The verdict in three sentences
Anyone with a contact book — shopkeepers, restaurateurs, SME owners — can earn recurring income by introducing clients to a web agency. No coding skills are required: the agency handles development, support and maintenance, and you collect a commission on the sale then every month. At Kolonell, the referral-partner programme pays 15 % on a showcase site + 5 % recurring, 12 % on e-commerce, 10 % on marketplace and 8 % on institutional.
The Kolonell 2026 commission scale
The principle is simple: you bring a contact who signs, you get paid. The bigger the project, the higher the absolute commission climbs, even if the percentage drops on large tickets.
| Segment | Sale commission | Recurring | 2026 example ticket | Your commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | 5 % maintenance | 500,000 FCFA | 75,000 FCFA + recurring |
| E-commerce | 12 % | — | 2,000,000 FCFA | 240,000 FCFA |
| Marketplace | 10 % | — | 5,000,000 FCFA | 500,000 FCFA |
| Institutional | 8 % | — | 10,000,000 FCFA | 800,000 FCFA |
On a 500,000 FCFA showcase site with maintenance at 50,000 FCFA/month, the recurring share earns you 2,500 FCFA/month for as long as the client stays, on top of the initial 75,000 FCFA.
How much you can actually earn
Being a referral partner is a game of volume and consistency. Here is a realistic projection based on signing pace.
| Pace | Deals / month | Typical mix | Estimated monthly income | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (part-time) | 1 showcase | 1 × 75,000 | 75,000 FCFA | ~900,000 FCFA |
| Regular | 2 showcase + 1 e-com | 150,000 + 240,000 | ~390,000 FCFA | ~4,700,000 FCFA |
| Active | 3 showcase + 2 e-com | 225,000 + 480,000 | ~705,000 FCFA | ~8,500,000 FCFA |
| Established network | 1 marketplace + mix | 500,000 + 400,000 | ~900,000 FCFA | ~11,000,000 FCFA |
Channels that work: your professional circle, shopkeeper WhatsApp groups, market associations, LinkedIn, and plain word-of-mouth to SMEs that have no website yet.
Mini case study
Amara, a teacher, part-time referral partner. She knows many small shopkeepers through her neighbourhood and association. In 4 months, she introduces 6 signed showcase sites (500,000 FCFA each) and 1 e-commerce shop (2,000,000 FCFA). Sale commissions: 6 × 75,000 + 240,000 = 690,000 FCFA. On top of that, the recurring share: 6 maintenance contracts at 2,500 FCFA/month = 15,000 FCFA/month as long as the clients stay. Without writing a line of code, she earned in one quarter the equivalent of several months' salary, and her recurring income keeps growing with each new client.
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FAQ
Do you need technical skills to become a referral partner?
No, none at all. You introduce the client and Kolonell handles 100 % of development, design and support. Your only job is the introduction and a little follow-up.
How much do you earn on a 500,000 FCFA showcase site?
75,000 FCFA on the sale (15 %), plus 5 % of the monthly maintenance. On maintenance at 50,000 FCFA/month, that is 2,500 FCFA recurring every month the client stays active.
When is the commission paid?
The sale commission is paid after the client deposit is collected, generally within 15 to 30 days. The recurring share is settled monthly as long as the client pays for maintenance.
How many deals per month is realistic?
A part-time partner often signs 1 to 2 projects a month; an active partner with a good network reaches 3 to 5 projects across all segments.
Which segment pays the most per deal?
By percentage, the showcase site (15 %); by absolute amount, institutional (8 % of 10,000,000 FCFA = 800,000 FCFA) and marketplace (10 % of 5,000,000 FCFA = 500,000 FCFA).
Let's talk about your project. Join the Kolonell referral-partner programme and turn your contact book into recurring income. 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.
