The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, profitable online selling rests on three numbers: the parcel cost, any platform commission and your floor price. The diaspora in France and Spain willingly pays a 20,000 to 30,000 FCFA basket, provided shipping is clear and payment is secured through Wave or Orange Money on the family side. A short, numbers-driven 12-hour course is enough to move from a few improvised WhatsApp sales to an organised shop.
What a parcel from Saint-Louis really costs in 2026
The first trap is quoting a price without knowing the logistics cost. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for a trader or local food processor based in Saint-Louis.
| Destination | Shipping mode | Indicative 2026 cost | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint-Louis city | Motorbike courier | 1,000 to 1,500 FCFA (about EUR 1.5 to 2.3) | Same day |
| Dakar | Coach or parcel carrier | 2,500 to 4,000 FCFA (EUR 3.8 to 6.1) | 1 to 2 days |
| Thiès, Louga, Richard-Toll | Intercity coach | 2,000 to 3,500 FCFA (EUR 3 to 5.3) | 1 day |
| France (2 kg) | Freight forwarder or post | 15,000 to 25,000 FCFA (EUR 23 to 38) | 5 to 10 days |
| Spain (2 kg) | Grouped forwarder | 18,000 to 30,000 FCFA (EUR 27 to 46) | 7 to 12 days |
| Diaspora grouped lot (10 kg) | Monthly forwarder | 45,000 to 70,000 FCFA (EUR 69 to 107) | 2 to 3 weeks |
The consequence is direct: for a 10,000 FCFA basket shipped alone to France, delivery costs more than the goods. The solution taught in the course is to group diaspora orders on one monthly departure and offer baskets of at least 25,000 FCFA, which the customer in France often pays through a relative who settles by Wave in Saint-Louis.
Selling alone, on a marketplace or with a method: options compared
You have three choices: learn alone on YouTube, go through a marketplace that takes its commission, or train with a method built for Senegal. The E-commerce: selling online in Senegal and French-speaking Africa course, taught in French, is level 2 of the track, priced at 50,000 FCFA (EUR 76) for 12 hours.
| Option | 2026 cost | What you get | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free online videos | 0 FCFA | General tips | Nothing on Wave, coaches or the diaspora |
| Marketplace | 10 to 20% per sale | Instant visibility | Lower margin, the customer is not yours |
| In-person workshop in Dakar | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA (EUR 114 to 229) + travel | Direct contact | One day, little follow-up |
| Kolonell Academy, level 2 | 50,000 FCFA (EUR 76), 12 h | Floor price, channels, payment, delivery | Requires weekly practice |
| Full track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (EUR 534 instead of 686) | From launch to management | Commitment over several months |
On a 20,000 FCFA average basket, a 15% commission means 3,000 FCFA per order. Over 40 orders a month, that is 120,000 FCFA (about EUR 183), more than the course price in a single month. Selling directly on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram with a clean catalogue keeps that margin with you.
The E-commerce and online selling track then takes you towards stock management and margin control.
What you learn in 12 hours
| Block | Concrete content | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| What to sell and at what price | Floor price with a 35% net margin | A price grid per product |
| Sales channels | WhatsApp Business, Facebook, Instagram, Google profile | A 10-product catalogue online |
| Payment | Wave, Orange Money, deposit, payment by a relative | No parcel shipped unpaid |
| Delivery | Couriers, coaches, forwarders to the diaspora | A published shipping rate card |
| Messages that sell | Follow-ups, proof, loyalty | Ready-to-use reply templates |
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Awa, 34, processes hibiscus, thiakry and millet couscous in Saint-Louis. She sells about 15 baskets a month in Dakar and a few one-off parcels to cousins in Paris, often at a loss. After the course, she sets a diaspora basket at 25,000 FCFA and groups French orders into one monthly 10 kg shipment at about 60,000 FCFA, or 6,000 FCFA per basket for 10 customers.
Her margin rises from about 2,000 FCFA to about 8,000 FCFA per diaspora basket. With 10 diaspora baskets a month, that is 60,000 FCFA (about EUR 91) of extra margin, a 2026 order of magnitude. The 50,000 FCFA course fee is covered in under four weeks, with no advertising budget.
FAQ
Do I need a website to take the course?
No. Level 2 teaches you to sell with WhatsApp Business, Facebook and Instagram, without a website. You can build a shop later, once your first 20 to 30 orders are done.
How do I get paid by a customer in France or Spain?
The simplest route in 2026 is still payment by a relative in Senegal via Wave or Orange Money, or a money transfer before shipping. The course shows how to request a deposit of at least 50% before any international shipment.
Which Saint-Louis products sell well to the diaspora?
Dry, light products travel best: dried hibiscus, baobab powder, vacuum-packed thiakry, spices, fabric, jewellery and leather goods. A 2 kg parcel can hold 6 to 10 items, which spreads the shipping cost.
Can I follow the course if I start with just a phone?
Yes. The 12 hours work on a smartphone, with ready-to-fill templates. A 3G connection is enough for videos in reduced quality.
How long before my first online sale?
The method targets a first order paid by Wave within 30 days, if you publish your catalogue and reply every day. That timeline is a goal, not a guarantee.
Take the next step. Enroll in E-commerce: selling online in Senegal and French-speaking Africa: 12 hours, 50,000 FCFA (EUR 76), Kolonell Academy certificate included, taught in French. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
