal time: writing specifications, weekly meetings, acceptance testing, possible trips. Here is an estimate, 2026 order of magnitude, for the same project.
| Component | London agency | Dakar agency |
|---|---|---|
| Development quote | EUR 90,000 | EUR 45,000 |
| Internal management (product owner, testing) | EUR 6,000 (about 7%) | EUR 6,750 (about 15%) |
| Travel (kickoff workshop, 1 to 2 visits) | EUR 0 | EUR 2,500 |
| Rework and testing back-and-forth | EUR 3,000 | EUR 4,000 |
| Lawyer for contract and IP assignment | EUR 1,500 | EUR 1,500 |
| Annual maintenance (15% of build) | EUR 13,500 | EUR 6,750 |
| Total first-year cost | EUR 114,000 | EUR 66,500 |
| Net saving | - | about 42% |
The saving stays clear, but it drops from 50% to about 42%. Over three years, maintenance included, the cumulative gap exceeds EUR 60,000, which often pays for a second version of the application.
Conditions for a successful outsourced project
Outsourced projects rarely fail because of technical skills. They fail on governance. Five points make the difference:
- Contract under English or French law with a European jurisdiction, and full assignment of IP rights on the code at each milestone payment.
- Code stored in your own GitHub or GitLab account from day one, with admin access on the client side.
- Two-week sprints with a recorded demo and a staging environment available at all times.
- A single point of contact available during your office hours, not just an isolated developer.
- Milestone payments (20% at kickoff, 60% spread over deliveries, 20% at go-live) instead of a fixed fee paid upfront.
| Selection criterion | Positive signal | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| References | 3 comparable projects with reachable contacts | Mockups only |
| Code ownership | Client repository from day 1 | Code delivered at the end |
| Contract | English or French law, explicit IP assignment | Local contract with no ownership clause |
| Team | Names and profiles of assigned developers | A dedicated team with no detail |
| Invoicing | In euros or pounds, by milestone | 50% non-refundable deposit |
| Testing | Automated tests and staging environment | Testing only at the end |
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Mini case study
Sarah, CFO of a 60-employee trading company in London, had to choose between two quotes for a client portal: EUR 90,000 in London, EUR 45,000 in Dakar. She chose the Dakar agency with three conditions: a GitLab repository in the company's name, a contract under English law, payment in five milestones. She budgeted 15% for internal management (EUR 6,750) and two trips (EUR 2,500). Total first-year cost: EUR 66,500 versus EUR 114,000 estimated locally, a saving of EUR 47,500. The portal shipped in 5 months instead of the 4 promised in London: one extra month, accepted given the budget gap.
FAQ
Is the time difference an issue with Dakar or Abidjan?
No. Dakar and Abidjan run on GMT, which means 0 hours difference with London in winter and 1 hour in summer. You share a full working day for meetings and testing.
Who owns the code developed in Africa?
The contract decides, not the country. Require an assignment of IP rights at each paid milestone and a repository in your name from the first commit: you keep 100% ownership, even if the relationship ends.
Can we sign a contract under English law with a Senegalese agency?
Yes, parties to an international B2B contract can freely choose the governing law. Specify a European jurisdiction and invoicing in euros, which also removes currency risk on your side.
How much internal management should we budget?
Plan for 10 to 15% of the quote, about EUR 4,500 to 6,750 for a EUR 45,000 project. This time covers specifications, testing and weekly check-ins.
Is a 50% saving realistic?
On the quote, yes. On total cost, expect a 35 to 45% net saving after management, travel and testing back-and-forth.
Let's scope your project. Send us your specification or three paragraphs describing the need: we estimate the scope in person-days and euros, with a milestone plan under a European-law contract. 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.
