The verdict in three sentences
A single income channel is fragile; stacking referral income and SaaS reselling creates a more stable, predictable income. Referral gives a one-shot commission plus a 5 % recurring share; SaaS subscription reselling (5,000 to 30,000 FCFA/month) adds a 20 to 30 % monthly recurring commission. In Lagos in 2026, a mixed portfolio turns one-off sales into a diversified MRR that survives slow months.
Two income sources: comparison
The two models complement each other: referral brings large one-off tickets, SaaS brings steady recurring. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Criterion | Referral income | SaaS reselling |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue per sale | 37,500 to 400,000 FCFA | 1,000 to 9,000 FCFA/mo |
| Revenue type | One-shot + 5 % recurring | 100 % recurring |
| Commission | 8 to 15 % | 20 to 30 % |
| Payment frequency | Per sale | Automatic monthly |
| Effort per client | High (sale) | Medium (activation) |
| Income stability | Variable | Very stable |
Referral makes the income peaks; SaaS makes the monthly base. Together they smooth the variation.
Building a stacked SaaS MRR
Reselling SaaS subscriptions (invoicing, stock, booking) generates income that stacks client after client. Example with a 25 % commission on Kolonell subscriptions.
| SaaS subscription | Monthly price | 25 % commission | 20 clients = MRR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facturo Starter | 9,900 FCFA | 2,475 FCFA | 49,500 FCFA/mo |
| Facturo Pro | 24,900 FCFA | 6,225 FCFA | 124,500 FCFA/mo |
| MenuDigital | 5,000 FCFA | 1,250 FCFA | 25,000 FCFA/mo |
| ReservApp | 15,000 FCFA | 3,750 FCFA | 75,000 FCFA/mo |
| StockAfrik | 30,000 FCFA | 7,500 FCFA | 150,000 FCFA/mo |
Twenty Facturo Pro clients at 25 % commission is 124,500 FCFA/month of MRR — income that lands every month with no new sale.
Mini case study
Blessing, a referrer in Lagos, combines both models. On referral: 2 Growth website sales/month (150,000 FCFA immediate + recurring). On SaaS: she places each new client on Facturo Pro (6,225 FCFA commission/month). After 10 months she has 20 SaaS clients = 124,500 FCFA/month MRR, plus 40,000 FCFA maintenance recurring, plus her 150,000 FCFA in sales. Her recurring income alone (MRR + maintenance) tops 160,000 FCFA/month and climbs toward 400,000 FCFA as the portfolio grows.
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FAQ
Why combine referral and SaaS?
Because referral is irregular (depends on sales) while SaaS is recurring and predictable. Combined, they create income that is both high and stable.
What commission on SaaS reselling?
Usually 20 to 30 % of the subscription, paid every month while the client stays active. On a 24,900 FCFA subscription that is 5,000 to 7,500 FCFA/month.
Is it really passive?
Semi-passive: the initial sale takes effort, but afterwards the SaaS generates income with no intervention, as long as the client stays subscribed and satisfied.
How do you maximise combined MRR?
Systematically place each website client on a complementary SaaS (Facturo, StockAfrik). A client with a site and a management tool stays longer and delivers two recurring revenues.
The dual Kolonell program
Kolonell offers both blocks: the referral program (15 % + 5 % recurring on websites, 12 % e-commerce, 10 % marketplace, 8 % institutional) and SaaS subscription reselling (Facturo, StockAfrik, MenuDigital...) with monthly commission. You stack one-off sales and MRR to build a diversified income.
Let's talk about your project. Let's build your combined referral + SaaS portfolio in Lagos. 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.
