The verdict in three sentences
An optician does not sell glasses like shoes: first comes a medical act — the eye test and prescription — then the sale of a configured product (lens index, coating, frame). A pure e-commerce site fails because it ignores half the journey; you need a flow of booking → prescription → configured order. With a 50% deposit at order and the balance on pickup, the optician secures fabrication (3 to 10 days) and never works at a loss.
Booking and eye test: the entry of the funnel
Everything starts with the eye test. The site offers 20-minute slots, sends a reminder, and lets the customer upload an existing prescription or have one issued on site.
| Service | Price (2026) | Payment | Deposit | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye test | KES 500–2,000 (5,000–15,000 FCFA) | M-Pesa on site | 0% | 20-min slot |
| Simple frame | KES 3,000–7,000 (25,000–60,000 FCFA) | M-Pesa | 50% at order | 3–5 days |
| Premium frame | KES 9,000–18,000 (80,000–150,000 FCFA) | M-Pesa | 50% | 5–10 days |
| Single-vision lenses | Base included | At order | 50% | 3–7 days |
| Progressive lenses | +40 to +120% | At order | 50% | 5–10 days |
| Anti-reflective coating | +KES 900–2,300 (8,000–20,000 FCFA) | At order | 50% | Within lead time |
Progressive lenses cost 40 to 120% more than single-vision: the configurator must make this surcharge transparent before payment, or the customer will dispute it at pickup. Prescription capture (photo upload or entry of sphere/cylinder/axis values) drives the whole order.
Configurator and deposit: securing fabrication
A pair of glasses is made to order: once cut, the lenses cannot be resold. The 50% deposit at order covers the material cost and commits the customer.
| Step | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Choose frame + lenses | Online configurator | Exact price shown |
| Upload / enter prescription | Required before payment | Zero correction error |
| 50% deposit | M-Pesa | Fabrication launched |
| Lens fabrication | 3–10 days by index | SMS tracking |
| Balance on pickup | M-Pesa or cash | Zero unpaid |
This deposit + balance model protects the optician: even if the customer never returns, half the price already covers the cut lens. The whole flow runs on M-Pesa for both deposit and balance.
Mini case study
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Wanjiru runs an eyewear shop in Nairobi, Westlands. Previously she lost time on the phone booking appointments and suffered cancelled orders for lack of a deposit. She puts the full journey online: booking, prescription capture, configurator, 50% deposit.
Over one month: 60 eye tests at KES 1,000 (KES 60,000, about 480,000 FCFA) lead to 38 eyewear sales at an average basket of KES 7,400 (about 62,000 FCFA), i.e. KES 281,000 (about 2,356,000 FCFA). Thanks to the 50% deposit, she no longer has a single cut, unpaid pair — versus 4 the previous month, roughly KES 15,000 (about 124,000 FCFA) of material losses avoided. Appointment reminders also drop no-shows from 22% to 6%.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know opticians, health practices or specialist shops still without an online store? Introduce them to Kolonell and earn a commission. Referral rates: e-commerce 12%, showcase 15% + 5% recurring, marketplace 10%, institutional 8%. An optician e-commerce Starter site at 1,000,000 FCFA earns you 120,000 FCFA on a single successful introduction.
FAQ
How much does an optician site with booking and store cost in 2026? The E-commerce Starter tier from 1,000,000 FCFA (1,525 €) covers booking, prescription capture, a lens configurator and M-Pesa payment. The Growth tier adds advanced stock and analytics.
Why isn't pure e-commerce enough for eyewear? Because the sale depends on a medical act: without an eye test and prescription, you cannot configure the right lenses. The site must tie booking, correction and order into one funnel.
Is a 50% deposit really necessary? Yes: lenses cut to prescription cannot be resold. A 50% deposit at order covers material cost and eliminates losses on abandoned orders.
How long to make a pair? Budget 3 to 10 days depending on index and coating: faster for simple single-vision, longer for progressives with anti-reflective. The customer tracks progress by SMS.
Which payments in Nairobi? M-Pesa handles the whole journey — eye test, deposit and balance — the same way from start to finish.
Let's talk about your project. We build your optician site with booking, prescription capture and a lens configurator. 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.
