The verdict in three sentences
A bilingual B2B website for an exporting SME ships in 8 weeks versus 6 for a single-language version, with an added cost of roughly +25 % in 2026. The item not to skimp on is translation quality: unedited machine translation drops the second-language version's conversion rate by 18 %, wrecking the export goal. To hit a trade-show date, work the schedule back from the event and build in a week of multilingual hreflang QA.
Multilingual added cost and timeline
Here is the quantified impact of a second language on a 2026 project, item by item.
| Item | Single-language | Adding second version | Added cost (FCFA) 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| i18n technical base | Included | hreflang structure | 200,000 |
| Professional translation | - | 15 FCFA/word | 450,000 (30,000 words) |
| Native proofreading | - | 8 FCFA/word | 240,000 |
| Second-language SEO | - | Target keywords | 250,000 |
| Multilingual & hreflang QA | - | +1 week testing | 160,000 |
| Total timeline | 6 weeks | +2 weeks | 8 weeks |
Total added cost is around 1,300,000 FCFA (about 2,000 EUR) on a single-language base, the +25 % figure quoted. It is an export investment, not a cosmetic expense.
The real cost of bad translation
Many companies save on translation and pay for it in conversion. Here are the 2026 figures.
| Translation approach | Cost | Quality | Conversion impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw machine (free) | 0 FCFA | Low | -18 % |
| Machine + light edit | 5 FCFA/word | Medium | -8 % |
| Pro translator + native proof | 23 FCFA/word | High | Baseline (0 %) |
| Sector-specialist translator | 30 FCFA/word | Very high | +5 % vs standard pro |
| No second version | 0 FCFA | - | Export prospects lost |
On an export site targeting 40 leads/month on the second-language side, -18 % conversion means about 7 lost leads each month, a shortfall that quickly exceeds the cost of professional translation.
Mini case study
Mr. Kouassi, director of an agri-export SME (cocoa processing, 60 staff), wants a bilingual site delivered for an international trade show in 9 weeks. He hesitates between free machine translation and professional translation at 1,300,000 FCFA. Simulation: the second-language version should generate 40 leads/month. With machine translation, -18 % conversion means 7 lost leads per month. At an average export contract value of 350,000 FCFA and a 10 % closing rate, that is 245,000 FCFA of monthly shortfall. Professional translation pays back in 5 to 6 months. He chooses pro, schedules hreflang QA in week 8 and ships in time for the show.
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FAQ
How much does adding a second-language version cost?
Around +25 % of budget, an order of 1,300,000 FCFA for a 30,000-word site (translation 15 FCFA/word, proofreading 8 FCFA/word, SEO and hreflang QA). The timeline grows by 2 weeks.
Is machine translation really that damaging?
Yes: raw translation loses on average 18 % conversion on the second-language version, because B2B prospects perceive a lack of seriousness. Native proofreading brings the loss to a negligible level.
What is hreflang and why does it add time?
Hreflang tells search engines which language to serve which visitor. Misconfigured, it creates duplicate content and blurs SEO. Setup and QA take about 1 week and 160,000 FCFA.
Can I launch the first language first and the second later?
Yes, and it is recommended if time is tight: ship the first version at 6 weeks, then the second 2 to 3 weeks later. This avoids delaying the whole project for the second language.
How many words need translating?
A B2B corporate site averages 25,000 to 35,000 words. At 15 FCFA/word translation and 8 FCFA/word proofreading, budget 575,000 to 800,000 FCFA for text alone.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target languages, content volume and trade-show date: we return a multilingual schedule costed in FCFA and a 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.
