The verdict in three sentences
A professional business website in Lagos costs between 500,000 and 2,500,000 FCFA (roughly the same range in local terms) in 2026, driven by page count, animation quality and SEO ambition. Add 15,000 to 60,000 FCFA/year for domain and hosting, then 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month for maintenance if you want a living site. The real differentiator is not the sticker price but mobile-first performance on 3G/4G, a commercial credibility requirement across West Africa.
The three price tiers in 2026
The wide range reflects very different scopes. A craftsman who wants a clean presence does not have the same needs as a firm generating leads through its site. Here are the reference tiers.
| Tier | Pages | Included | Price FCFA | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5 pages | Mobile-first design, contact form, WhatsApp, basic SEO | 500,000 - 800,000 | 3 weeks |
| Growth | 8-10 pages | + Blog, Google Analytics, EN/FR bilingual, service pages | 900,000 - 1,500,000 | 4-5 weeks |
| Premium | 12+ pages | + Advanced animations, deep SEO, JSON-LD, Core Web Vitals tuning | 1,600,000 - 2,500,000 | 6 weeks |
One tip: never pay for Premium if your real need is Starter. Conversely, a Starter without blog or analytics will cost you dearly in missed opportunities if your audience actively searches on Google.
The cost lines not to forget
The design price is only the visible part. A realistic 2026 budget includes recurring costs, often underestimated by businesses.
| Item | 2026 cost | Frequency | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com domain | 8,000 - 12,000 FCFA | per year | local TLD possible but pricier |
| Shared hosting | 25,000 - 60,000 FCFA | per year | CDN recommended for 3G |
| SSL certificate | 0 FCFA | included | free Let's Encrypt |
| Maintenance | 25,000 - 75,000 FCFA | per month | updates, backups, security |
| Content writing | 100,000 - 300,000 FCFA | one-off | often left off the quote |
| Pro photography | 150,000 - 400,000 FCFA | one-off | instant credibility |
Monthly maintenance is the most wrongly negotiated line. Without it, an un-updated WordPress site becomes a security hole within 6 to 12 months.
Mini case study
Amadou runs a 22-employee construction SME in Lagos. He targets the Growth tier at 1,200,000 FCFA for a 9-page site with blog and project sheets. He adds 250,000 FCFA for writing and photos, so 1,450,000 FCFA in year one, then 40,000 FCFA/month maintenance (480,000 FCFA/year). Goal: capture 3 qualified tenders per month through local SEO. If a single project won thanks to the site brings in 8,000,000 FCFA of margin over the year, the return on investment is reached within the first quarter.
Need a professional website?
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FAQ
How long to deliver a business website in 2026?
Count 3 weeks for a Starter, 4 to 6 weeks for Growth or Premium. The limiting factor is almost always the client supplying content (text, photos), not development.
Do I have to pay monthly maintenance?
Yes for any site with a CMS or form. Between 25,000 and 75,000 FCFA/month, it covers security updates, backups and small changes. It is insurance against hacking and downtime.
Why is mobile-first critical in West Africa?
Over 80% of web traffic comes from mobile, often on limited 3G or 4G. A heavy site that takes more than 4 seconds to load loses half its visitors before your offer even appears.
Can a 500,000 FCFA site be credible?
Yes, if well built: 5 clean pages, mobile-first, working form and WhatsApp are enough for a micro-business. Credibility comes from design and speed, not page count.
Which domain extension should I choose?
The .com remains more internationally recognized and cheaper (8,000-12,000 FCFA/year). A local extension strengthens local anchoring. Many businesses buy both and redirect.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target page count, sector and indicative budget between 500,000 and 2,500,000 FCFA. 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.
