The verdict in three sentences
Development is only part of the budget: hosting, payment fees and maintenance weigh heavily on the first year. A serious Starter store begins around 3,000 GHS of development, a Growth store near 6,000 GHS, a Premium store from 12,000 GHS. The number that matters is the first-year total cost, development plus recurring, not just the initial quote.
The line-by-line price grid
Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for the Ghanaian market, in GHS.
| Item | Range | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter store development | 3,000 - 5,000 GHS | One-off | Up to 50 products, MoMo |
| Growth store development | 6,000 - 9,000 GHS | One-off | Unlimited catalog, promos, reviews |
| Premium store development | 12,000 - 18,000 GHS | One-off | PWA, loyalty, multi-currency |
| Domain name | 100 - 200 GHS | Yearly | .com or .com.gh |
| Managed hosting | 150 - 450 GHS | Monthly | By traffic and CDN |
| Maintenance | 300 - 1,200 GHS | Monthly | Security, updates |
| SEO (optional) | 450 - 1,800 GHS | Monthly | Organic growth |
The payment fees you must not forget
Every transaction you collect has a cost. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for mobile money and card fees.
| Payment method | Indicative 2026 fees | On 60,000 GHS of sales |
|---|---|---|
| MTN MoMo / Telecel (merchant) | ~1.5 - 2% | 900 - 1,200 GHS |
| Paystack / Flutterwave (local) | ~1.5% (capped) | ~900 GHS |
| Card via Stripe (international) | ~2.9% + fixed fee | ~1,740 GHS + |
| Bank transfer | Low / fixed | negligible |
The first-year total cost
Add it up for a typical Growth store: development 7,000 GHS + domain 150 + hosting 300 x 12 (3,600) + maintenance 600 x 12 (7,200). First-year cost: around 17,950 GHS, excluding variable payment fees. In following years only recurring costs remain, i.e. ~10,950 GHS/year.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know merchants who need a store? The Kolonell referral (apporteur d'affaires) program pays you on every project signed thanks to you.
| Segment | Sale commission | Recurring commission |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15% | 5% |
| E-commerce | 12% | 5% |
| Marketplace | 10% | — |
| Institutional | 8% | — |
On a 7,000 GHS e-commerce store, a referrer earns 840 GHS at signing, plus 5% on recurring fees.
Need a professional website?
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Mini case study
Kwame, who runs a hardware shop in Accra, hesitates between a Starter and a Growth quote. He picks Growth at 7,000 GHS because he wants 300 SKUs. His first year costs ~17,950 GHS all-in. With an average basket of 350 GHS and 100 orders/month, he generates 35,000 GHS/month: the store pays for itself in under two months of margin.
FAQ
Why such a gap between 3,000 and 18,000 GHS?
The number of products, variants, payment methods, PWA and advanced features (loyalty, multi-currency) make the difference. A 20-product store has different needs than a 500-SKU catalog.
Is hosting at 150 GHS enough?
For a small low-traffic store, yes. As visitors and catalog grow, budget 300 to 450 GHS/month for speed and stability, especially on 3G.
Can I spread the development payment?
Yes, usually in 2 or 3 milestone-based installments (mockup, development, go-live). We discuss this at quoting.
Is maintenance really mandatory?
It is strongly recommended: without security updates, a store becomes vulnerable. Budget at least 300 GHS/month for peace of mind.
How much extra does SEO cost?
Between 450 and 1,800 GHS/month depending on ambition. It's optional at first but it's what brings free, durable traffic over the long term.
Let's talk about your project. Together we build a clear quote, no hidden costs, matched to your budget. 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.