The verdict in three sentences
A tyre shop run in a notebook loses track of its tied-up stock (20 to 35 % of capital) and its unpaid customer credit (5 to 10 %). A vertical app tracks each tyre reference by size, keeps history per plate and takes mobile money in one tap. For 400,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA (roughly 610-1,525 EUR) once, the workshop becomes a business you steer by numbers, not by gut feel.
What the notebook is really hiding
In a vulcanizer shop, value sleeps in stock: tyres across dozens of sizes (175/70 R13, 195/65 R15, 315/80 R22.5...) that nobody counts precisely. The owner thinks he has a 195/65 R15, sends the customer elsewhere, then finds three months later he had four at the back of the store. That is dead capital.
The second leak is credit. "I'll pay you Friday" is easy to say; without a register, 5 to 10 % never comes back. The third is the lost customer: with no vehicle record, you cannot remind someone that a tyre fitted 40,000 km ago is nearing the end of its life.
| Item | Notebook management | With the app | Estimated gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock by size | Counted from memory, surprise stock-outs | Live inventory per reference | -20 to -35 % tied-up capital |
| New tyre margin | Not calculated | Tracked at sale (12-20 %) | Price adjusted, margin held |
| Repair margin | Not isolated | Isolated (60-80 %) | Push the profitable work |
| Customer credit | Paper slate | Balance per customer, reminders | -5 to -10 % unpaid |
| Change reminder | None | Alert by km/date | Comes back instead of leaving |
| Payment | Cash only | Mobile money + cash | Traceable, fewer errors |
The economics of a steered workshop
Average ticket ranges from 5,000 FCFA (a repair, a fit-and-balance) to 80,000 FCFA (a set of four tyres). Margin is the key point: a new tyre leaves only 12 to 20 %, while repair and service leave 60 to 80 %. A shop that does not separate the two has no idea where its profit is.
| Service | Average ticket 2026 | Typical margin | Steering priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair / fit-remove | 5,000 - 15,000 FCFA | 60-80 % | Volume, very profitable |
| Used tyre | 15,000 - 35,000 FCFA | 25-40 % | Fast rotation |
| New tyre, single | 30,000 - 60,000 FCFA | 12-20 % | Thin margin, watch price |
| Set of 4 tyres | 120,000 - 320,000 FCFA | 12-20 % | Big ticket, frequent credit |
| Alignment / balancing | 8,000 - 20,000 FCFA | 55-70 % | Add-on service |
Mini case study
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Kwame runs a tyre shop in Kumasi. He makes about 55 sales a week, average ticket 18,000 FCFA, roughly 990,000 FCFA weekly turnover. Two leaks: 8 % of his stock capital (about 3,500,000 FCFA) sleeps in poorly tracked unsellable sizes, so 280,000 FCFA frozen; and 7 % of his credit sales (around 30 % of turnover) go unpaid, roughly 20,800 FCFA lost per week.
With an app at 600,000 FCFA: he frees 200,000 FCFA of dead stock in three months and cuts unpaid credit from 7 % to 2 % (about 14,800 FCFA recovered/week, ~59,000 FCFA/month). The app pays for itself in about 4 months, not counting customers who return thanks to change reminders.
FAQ
How much does a tyre-shop management app cost in 2026? Between 400,000 and 1,000,000 FCFA (roughly 610-1,525 EUR) once, depending on modules (stock, vehicle record, credit, POS). This is a 2026 order of magnitude; a simple workshop starts at the low end.
Does it work without stable internet? Yes, a well-built app works offline and syncs when the connection returns: essential for a workshop where the network drops.
How does plate-based history grow revenue? By linking each job to a plate, the app reminds the customer (SMS) that a tyre fitted 40,000 km ago is wearing out; that reminder brings back 10 to 20 % of customers who would have gone elsewhere.
What does mobile money actually change? Mobile payment traces every transaction, cuts till errors and credit disputes; you reconcile sales and payments at day's end in minutes.
How fast does it pay off? In Kwame's example, about 4 months thanks to thawed stock and reduced unpaid credit; most mid-size shops break even in 3 to 6 months.
Let's talk about your project. We model your workshop (stock by size, credit, vehicle record) and quote within 24 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.
