The verdict in three sentences
A cosmetic redesign (design, colors, content) costs 350,000 to 600,000 FCFA and takes 2 to 3 weeks; a structural redesign (technology, speed, architecture) costs 600,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA depending on whether it is a showcase site or an e-commerce store. The number-one danger is not the budget, it is losing SEO traffic when URLs change without 301 redirects. With a prior audit and a migration plan, you gain 30 to 60 % speed while keeping your Google rankings.
How much a redesign costs in 2026
The ranges below are 2026 orders of magnitude for the Senegalese market, excluding monthly maintenance.
| Redesign type | Scope | Cost FCFA | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic showcase | Design + content, 5-8 pages | 350,000 - 600,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| Structural showcase | New tech + speed | 600,000 - 800,000 | 3-4 weeks |
| E-commerce redesign | Catalog + Wave/OM payment | 1,200,000 - 2,000,000 | 4-6 weeks |
| Premium e-commerce | PWA + multi-currency + ERP | 2,000,000 - 3,000,000 | 5-6 weeks |
| Pre-redesign SEO audit | Crawl + redirect plan | 150,000 - 300,000 | 3-5 days |
Add a recurring budget: maintenance 50,000 to 200,000 FCFA/month, SEO 75,000 to 300,000 FCFA/month, managed hosting 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month.
Cosmetic or structural: which to choose
| Criterion | Cosmetic redesign | Structural redesign |
|---|---|---|
| Problem solved | Dated image, poor UX | Slowness, security, scalability |
| Technology | Kept | Changed (e.g. Next.js) |
| Speed gain | 5-15 % | 30-60 % |
| SEO risk | Low | Medium, handled by 301 |
| Relative cost | x1 | x2 to x4 |
| Lifespan | 2-3 years | 4-6 years |
If your site loads in more than 4 seconds or runs on an unmaintained stack, a structural redesign pays off within the first year.
Pre-migration SEO checklist
To tick before switching to the new site:
- Full crawl of the old site (all indexed URLs)
- Mapping of 301 redirects from old to new URL
- Keep high-performing title and meta description tags
- Updated sitemap.xml and robots.txt
- JSON-LD structured data carried over (Organization, FAQPage)
- Mobile and Core Web Vitals test before go-live
- Google Search Console: submit the new sitemap
- Monitor traffic for 4 weeks after switchover
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Awa, who runs a cosmetics boutique in Dakar, has a 2021 WordPress site that loads in 5.2 seconds. She gets 4,000 visits/month but 62 % bounce. After a 750,000 FCFA structural redesign, the site loads in 1.3 seconds and the bounce rate drops to 41 %. Result: roughly 840 more engaged visitors per month. At a 2 % conversion rate and an 18,000 FCFA average basket, that means over 300,000 FCFA in extra monthly sales: the redesign pays for itself in under three months.
FAQ
Will I lose my Google ranking with a redesign?
No, if 301 redirects are in place. A migration without 301s can drop traffic by 30 to 50 % within weeks; a clean migration keeps 95 to 100 % of positions.
How long does a showcase redesign take?
Between 2 and 4 weeks depending on scope. A 5-to-8-page showcase site is usually delivered in 3 weeks, SEO audit included.
Should I rebuild everything or just refresh the design?
If the site loads in under 2.5 seconds and stays secure, a 350,000 - 600,000 FCFA cosmetic redesign is enough. Beyond 4 seconds, go structural.
What does maintenance cost after the redesign?
Budget 50,000 to 200,000 FCFA/month depending on complexity. An e-commerce store with Wave and Orange Money payments sits at the higher end.
Can I keep my domain name and emails?
Yes, the domain and mailboxes are unaffected by the redesign. Only the site content changes; the DNS switches over in a few hours with no email downtime.
Let's talk about your project. We audit your current site and quote a redesign that preserves your SEO. 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.
