The verdict in three sentences
On a delivery platform, the rider typically earns 70 to 80 % of the order price, with the platform keeping ~15 % plus fees. Instant payout per order costs about 0.5 % more than weekly batch, but improves rider retention by +25 %. The right trade-off depends on your order volume and your cash position.
Split payment: the per-order breakdown
Each order generates a customer payment to split automatically between rider, platform and fees. Here is the typical structure on a 3,000 FCFA order.
| Item | Share | Amount on 3,000 FCFA |
|---|---|---|
| Rider | 70 to 80 % | 2,100 to 2,400 FCFA |
| Platform commission | ~15 % | 450 FCFA |
| Payment fees | ~1 % | 30 FCFA |
| Platform net margin | ~9 to 14 % | 270 to 420 FCFA |
| Minimum payout threshold | 1,000 FCFA | per rider |
The 1,000 FCFA threshold avoids multiplying costly micro-transfers: below it, the share accumulates until the next trigger.
Weekly batch vs instant payout
Two models compete: grouped payout (batch) once a week, or instant payout on each order. Here is the comparison on a typical fleet.
| Criterion | Weekly batch | Instant payout |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 1x / week | Every order |
| Extra fee | Baseline | +0.5 % |
| Rider delay | Up to 7 days | < 1 min |
| Rider retention | Baseline | +25 % |
| Reconciliation load | Low (grouped) | Per order |
| Cash required | Smoothed | Immediate |
With 120 orders a day, instant payout transforms the rider experience but demands continuously available cash and robust per-order reconciliation.
Mini case study
Emeka runs a delivery platform in Lagos with 15 riders and 120 orders a day at 3,000 FCFA. On weekly batch, riders wait up to 7 days and turnover is high. Switching to instant payout, he pays 0.5 % more, about 1,800 FCFA a day in extra fees, but rider retention climbs +25 %, cutting recruitment and training costs. Over a month, the ~54,000 FCFA extra cost is easily offset by lower turnover.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know a delivery platform, a restaurant or a merchant that needs a mobile money checkout or a split-payment system? Join our referral partner program and earn a commission on every signed project. Here is the 2026 grid.
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| Project type | Sale commission | Recurring commission |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | 5 % |
| E-commerce | 12 % | - |
| Marketplace | 10 % | - |
| Institutional | 8 % | - |
On a 2,000,000 FCFA e-commerce project, a referral partner earns 240,000 FCFA. Just introduce the qualified contact: we handle the sale and the delivery.
FAQ
What share goes to the rider on each order?
Usually 70 to 80 % of the order price. The platform keeps about 15 % commission, the rest covering payment fees of around 1 %.
Is instant payout worth the extra cost?
It costs about 0.5 % more than batch, but lifts rider retention by +25 %, which sharply reduces recruitment and turnover costs.
Why a 1,000 FCFA payout threshold?
To avoid multiplying micro-transfers whose fixed fees would eat into the rider's share. Below the threshold, amounts accumulate until the next payout.
How do I reconcile per-order payments?
Each order is tracked with its amount, the rider share, the commission and fees. Automatic per-order reconciliation avoids gaps, even across 120 daily orders.
How much does a Kolonell referral partner earn?
From 8 % (institutional) to 15 % (showcase, plus 5 % recurring) depending on project type. On a 2,000,000 FCFA e-commerce at 12 %, that is 240,000 FCFA.
Let's talk about your project. We build real-time rider split-payment systems, and we pay our referral partners. 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.
