The verdict in three sentences
If you already sell a little through WhatsApp in Bamako and lose orders for lack of method, start with level 1 "Selling on WhatsApp" (level 1 Beginner, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), 5 hours), with no prerequisites and doable in a week. Move on to level 2 "E-commerce" (50,000 FCFA, 12 hours) when you want prices that leave a margin, delivery outside Bamako or sales to the diaspora. Only open an online store (level 3, 75,000 FCFA, 14 hours, plus 60,000 to 200,000 FCFA for the platform) once your order volume justifies it.
Three steps, three costs, three moments
It is tempting to want a website from day one. Yet in Bamako as in Dakar, most online sales of small shops go through WhatsApp, and most losses come from poor organization: prices repeated twenty times a day, orders noted from memory, payments checked on a mere screenshot. Here are the first three levels of the E-commerce and Online Selling track, compared. The courses are taught in French.
| Step | Course price | Duration | Prerequisites | 2026 extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1: Selling on WhatsApp | 25,000 FCFA | 5 h, about one week | A smartphone, a connection | A second SIM, a few hundred FCFA (optional) |
| Level 2: E-commerce, selling online | 50,000 FCFA | 12 h, 4 to 5 weeks | A product to sell, a smartphone | None required |
| Level 3: Online store | 75,000 FCFA | 14 h, about 4 weeks | Level 2 or a set catalog and prices, a computer | 60,000 to 200,000 FCFA (domain and subscription) |
| Total for three levels | 150,000 FCFA | 31 h | ||
| Full track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 |
The logic is progressive: WhatsApp Business is free, a platform store costs 60,000 to 250,000 FCFA in the first year (subscription, domain, add-ons, excluding photos and ads), and a custom store starts around 1,000,000 FCFA. Better to structure the channel that already sells first.
What each level makes you do
| Level | Key content | What you have at the end |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Selling on WhatsApp | Profile, catalog, quick replies, 5 labels, Google Sheets log, Wave and Orange Money payments | Your working WhatsApp shop in 7 days |
| 2. E-commerce | Floor price at 35 % net margin, sales channel, anti-dispute, regional and diaspora delivery, product sheets | Your store ready to sell, written payment process |
| 3. Online store | Shopify, WooCommerce or Wix costed over 12 months, 20-product catalog, mobile money gateway, Google and Meta | Your open store and its dashboard |
Level 1, the Selling on WhatsApp: catalog, orders and payment course, has three modules and ten 15-minute lessons. You switch to a dedicated number, publish a catalog of at least 10 products in 2 or 3 collections, save a greeting message, an away message and five quick replies, then track every order with five labels (new request, to pay, paid, to deliver, delivered) and a 6-column log. Module 3 teaches you to collect payment via Wave or Orange Money by checking each payment in the app, never on a screenshot, and to choose between cash on delivery and a deposit. Wave and Orange Money both operate in Mali: the method applies as is.
The format is written: text lessons, PDF handouts, exercises, quizzes. No video, no live classes, and everything reads on a phone over 3G. A course forum and WhatsApp support answer your questions. Module 1 is a free preview. All five levels make up the E-commerce and Online Selling track.
Signals that it is time for the next step
Move to level 2 when you want to deliver to Ségou, Sikasso or Kayes, or serve the diaspora in France, and when you are unsure your prices cover payment and delivery fees. Consider level 3 when you spend more time quoting prices than selling, when you want to be found on Google, or when diaspora customers ask to pay by card. The level 1 course page gives an order of magnitude observed in Dakar in 2026: a well-run WhatsApp shop often handles 5 to 15 orders a week at the start, 150,000 to 600,000 FCFA (about 230 to 915 EUR) of monthly revenue depending on the average basket. This depends on the product, the price and your consistency: nothing is guaranteed.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Aminata, 31, sells bazin fabric and bags from home in Bamako, only through WhatsApp. She estimates she loses two orders a week for lack of quick replies or follow-up, with an average profit of 4,000 FCFA per order.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Illustrative calculation: two lost orders a week mean about 32,000 FCFA of missed profit per month. If level 1, at 25,000 FCFA, helped her recover half of that, 16,000 FCFA a month, the course would pay back in under two months. A website at 60,000 FCFA minimum, plus 75,000 FCFA for the level 3 course, would only make sense later, when her orders outside Bamako grow. This scenario is an illustration, not a promised result.
FAQ
Is WhatsApp Business paid?
No, the app is free on Android and iPhone. Only some advanced Meta options are paid, and level 1 does not need them. Your only cost is the 25,000 FCFA course.
Do I need stock to start?
No. You can build the catalog with 10 pre-order products or items from a wholesaler, and simulate the first orders in the log. The final project accepts this, provided you say so.
Can I skip straight to level 3?
Yes if you already sell online with a set catalog and prices. You then need a computer and a budget of 60,000 to 200,000 FCFA for the domain and platform subscription.
How do I pay and when does access open?
You pay by Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33, and access is activated within 24 working hours. It is lifetime, with updates. Once activated it is not refundable: read the free module 1 first.
Is there a certificate?
Yes, a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online by QR code, to add to LinkedIn. You earn it by passing the module quizzes with at least 70 %.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Selling on WhatsApp: catalog, orders and payment: 5 hours, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable online. 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.
