The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, many women traders, seamstresses and food processors already sell to their contacts on WhatsApp, yet lose orders among family messages, endless how-much questions and unverified payments. Kolonell's Selling on WhatsApp: catalogue, orders and payments course (level 1 of the E-commerce track, 25,000 FCFA or about 38 EUR, 5 hours) shows you how to turn the free WhatsApp Business app into an organised shop, with a catalogue of 20 to 50 products, an order log and verified Wave or Orange Money payments. The realistic target: 3 to 5 more orders a week, through method rather than advertising.
What costs sales on WhatsApp in Thiès
A seller of thiakry and local juices near the Central Market, a seamstress in Cité Lamy, a fabric and bazin reseller in Randoulène: their customers write at all hours. Without organisation, some requests go unanswered, orders get forgotten, and one fake payment screenshot is enough to lose the goods.
| Common problem | Consequence | Method taught | Target effect (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same number for family and shop | Customer messages buried | Dedicated number and full business profile | Reply within an hour |
| Prices sent one by one | 20 how-much questions a day | Catalogue with photo and FCFA price | 1 hour saved a day |
| Orders kept in memory | Wrong sizes, forgotten quantities | 5 labels and a 6-column Google Sheets log | No lost orders |
| Payment confirmed by screenshot | Fraud, goods lost | Checking inside the Wave or Orange Money app | Lower fraud risk |
| No follow-up after a sale | One-time buyers | 7-day status plan | Repeat orders |
| Replies typed by hand | Fatigue, uneven tone | 5 ready-made quick replies | More messages handled |
Getting started costs little: WhatsApp Business is free, and an entry-level Android phone is enough. A second SIM card for the shop number costs a few hundred FCFA.
What learning costs, option by option
You can ask a neighbour who sells well, watch videos or take a structured course. Here are the usual options for a trader in Thiès.
| Option | Price (2026 order of magnitude) | Duration | What you get | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell, Selling on WhatsApp (level 1) | 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) | 5 h, on your phone | Configured shop, catalogue, order log, payment rule | Yes, verifiable online |
| In-person workshop from an association or incubator | Free to 50,000 FCFA, depending on places | 1 to 2 days | General advice, little follow-up | Sometimes an attestation |
| YouTube and TikTok videos | 0 FCFA, excluding data | Self-directed | Scattered tips | No |
| Agency managing your WhatsApp | 30,000 to 100,000 FCFA a month | Ongoing | A service, but no autonomy | No |
| Advice from a relative | Free | Varies | Useful experience, no full method | No |
For 25,000 FCFA paid with Wave or Orange Money, the course runs on your phone in 5 hours, with 30 corrected exercises applied to your own products.
The syllabus in three modules
The Selling on WhatsApp course to organise your sales and get paid safely is taught in French and has no prerequisites. It runs over 3 modules with a PDF handout and a quiz per module.
| Module | What you set up | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Turning WhatsApp Business into a real shop | Dedicated number, full profile, wa.me link and QR code | Catalogue in 2 or 3 collections, 5 quick replies |
| 2. Taking and tracking orders | Labels: new, paid, to deliver, delivered, to follow up | 6-column order log |
| 3. Getting paid and bringing customers back | Wave, Orange Money or cash on delivery | 5-line payment rule, 7-day status plan |
The final project, your WhatsApp shop running within 7 days, is reviewed and graded, then leads to the certificate. This course opens the E-commerce and online selling track: level 2 covers pricing with a healthy margin and delivery to the regions and the diaspora. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
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.
Ndèye, 34, processes local cereals (thiakry, araw, sankal) in Thiès and sells to her contacts on WhatsApp. Today she handles about 8 orders a week, with an average basket of 4,000 FCFA.
After the course, she builds a 24-product catalogue in 3 collections, separates her shop number, tracks orders in a log and posts statuses three times a week. Within a month she reaches 12 orders a week, 4 more than before.
Calculation: 4 extra orders × 4,000 FCFA × 4 weeks = 64,000 FCFA of additional monthly revenue. At a margin of about 40 %, that is 25,600 FCFA of extra monthly profit. The 25,000 FCFA course is covered in roughly one month. Illustrative example: your results depend on your product, prices and consistency, and no income is guaranteed.
FAQ
Do I need a computer for the course?
No, a smartphone is enough. The 5 hours and 30 exercises are done on the phone, and the Google Sheets log also works in the free mobile app.
Is WhatsApp Business paid?
The WhatsApp Business app is free, catalogue included. The only extra cost we suggest is a second SIM card to separate the shop from your personal number, a few hundred FCFA.
How do I avoid fake Wave or Orange Money payments?
The rule taught is simple: deliver only after seeing the payment in your own app, never on a screenshot sent by the customer. Module 3 turns this into a 5-line payment rule.
How many products should my catalogue have?
Start with at least 10 products, then aim for 20 to 50 items in 2 or 3 collections, each with a clear photo and a price in FCFA. Beyond that, level 2 of the track helps you move to an online shop.
How do I pay for enrollment?
The 25,000 FCFA is paid with Wave or Orange Money. If you aim for the full 5-level track, it costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in Selling on WhatsApp: catalogue, orders and payments: 5 hours, 25,000 FCFA, verifiable certificate. 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.
