The verdict in three sentences
In Touba, most traders already sell a little on WhatsApp, but with no catalogue, no clear delivery price and no customer follow-up. By organising online sales towards Dakar and the diaspora, a target of 20 to 30% of revenue online is realistic as a 2026 order of magnitude. The 12-hour course at 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) teaches how to do it with WhatsApp, Wave and Orange Money, with no upfront ad budget.
Why sell online from Touba in 2026
Touba has a rare advantage: wholesalers and wholesale prices, a loyal customer base in Dakar, and a diaspora (Italy, France, Spain, United States) that orders for family, especially before the Magal, Tabaski and the school year. Demand already exists; what is mostly missing is organisation: photos, prices, delivery and payment.
| Sales channel | 2026 cost (estimate) | Setup time | Advantage | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business and status | 0 FCFA | 1 day | Customers already in your contacts | No organised catalogue without method |
| Facebook and Instagram page | 0 FCFA, boosts from 5,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 days | Reach in Dakar and diaspora | Needs regular posting |
| TikTok | 0 FCFA | 1 week | High free reach | Videos to produce weekly |
| Online marketplace | 10 to 20% commission per sale | 1 to 2 weeks | Existing traffic | Lower margin, little loyalty |
| Simple online shop | 50,000 to 300,000 FCFA plus subscription | 1 to 4 weeks | Professional image | Pointless before regular sales |
The course recommends starting with free channels, proving sales, and only then investing in a shop.
Delivery and payment: the numbers to master
A Touba to Dakar parcel costs 2,000 to 3,500 FCFA depending on weight and carrier. If you do not build it into your prices, you lose your margin on every order.
| Item | 2026 benchmark | Good practice |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery Touba to Dakar | 2,000 to 3,500 FCFA per parcel (3 to 5 EUR) | Displayed delivery price, free above a set basket |
| Delivery within Touba | 500 to 1,000 FCFA | Partner motorbike courier, grouped rounds |
| Shipping to the diaspora | Via a relative or forwarder, 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA per kg | Grouped orders, payment before shipping |
| Wave payment | Low fees for the seller | Prepayment for distant customers |
| Orange Money payment | Fees depend on amount | Offer both methods |
| Cash on delivery | 10 to 20% refusal risk | Only for known customers or small baskets |
The course E-commerce: selling online in Senegal and French-speaking Africa, taught in French, details these choices: which products to push, how to set prices and shipping fees, how to organise deliveries to Dakar and the regions, how to attract the first online customers.
Which course to choose, at what price
| Option | 2026 cost | Duration | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA | Variable | Scattered tips, often designed for Europe |
| One-off in-person workshop | 25,000 to 100,000 FCFA | 1 day | Motivation, little follow-up |
| Kolonell level 1 (selling on WhatsApp) | 25,000 FCFA | 5 h | WhatsApp catalogue and mobile payment |
| Kolonell level 2 (this course) | 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR) | 12 h | Full online sales organisation, verifiable certificate |
| Full Kolonell track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Progressive | Up to running an e-commerce business |
This course is level 2 of the E-commerce and online selling track. It is designed for traders, in plain French, with examples from the Senegalese market.
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.
Modou, 38, sells fabrics and boubous in Touba with about 1,500,000 FCFA in monthly shop revenue. After the course (50,000 FCFA, paid via Wave), he builds a WhatsApp catalogue of 40 items, sets delivery to Dakar at 2,500 FCFA and posts three statuses a day. Within three months he makes 25 orders a month at a 15,000 FCFA average basket, i.e. 375,000 FCFA online, about 25% of his business. At a 30% margin, that is 112,500 FCFA of extra margin a month: the course pays for itself in under two weeks. Illustrative figures, to adapt to your business.
FAQ
Do I need a website to take the course?
No. The course starts from WhatsApp, social media and Wave or Orange Money. An online shop at 50,000 to 300,000 FCFA only makes sense after regular sales.
Is the course suitable if I do not read much on my phone?
The 12 hours are split into short lessons with concrete examples. You go at your own pace; 30 minutes a day is enough to finish in a month.
How do I sell to the diaspora from Touba?
Simplest approach: payment before shipping via Wave or transfer, then grouped shipping through a forwarder at 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA per kg. The course explains how to present these terms clearly.
How much does it cost and how do I pay?
50,000 FCFA for this level, payable by Wave or Orange Money. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
What results can I expect?
No figure is guaranteed. As a 2026 order of magnitude, an organised trader can aim for 20 to 30% of sales online within 3 to 6 months.
Take the next step. Enroll in E-commerce: selling online in Senegal and French-speaking Africa: 12 hours, 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR), verifiable certificate, 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.
