The verdict in three sentences
For a licensed brokerage that wants to sell motor, health and travel cover online, a custom quoting and binding portal costs 8 to 25 million FCFA (about EUR 12,200 to 38,100) depending on the number of carriers and products. The realistic timeline is 4 to 6 months, because collecting carrier rate tables takes as long as development. The target is a roughly 25% drop in acquisition cost per policy, thanks to instant quotes and online payment. Figures come from our Yaoundé projects under the CIMA framework; in Toronto, expect build rates 2 to 3 times higher and provincial regulator rules instead of CIMA.
What a broker portal contains
The core is the multi-carrier rater: the client enters their vehicle, family or trip and compares partner insurers' offers within seconds. Then come binding, payment and certificate issuance.
| Module | Function | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor rater | Engine rating, use, zone, cover, statutory liability rate | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 |
| Health and travel rater | Age, dependants, destination, duration, deductibles | 1,200,000 to 3,500,000 |
| Multi-carrier comparison | 3 to 8 insurers, commission rules per carrier | 1,000,000 to 3,500,000 |
| Binding and supporting documents | Vehicle registration, ID, health questionnaire, signature | 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 |
| Mobile and card payment | MTN MoMo, Orange Money, bank card, installments | 800,000 to 2,500,000 |
| PDF certificates and policies | Generation, verification QR code, WhatsApp and email delivery | 700,000 to 2,000,000 |
| Broker back office | Production, renewals, claims, carrier statements | 1,800,000 to 6,500,000 |
| Total range | Full project | 8,000,000 to 25,000,000 |
A first release limited to motor with 3 carriers, mobile payment and PDF certificates sits around 8 to 11 million FCFA. Health and travel come in a second phase.
Regulatory compliance and data protection
A broker portal is not a simple online shop. The CIMA Code governs pre-contractual information, delivery of general terms and intermediation, and Cameroon's 2024 personal data law sets rules on health data. These requirements carry a cost that belongs in the quote from day one.
| Requirement | How it shows up in the portal | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| Broker license disclosure | License number on every page and document | Low |
| Pre-contractual information | Product sheet, downloadable terms before payment | 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA |
| Explicit consent | Timestamped checkboxes, evidence retention | 200,000 to 500,000 FCFA |
| Health data | Encryption, access limited to authorized staff | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Payment traceability | Matching mobile payments with premiums remitted to carriers | 400,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA |
| Hosting and backups | Secure server, daily backup, access log | 80,000 to 250,000 FCFA/month |
The most underestimated item is the technical agreement with each carrier: some provide an API, most send an Excel rate table that must be turned into calculation rules. Count 1 to 3 weeks per carrier.
4 to 6 month schedule
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, choice of products and carriers | 3 to 4 weeks | Specifications, carrier agreements |
| Rate collection and modeling | 3 to 6 weeks | Rating rules validated by each carrier |
| Portal and back office development | 8 to 12 weeks | Rater, binding, payment, certificates |
| Acceptance with carriers | 2 to 3 weeks | Premium checks on 50 to 100 real cases |
| Launch and campaigns | 2 weeks | Go-live, account manager training |
Mini case study
Me Ngono runs a 14-person brokerage in Yaoundé placing 2,400 motor policies a year. Each policy currently costs about 18,000 FCFA to acquire: introducer commissions, travel, sales time.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Motor and health portal with 4 carriers: 14,500,000 FCFA
- Hosting and maintenance: 350,000 FCFA per month, i.e. 4,200,000 FCFA per year
- Target acquisition cost: 18,000 × 0.75 = 13,500 FCFA, saving 4,500 FCFA per policy
- On 2,400 existing policies: 10,800,000 FCFA saved per year
- With 600 extra policies sold online at an average 25,000 FCFA commission: 15,000,000 FCFA of extra revenue
Estimated annual gain after maintenance: about 21.6 million FCFA (about EUR 33,000), for a payback in 8 to 9 months.
FAQ
How much does an online quoting portal for a broker cost?
Between 8 and 25 million FCFA (about EUR 12,200 to 38,100) in 2026. A motor-only release with 3 carriers starts around 8 million FCFA.
Can clients pay by mobile money?
Yes, MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money are integrated through an aggregator, with 1.5 to 3% fees per transaction. Splitting health premiums into 2 or 3 installments is possible.
Is the certificate issued instantly?
For motor, yes, as soon as payment is confirmed, with a verification QR code. For health, an underwriter often needs to review the medical questionnaire within 24 to 48 h.
Do the insurers need to approve it?
Yes, each carrier must validate its rate tables and the sales journey. Plan 1 to 3 weeks of work per carrier in the schedule.
Can the portal serve other countries?
Yes, the CIMA zone shares the same regulatory framework and the Central African CFA franc. Adding a country usually costs 1.5 to 4 million FCFA depending on local carriers.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your products, partner carriers and policy volume: we will quote a portal between 8 and 25 million FCFA (EUR 12,200 to 38,100), deliverable in 4 to 6 months. 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.
