Building a website for a small business in Senegal

You already sell on WhatsApp and Instagram, so why pay for a website? Because a site is yours, it shows up on Google when someone searches for your trade in Dakar, and it reassures customers who have never met you. Here is what to put on it, what to budget and how to pick the right provider among web agencies and service providers in Dakar.

Why a website on top of WhatsApp and social media

WhatsApp is where sales close in Senegal, and it should stay that way. But Facebook and Instagram run on algorithms you do not control, and accounts can be suspended. A website stays online and keeps working for you while you sleep.

It also speaks to three audiences that matter:

• the diaspora, ordering from Paris, Milan or New York for relatives in Pikine or Rufisque;
• newcomers and expats settling in Almadies, Ngor or Point E, who search Google for a plumber, a tailor or a caterer;
• companies and NGOs on the Plateau, which often ask for a website link before approving a quote.

What your site should include

You do not need fifty pages. For a shop in Sacré-Cœur or a workshop in Keur Massar, five or six solid pages are enough:

• your services or products, with price ranges in FCFA where you can;
• real photos of your premises, team and finished work;
• a WhatsApp button on every page that opens a chat straight away;
• your location: neighborhood, familiar landmarks, an embedded map and your delivery zone (Mermoz, Ouakam, Yoff, Guédiawaye...);
• genuine customer testimonials;
• payment options: Wave, Orange Money, cash, and Visa if you have a card terminal. Short-stay visitors rarely have Wave or Orange Money, since both need a Senegalese SIM.

Domain name, mobile first and Google search

Pick a short domain that is easy to spell out. A .sn builds local trust, a .com feels familiar to the diaspora. Above all, make sure the domain is registered in your name, not the agency's.

Most visitors will arrive on a smartphone, often on 4G. Build mobile first: light pages, compressed photos, text readable without zooming, and call and WhatsApp buttons within thumb reach.

For search, give each page a real query to target, such as "bakery Liberté 6" or "aluminium joinery Diamniadio". Back it up with a complete business profile: our guide to setting up a Google Maps business profile in Senegal walks you through it. You can also list your business for free on SeneFinder for one more path to your door.

Showing up in AI assistants

Many people now ask ChatGPT or Gemini things like "where can I get my phone fixed in Parcelles Assainies". To be cited, describe your services and neighborhood precisely, keep the same name, address and contact everywhere (site, social media, directories), and add a plain-language FAQ page.

Budget, timeline and choosing a provider

As a rough guide, a simple brochure site often costs 150,000 to 500,000 FCFA, while a larger site with a catalogue or online shop can pass one million. Add yearly domain and hosting fees, usually a few tens of thousands of FCFA. Expect two to six weeks, depending mostly on how quickly you supply texts and photos. Avoid launching right before Tabaski or Korité.

When comparing providers, ask for:

• live examples of sites they have delivered;
• a written quote listing pages, deadlines, training and maintenance;
• full handover of every login (domain, hosting, admin panel);

Be wary of very cheap offers with no contract, and of anyone who keeps your domain in their own name. Our roundup of web and digital agencies in Dakar is a good place to begin.

Recommended addresses on SeneFinder

• Kolonell : web and SEO agency in Dakar. Website: kolonell.com.
• Eyaidn Company : service provider in Dakar.
• IWADA Agency : services agency in Dakar.
• Digismile Agency : services agency in Scat Urbam.

You can also see all addresses in this category or explore the Dakar directory.

Useful tools

• List your business on SeneFinder for free.
• Recommend an address.
• FCFA currency converter.

Frequently asked questions

Isn't a Facebook page enough for a small business?

It helps, but you do not own it and it rarely ranks on Google. A simple website complements your social accounts, reassures new customers and stays online even if an account is suspended.

How much does a small business website cost in Senegal?

A simple brochure site often costs between 150,000 and 500,000 FCFA, plus yearly domain and hosting fees.

Should I choose a .sn or a .com domain?

A .sn builds local trust, a .com is more familiar to the diaspora. What matters most is registering it in your name.