The verdict in three sentences
The beginner agent's mistake is always selling the same product: the income secret is qualifying the prospect toward the most profitable pole. A trader wants a showcase, a shop wants e-commerce, an entrepreneur wants a marketplace, an institution wants bespoke work, and each pole has its rate. Mastering the 4 poles lets you pitch right and combine volume (showcases) with big tickets (institutional) in a single portfolio.
The commission grid by pole
Each pole has its ticket and its rate. The rate drops as the ticket rises, but the absolute commission amount explodes. This is the agent's central trade-off.
| Pole | Typical ticket FCFA | Agent rate | Commission per sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase | 250,000 - 1,200,000 | 15% + 5% recurring | 37,500 - 180,000 |
| E-commerce | 1,000,000 - 6,000,000 | 12% | 120,000 - 720,000 |
| Marketplace | 2,500,000 - 20,000,000+ | 10% | 250,000 - 2,000,000+ |
| Institutional | 5,000,000 - 60,000,000+ | 8% | 400,000 - 4,800,000+ |
Key reading: a single institutional sale at 50,000,000 FCFA earns 4,000,000 FCFA in commission, the equivalent of more than 50 Starter showcase sales. But showcases sell fast and in volume, and add a 5% recurring on maintenance that builds a baseline income.
Qualifying the prospect toward the right pole
The same prospect can be steered toward several poles depending on their real need. Qualifying well means maximizing commission without forcing the sale.
| Prospect signal | Pole to pitch | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "I want to exist on Google" | Showcase | Presence need, fast ticket |
| "I want to sell and collect via Wave" | E-commerce | Catalog + payment |
| "I want to connect several sellers" | Marketplace | Multi-vendor + commission |
| "We're a large body / tender" | Institutional | Bespoke, big ticket |
| "Small budget but I'll be back" | Showcase + maintenance | 5% recurring |
Recurring is the secret weapon: each maintenance contract sold adds 5% paid month after month, accumulating across the whole portfolio until it eventually exceeds the one-off commissions.
Mini case study: annual income simulation
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Seydou becomes a multi-pole referral agent and aims at a realistic mix over 12 months. Here is his simulation:
| Pole | Sales/year | Average ticket | Unit commission | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase | 12 | 500,000 | 75,000 | 900,000 |
| E-commerce | 4 | 2,000,000 | 240,000 | 960,000 |
| Marketplace | 1 | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| Institutional | 1 | 9,000,000 | 720,000 | 720,000 |
Total one-off commissions: 3,080,000 FCFA/year. Adding the 5% recurring on 12 showcase maintenance contracts at 50,000 FCFA/month, i.e. 12 x 2,500 x 12 months = 360,000 FCFA/year, Seydou passes 3.4 million FCFA in year one, with recurring income growing each month. Diversifying between showcase volume and big institutional tickets smooths the cash flow.
FAQ
Which pole pays the agent the most? By rate, showcase (15% + 5% recurring); by absolute amount, institutional (8% of a 5-to-60 million FCFA ticket). The ideal is to combine both in one portfolio.
Do you need to be technical to be a referral agent? No. You qualify and introduce; Kolonell executes, delivers and handles support. You earn your commission per the relevant pole's grid.
How much can you earn in a year? With a realistic mix (12 showcases, 4 e-commerce, 1 marketplace, 1 institutional), the simulation exceeds 3 million FCFA in one-off commissions plus recurring, in the first year.
What is the 5% recurring? On each maintenance contract sold (often 50,000 FCFA/month), the agent earns 5% every month while the contract lives, building a cumulative baseline income.
How do you know which pole to pitch? By listening to the need: Google presence = showcase, selling online = e-commerce, several sellers = marketplace, large body or tender = institutional.
Let's talk about your project. Join the Kolonell referral program and earn 8% to 15% + 5% recurring depending on the pole, on tickets from 250,000 to 60,000,000+ FCFA. 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.
