The verdict in three sentences
Redesigning an SME website in Douala costs FCFA 1.5 to 5 million (about EUR 2,300 to 7,600, or USD 2,500 to 8,300) in 2026 and ships in 5 to 8 weeks. With around 75% of traffic on mobile, a non-responsive 2017 site drives away most of your trade customers before they even see your catalogue. The redesign should target three measurable outcomes: fast loading on 3G, easy price requests from a phone and content your team updates on its own. For a Miami-based diaspora owner or investor overseeing a Cameroonian company, these figures are far below a comparable US project.
Redesign pricing in Douala in 2026
| Package | Content | Price FCFA | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential redesign | 6 to 10 responsive pages, form, WhatsApp | 1,500,000 to 2,200,000 | 5 weeks |
| Catalogue redesign | + product catalogue 50 to 200 items, price request | 2,200,000 to 3,500,000 | 6 to 7 weeks |
| Distribution redesign | + reseller area, per-customer pricing, Excel export | 3,500,000 to 5,000,000 | 7 to 8 weeks |
| Copywriting and product photos | FR/EN text, 30 to 80 photos | 300,000 to 800,000 | Within timeline |
| .cm domain | Annual registration | 15,000 to 35,000/year | 1 to 3 days |
| Maintenance | Backups, security, 2 h of changes | 40,000/month | Ongoing |
Why a 2017 site is costing you customers
| Metric | Non-responsive 2017 site | Redesigned 2026 site |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile share of traffic | 75% | 75% |
| Mobile bounce rate | 70 to 85% | 35 to 50% |
| Load time on 3G | 8 to 12 s | 2 to 3.5 s |
| Average page weight | 4 to 6 MB | 0.8 to 1.2 MB |
| Price requests per month | 5 to 10 | 20 to 40 (order of magnitude) |
| Catalogue updates | Through the provider, paid | Self-service, simple back office |
| Security (HTTPS, updates) | Often missing | Included |
3G optimisation relies on concrete choices: WebP images, lazy loading, light fonts and no heavy videos on the home page. This work is included in a serious redesign, not billed as an option.
Typical 5 to 8 week redesign plan
| Week | Step | What you provide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audit of old site, goals, sitemap | Access to old site, product list |
| 2 | Mobile-first mockups | Approval within 3 days |
| 3 to 5 | Development, catalogue, WhatsApp forms | Product photos and text |
| 6 | Redirects from old pages, local SEO | Google Business profile for Douala |
| 7 to 8 | Tests on entry-level Android phones, go-live | 2 h training for your team |
301 redirects from old URLs are essential to keep the search rankings built up since 2017.
Mini case study
Mr Ngono runs an electrical supplies distributor in Douala with 25 staff and about 300 trade customers (electricians, builders, hardware stores). His 2017 site gets 1,200 visits a month but only 6 price requests. He chooses a catalogue redesign at FCFA 2,800,000, plus FCFA 40,000 a month of maintenance.
Three months after launch, the site generates 28 requests a month. With a 25% close rate and an average order of FCFA 450,000 at a 15% margin, that is 7 orders and about FCFA 470,000 of additional margin a month. First-year cost: 2,800,000 + 12 x 40,000 = FCFA 3,280,000. The project pays back in about 7 months.
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FAQ
Can we keep our old domain name?
Yes, and it is recommended to preserve rankings. If you move to .cm, expect FCFA 15,000 to 35,000 a year and set up redirects from the old domain.
How is the redesign paid?
Usually 40% on order, 40% on mockup approval and 20% at go-live. Payment is by bank transfer or mobile money (Orange Money, MTN MoMo), invoiced in FCFA. Overseas owners can pay by international transfer in EUR or USD.
Will the site work well on 3G?
It is a contractual target: under 3.5 seconds load time on 3G for main pages, tested on Android phones costing under FCFA 80,000.
Can we edit prices and products ourselves?
Yes. A simple back office lets you add a product in 5 minutes. A 2-hour training is included and maintenance covers 2 hours of changes a month.
Do we also need an English version?
For a company selling across the CEMAC zone or to English-speaking customers in the North-West and South-West regions, yes. The English version adds about FCFA 300,000 to 600,000 depending on page count.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current site address and catalogue and we will quote a redesign between FCFA 1.5 and 5 million delivered in 5 to 8 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
