The verdict in three sentences
Adding online payment to a Senegalese website costs, in 2026, between 150,000 and 900,000 FCFA depending on whether you go through a turnkey aggregator or a direct Wave + Orange Money integration. The price hinges mainly on three drivers: reliable webhooks, reconciliation and refund handling. On top of this setup come per-transaction fees (1–3.5 %) and monthly maintenance usually between 25,000 and 75,000 FCFA.
The 2026 price grid
Here are the orders of magnitude seen on the Senegalese market; the final quote depends on the exact scope.
| Integration type | Setup cost | Delay | Per-transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnkey aggregator (1 method) | 150,000–250,000 FCFA | 2–4 days | 2.5–3.5 % |
| Multi-method aggregator | 250,000–400,000 FCFA | 4–7 days | 2.5–3.5 % |
| Direct Wave only | 250,000–500,000 FCFA | 1–2 wks | 1–1.5 % |
| Direct Wave + Orange Money | 400,000–900,000 FCFA | 2–3 wks | 1–1.5 % |
| Marketplace with split | 900,000 FCFA+ | 3 wks+ | by method |
The person-day breakdown
Dev cost tracks the number of person-days directly. Here is a per-task estimate for a direct integration.
| Task | Person-days | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| API init + keys | 0.5–1 | Sandbox, environment |
| Checkout flow (UI) | 1–2 | Mobile-first |
| Confirmation webhooks | 1–2 | Signed, idempotent |
| Order reconciliation | 1–2 | Statuses, dashboard |
| Refunds | 0.5–1 | By method |
| End-to-end tests | 1–2 | Real Wave/OM |
The recurring costs to plan for
Payment is not a one-off cost. Beyond integration, budget per-transaction fees (1 to 3.5 % depending on aggregator or direct), a possible platform fee, and monthly maintenance (API updates, webhook monitoring, support) typically 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month. Over a year, these recurring costs often weigh more than the initial integration, especially at high volume.
Mini case study
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Moussa, a restaurateur in Dakar, wants to collect online orders. He picks a multi-method aggregator integration at 320,000 FCFA, delivered in 5 days, with Wave + Orange Money. On 1,200,000 FCFA/month at 3 % he pays 36,000 FCFA/month in fees, plus 40,000 FCFA/month maintenance. First-year total: 320,000 + (76,000 x 12) = 1,232,000 FCFA, recouped from month one thanks to the extra online orders.
FAQ
What is the minimum cost to accept Wave on my site?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, a turnkey aggregator integration starts around 150,000 FCFA for a single method, delivered in 2 to 4 days. Direct Wave only starts closer to 250,000 FCFA.
Why does direct cost more to integrate?
You must wire the APIs, secure the webhooks and build reconciliation — 2 to 3 weeks of work. In return, per-transaction fees drop to 1–1.5 % instead of ~3 %.
Do I pay monthly maintenance?
Yes, expect 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month for API updates, webhook monitoring and support. That is what keeps payments from breaking.
Does a marketplace split cost more?
Yes: automatic vendor/platform splitting adds logic and tests, so setup starts at 900,000 FCFA. It is a module in its own right.
Let's talk about your project. We price your payment integration to the person-day, aggregator or direct. 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.
