The verdict in three sentences
An imported school SaaS (15,000-45,000 FCFA/month) covers the basics but collects neither Orange Money nor Moov Money, and imposes a parent portal designed elsewhere. A custom system (8,000,000-20,000,000 FCFA + 180,000-450,000 FCFA/month) covers enrollment, tuition invoicing, mobile-money collection, and SMS reminders. Result: unpaid fees -40% and 60% of back-to-school enrollment time saved.
Imported SaaS vs custom for a private school
Generic SaaS assumes a bank card and a foreign regulatory context. In practice, parents pay in installments, by mobile money or cash, and effective reminders go through SMS. Here is the gap.
| Criterion | Imported school SaaS | Kolonell custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 FCFA | 8,000,000-20,000,000 FCFA |
| Subscription/maintenance | 15,000-45,000 FCFA/mo | 180,000-450,000 FCFA/mo |
| Mobile-money collection | Rare | Orange/Moov Money native |
| Tuition installment payments | Limited | Custom schedules |
| Unpaid-fee reminders | Automated SMS | |
| Localized parent portal | Generic | Tailored (languages, installments) |
| Student data ownership | Foreign server | School |
| Time to launch | 1-3 weeks | 12-18 weeks |
Cost per student count and 3-year TCO
Custom pricing does not depend on student count (no per-seat license), unlike SaaS. Here is the 3-year comparison by school size.
| Enrollment | SaaS (3 yrs) | Custom (build + support 3 yrs) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 students | ~1,200,000 FCFA | ~14,000,000 FCFA | SaaS cheaper |
| 500 students | ~2,700,000 FCFA | ~15,000,000 FCFA | Depends on unpaid fees avoided |
| 1,000 students | ~5,400,000 FCFA | ~16,500,000 FCFA | Tips if unpaid fees high |
| 2,000 students | ~10,800,000 FCFA | ~18,000,000 FCFA | Custom pays off* |
*Factoring in -40% unpaid fees and 60% back-to-school time saved, custom pays off for large or high-default school groups. 2026 order of magnitude.
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Mini case study
Mr. Coulibaly runs a private school group of 1,400 students. Unpaid tuition reaches 18% of revenue, and back-to-school enrollment ties up 4 staff for 6 weeks. He invests 16,000,000 FCFA in a custom build (+ 300,000 FCFA/month support). On 420,000,000 FCFA of tuition revenue, cutting unpaid fees from 18% to ~11% (-40%) recovers ~29,000,000 FCFA/year. Enrollment drops from 6 to ~2.5 equivalent weeks (60% time saved). The build repays in the very first term.
FAQ
Can we collect via Orange Money and Moov Money? Yes, natively. Parents pay tuition by mobile money, in installments per a schedule, with automatic confirmation and receipt.
How do unpaid-fee reminders work? Through automated SMS triggered at due dates, tracked per student. This is the main lever behind the -40% unpaid fees observed.
Is the parent portal usable on low-bandwidth mobile? Yes. It is built lightweight, for entry-level smartphones and 3G connections, with SMS notifications as backup.
Does price depend on student count? No for custom: no per-student license. That is the opposite of SaaS, whose cost climbs with enrollment.
How long before the school year? 12 to 18 weeks. To target a specific term, launch 4-5 months ahead to cover scoping, development, and staff training.
Let's scope your project. Share your enrollment, current unpaid-fee rate, and target term start — we quote the build, support, and expected gain. 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.
