The verdict in three sentences
For a European SME, having an application built in Dakar means working with a French- and English-speaking team 0 to 2 hours from Berlin or Lyon, with day rates of 250 to 450 EUR against 700 to 950 EUR in Berlin and 550 to 750 EUR in Lyon, based on 2026 market ballparks. At Kolonell, a medium-complexity app is priced as a fixed fee between 4,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), with code ownership assigned to the client and a contract that can be governed by a European law of your choice. Success depends less on the country than on three things: a well-scoped specification, regular agile rituals over video, and a code repository in the client's name.
What the same project costs in Lyon, Berlin and Dakar
The day rates below are 2026 market estimates for experienced agency developers. They are not Kolonell's prices; Kolonell works on fixed fees from its own price grid.
| Criterion | Lyon agency (market estimate) | Berlin agency (market estimate) | Dakar nearshore team (market estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experienced developer day rate | 550 to 750 EUR | 700 to 950 EUR | 250 to 450 EUR |
| Medium app (60 to 90 person-days) | 33,000 to 67,000 EUR | 42,000 to 85,000 EUR | 15,000 to 40,000 EUR |
| Time difference with Berlin | 0 h | 0 h | 1 h in winter, 2 h in summer |
| Working language | French | German, English | French, English |
| Governing law | French | German | Chosen by contract |
| Meeting in person | Immediate | Immediate | Direct flight from Paris, about 5 h 30 |
At Kolonell, the 2026 grid for a custom web application is fixed-fee: 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA for a simple app (3,810 to 6,100 EUR), 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA for a medium app (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), and 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and up for a complex app (10,670 to 22,870 EUR and up). Service details are on the custom web applications page.
Organisation: what makes a remote team work
The quality of a nearshore project is decided by organisation, not by the day rate. Here is the typical setup and what each element costs in client-side time.
| Element | Frequency | Client-side time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping workshop over video | 2 to 3 sessions at kickoff | 6 to 9 h | Validate scope and mockups |
| Sprint review | Every 2 weeks | 1 h | Demo and priority decisions |
| Short weekly check-in | Every week | 30 min | Questions, blockers |
| Acceptance testing by the business owner | At each delivery | 2 to 4 h | Test on real data |
| Access to Git repository and test environment | Permanent | 0 h | Transparency on progress |
| Documentation and handover | End of project | 3 to 4 h | Autonomy and reversibility |
In total, allow 4 to 6 hours a week for a client-side owner over 8 to 14 weeks. That is the same effort as with a local agency: the cost gap comes from the day rate, not from less work.
Contract clauses to check
Require a full assignment of economic rights in the code, a Git repository hosted in the client's name from day one, EU hosting if your personal data requires it under GDPR, a data processing agreement (GDPR article 28) if the team accesses customer data, and a 3-month defect warranty after delivery. Billing can be in EUR, fixed-fee, with 30% at order, 40% at midpoint and 30% at acceptance.
Mini case study
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Julien, managing director of a 35-employee equipment rental SME in Lyon (illustrative scenario), wants a booking and contract tracking portal. A Lyon agency quotes 75 person-days at 650 EUR, 48,750 EUR excluding VAT; a Berlin agency would be closer to 60,000 EUR at 800 EUR a day. The same scope, framed as a medium-complexity app, is offered by Kolonell as a fixed fee of 6,500,000 FCFA, 9,910 EUR. Julien adds 2 return trips to Dakar for key workshops, about 1,600 EUR, and Standard maintenance at 75,000 FCFA a month, 1,370 EUR a year. First-year difference versus Lyon: about 35,870 EUR, which he reinvests in a second module.
FAQ
What is the time difference between Berlin and Dakar?
Dakar runs on GMT all year, 1 hour behind Berlin in winter and 2 hours in summer. Shared working hours cover 6 to 7 hours a day.
Do I own the code developed in Dakar?
Yes, if the contract provides for a full assignment of economic rights, which is the rule at Kolonell. The Git repository is created in the client's name from the start, with 100% of the history.
Can the contract be governed by German or French law?
Yes, the governing law and competent court are freely negotiated between businesses. Many European SMEs choose their home country's law and courts.
Is my data GDPR-compliant with a team in Senegal?
Yes, if data stays hosted in the European Union and a data processing agreement governs access. Senegal also has its own 2008 personal data protection law.
How long does a medium-complexity app take?
Allow 8 to 14 weeks from scoping to production, including 1 to 2 weeks of scoping and 2 weeks of acceptance testing. The schedule depends mostly on the availability of the client-side owner.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your application, users and constraints: we will price it as a fixed fee on our grid, from 2,500,000 FCFA for a simple app to 7,000,000 FCFA for a medium app. 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.
