The verdict in three sentences
Delivery platforms take 25 to 30 % commission on every order, turning a profitable dish into a loss-maker. An in-house ordering app costs between 800,000 and 3,000,000 FCFA and recovers its cost from the second month once you pass a few hundred monthly orders. On top of that you regain the customer relationship, the data, and an average basket 15 % higher when ordering direct.
The real cost of delivery platforms
A platform charges commission on the total price, not on your margin. On a dish sold at 5,000 FCFA with 55 % combined food and labour cost, 2,250 FCFA margin remains; a 28 % commission (1,400 FCFA) eats most of it.
| Item | Via platform | Via in-house app |
|---|---|---|
| Order | 5,000 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Platform commission | -1,400 FCFA (28 %) | 0 FCFA |
| Mobile money fee | -75 FCFA (1.5 %) | -75 FCFA (1.5 %) |
| Delivery (courier) | included | -600 FCFA |
| Net restaurant margin | ~775 FCFA | ~1,575 FCFA |
| Customer data captured | No | Yes |
Even when paying your own courier, you double the net margin per order.
How much the app costs and what it includes
| Tier | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Timeline | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 800,000 - 1,200,000 | 3-4 wks | Menu, cart, Wave/OM payment, kitchen screen |
| Growth | 1,500,000 - 2,200,000 | 5-7 wks | + delivery tracking, push notifications, promos |
| Premium | 2,500,000 - 3,000,000 | 8-10 wks | + loyalty, multi-restaurant, advanced analytics |
All figures are 2026 ballpark estimates for the Senegalese and Ivorian markets. Mobile money (Wave, Orange Money) is the backbone: fees around 1 % to 1.5 %, versus 25-30 % platform commission.
Mini case study
Awa runs a tieboudienne restaurant in Dakar and does 900 delivered orders per month at an average of 4,500 FCFA. On Glovo at 28 %, she loses 1,134,000 FCFA in commission per month. She invests 1,800,000 FCFA in an in-house app. Even paying a 600 FCFA courier per order (540,000 FCFA/month), she saves 594,000 FCFA in the first month and repays the app in just over three months. After that, nearly 600,000 FCFA stays in the till every month.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
How long does it take to build the app?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for an essential version and 8 to 10 weeks for a premium version with loyalty and delivery tracking. A working MVP can be live within a month.
Should I drop platforms entirely?
No. Many keep Glovo or Yango to capture new customers, then migrate them to the in-house app via a loyalty card or a flyer in the bag, where commission drops to 0 %.
Is mobile money reliable for delivery?
Yes. Wave and Orange Money confirm payment within seconds via webhook before the courier leaves, removing the risk of non-payment on delivery. Fees run around 1 to 1.5 %.
Why does the average basket grow when ordering direct?
Because you control the suggestions and menus: highlighted drinks, desserts and combos push the ticket up by about 15 % compared with a standardised platform listing.
What happens if internet drops in the kitchen?
The kitchen screen can run in degraded mode and re-sync orders as soon as the network returns, which is essential on an unstable 3G connection.
Let's talk about your project. We will quote your ordering and delivery app with Wave and Orange Money payment within 48 hours. 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.
