The verdict in three sentences
If you already sell in San-Pédro on WhatsApp or Instagram, the course Online store: build it, fill it and keep it running (level 3 Intermediate, 75,000 FCFA, 14 h) teaches you to set up a real store on Shopify, WooCommerce or Wix, without code. It requires level 2 or already selling online with a catalog and fixed prices, a computer for the build and a budget of 60,000 to 200,000 FCFA for the domain and the first months of subscription. For a freelancer, the course page quotes 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA to set up a store for a client, as a 2026 order of magnitude with no guarantee.
Why an online store in San-Pédro in 2026
San-Pédro lives off its port, cocoa, rubber and active trade with Abidjan, Soubré and the diaspora. Many local sellers (wax fabric, cosmetics, processed food, spare parts) run everything through messages. The limit comes fast: too much time spent quoting prices, no catalog that Google can find, overseas customers who want to pay by card. The course Online store: build it, fill it and keep it running, taught in French, addresses exactly that moment.
| Training option | Indicative 2026 cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy, level 3 | 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR / 125 USD), one-off | 14 h, 6 modules, 24 lessons, 2 projects, lifetime access |
| Full E-commerce and online selling track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 levels, from WhatsApp selling to management |
| In-person course in Abidjan | Order of magnitude 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA, plus travel | A few days, fixed hours |
| Free online tutorials | 0 FCFA, excluding mobile data | Rarely adapted to mobile money or local prices |
| Hiring a provider for the store | Order of magnitude 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA for setup | Store delivered, but you depend on them |
The course is level 3 of the E-commerce and online selling track, between "E-commerce: selling online in Senegal" (level 2) and "E-commerce manager" (level 4). Examples are hypothetical, set in Thiès, Dakar, Abidjan and Bamako, with amounts in FCFA.
The program in six modules
| Module | What you do | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Platform and budget (free) | Compare Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix and custom over 12 months in FCFA, domain in your name | Costed comparison and reasoned choice |
| 2. Structure, theme and key pages | Collections, three-click path, theme readable on entry-level phones, trust pages and legal pages | Structured store |
| 3. Catalog | Product pages, variants, SKUs, consistent photos, CSV import of 50 products in an hour | Pre-production store with 20 products |
| 4. Payment and delivery | PayDunya, CinetPay, PayTech, card, cash on delivery, priced zones | Payment and delivery tested |
| 5. Visitors | "Product + city" pages, Search Console, Merchant Center, Meta catalog, WhatsApp | Product feed on Google or Meta |
| 6. Weekly routine | Orders, abandoned carts at 1 h and 24 h, Google Analytics 4, backups | Open store and 4-week dashboard |
A useful note for Côte d'Ivoire: the lesson on legal pages relies on Senegal's law 2008-12. For an Ivorian store, use the method and check the local personal data rules with ARTCI. On payments, CinetPay and PayDunya are covered with their fees and payout delays.
What the skill can earn, as an order of magnitude
| Situation | Quoted range (2026 estimates, Dakar and Abidjan) | Indicative timing |
|---|---|---|
| Small, well-run store | 20 to 60 orders a month | After 3 to 6 months |
| Matching revenue | 400,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA a month depending on average basket | After 3 to 6 months |
| Setup billed by a freelancer | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA per store | Once you have a first client |
| Monthly management billed | 30,000 to 75,000 FCFA a month per store | Recurring contract |
| Annual cost of a platform store | 60,000 to 250,000 FCFA in year one | Excluding photos and ads |
These figures come from the course page and remain estimates: results depend on your products, prices and time invested, and no revenue or income is guaranteed. In San-Pédro, freelance rates may sit at the lower end of these ranges.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Aya, 27, sells wax fabric and bags in San-Pédro through WhatsApp, about 25 orders a month. She takes the course and opens her store on a platform with a starting budget of 120,000 FCFA (within the 60,000 to 200,000 FCFA prerequisite range). Total first-year cost: 75,000 + 120,000 = 195,000 FCFA. Illustrative calculation: with a margin of 4,000 FCFA per order, she would need about 49 extra orders over the year, i.e. 4 a month, to cover that amount. If she then offered her services to a neighbouring shop at 150,000 FCFA (the low end of the freelance range), a single job would cover the course and part of the subscription. This scenario is only an illustration, with no guaranteed result.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix are configured through menus, and the course contains no code. When a need goes beyond what you can do alone, the lesson tells you when to call an agency and which questions to ask.
Will my customers be able to pay with mobile money?
Yes, through a gateway that bundles payment methods, such as CinetPay, PayDunya or PayTech. Module 4 compares their fees, payout delays and required documents, and keeps cash on delivery for the first orders.
How much time per week should I plan?
About 3 to 4 hours a week for 4 weeks, projects included. The build mostly takes two or three focused evenings in modules 2 and 3, on a computer.
How do I pay and when does access start?
You pay 75,000 FCFA by Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33, and access is activated within 24 working hours. Module 1 is a free preview: read it first, as the course is not refundable once access is activated.
What is the certificate worth?
You receive a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online via QR code, which you can add to LinkedIn, after passing the quizzes of all 6 modules with at least 70 %; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. For a freelancer, the open store from the final project remains the strongest argument with a client.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Online store: build it, fill it and keep it running: 14 h, 75,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable by QR code. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
