The verdict in three sentences
As long as your agency runs rents, receipts and mandates on spreadsheets, every arrear slips through and every manual receipt costs you time. Custom software at 5,000,000-14,000,000 FCFA with Mobile Money collection and an owner/tenant portal cuts arrears tracking by 30-50 %. An imported SaaS is cheaper upfront but ignores local mobile money and keeps you dependent on a foreign vendor.
Imported SaaS or custom software: the comparison
Western SaaS handles neither MTN/Moov Money nor local property-administration practices. 2026 order of magnitude:
| Criterion | Imported SaaS | Custom software |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low (subscription) | 5,000,000-14,000,000 FCFA |
| Mobile Money collection | Rare/absent | Native MTN/Moov |
| Automatic receipts | Vendor-dependent | Tailored |
| Owner/tenant portal | Limited | Full |
| Local language/currency/usage | Poor fit | Adapted |
| Maintenance | Included | 12-15 %/yr |
| Data ownership | Vendor | You |
The module-by-module budget
An agency needn't buy everything at once. Prioritize collection and receipts, then portals. 2026 estimate:
| Module | Range (FCFA) | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Property + mandate core | 3,000,000-6,000,000 | Single property/owner base |
| Rent collection + receipts | 2,000,000-4,000,000 | End of manual entry |
| Mobile Money integration | 1,000,000-2,200,000 | Instant tenant payment |
| Owner/tenant portal | 2,500,000-5,000,000 | Transparency, fewer calls |
| Automated arrears chasing | 1,000,000-2,000,000 | -30 to -50 % arrears |
| Cash dashboard | 800,000-1,800,000 | Collected-rent view |
Mini case study
Ms. Adjovi manages 180 units in Cotonou. On Excel she loses about 6 % of rents to untracked arrears, i.e. ~2,700,000 FCFA/year on a 45,000,000 FCFA rent roll. She invests 9,500,000 FCFA in custom software (management, Mobile Money collection, receipts, chasing, portal). Maintenance at 13 % is 1,235,000 FCFA/year. Cutting arrears from 6 % to 3 % recovers ~1,350,000 FCFA/year and saves ~2 days/month of entry. Payback lands around year 3, before counting time savings and the professional image with owners.
FAQ
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What does custom rental software cost in Cotonou in 2026?
Between 5,000,000 and 14,000,000 FCFA depending on modules, with 12-15 % annual maintenance. A management + collection + receipts base often lands around 7,000,000-9,000,000 FCFA.
Can rents be collected via MTN and Moov Money?
Yes, Mobile Money integration costs 1,000,000-2,200,000 FCFA and lets tenants pay from their phone with automatic confirmation and receipt generation.
Is an owner portal actually useful?
Yes: each owner sees collections, receipts and statements in real time, which sharply cuts phone calls and builds trust.
What's the implementation timeline?
Expect 3-5 months for an operational base, migrating existing leases and units from your spreadsheets.
Is a permanent connection required?
A partial offline/degraded mode is possible for viewing; Mobile Money collection requires a connection at payment time.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your managed-unit count, priorities (collection, receipts, portal) and indicative FCFA budget, and we'll scope a base profitable in year one. 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.
