The verdict in three sentences
If you freelance in Thiès (design, video, web development, communications) and work evenings and weekends for an income that no longer grows, the problem is often not your talent but the lack of procedures, tested subcontractors and agency figures. The level 4 course "Growing your agency" costs 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR) for 20 hours and has you produce, on your own business, eight deliverables up to a 12-month development plan. It is aimed at people who already sell regularly, ideally 500,000 FCFA a month or more.
Have you really hit the ceiling?
Before hiring, you need to check that the time has come. Module 1 of the course Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring, taught in French and free to preview, relies on four signals: your hours, the jobs you turn down, your delivery times and your income. It then compares three growth models for Dakar or Abidjan, which transfer to Thiès: collective, studio or agency, with their margins and risks, as well as legal structures (sole proprietorship, SUARL or SARL).
| Ceiling signal | Typical situation of an overloaded freelancer | What you do with it in the course |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | Over 50 hours a week, weekends included | Costed growth diagnosis (module 1) |
| Jobs turned down | 2 or 3 requests declined per month | Catalogue cut to three flagship offers and a retainer (module 2) |
| Delivery times | Deliveries a week or more late | Identical project flow, from 48-hour onboarding to review request (module 3) |
| Income | Flat despite price rises | Financial model with break-even and recurring plan (module 7) |
| Delegated quality | Subcontractor work redone by you | Tested pool, template contract, quality checklists (modules 4 and 6) |
What you build in 8 modules
Eight modules, 32 lessons, a PDF handout and a quiz per module, and eight projects to submit, all applied to your own business. The tools are the ones you already use: Google Drive, Google Sheets, Trello, Notion, ClickUp, WhatsApp Business, Google Meet, Canva, LinkedIn, Wave and Orange Money.
| Module | Topic | Project to submit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (free) | From freelancer to agency: the right model at the right time | Growth diagnosis and target model |
| 2 | Standardising the offer and production | Offer catalogue and three written procedures |
| 3 | Managing client projects from signature to delivery | Client onboarding kit and project board |
| 4 | Subcontracting without losing quality or margin | Pool of tested subcontractors and template subcontracting contract |
| 5 | Hiring and onboarding your first team members | Job description, hiring test, 30-day onboarding plan |
| 6 | Managing the team and quality | Team rituals, quality checklists, incident procedure |
| 7 | Agency finances | Financial model with break-even point |
| 8 | Selling like an agency and planning | Final project: 12-month development plan |
Module 4 provides a subcontracting contract with confidentiality, transfer of rights and client non-solicitation. Module 5 covers what a founder needs to know to decide: full cost of an employee, internships, fixed-term contracts, and social contributions in Senegal (IPRES 8.4 %, CSS 7 % capped, CFCE 3 %) and Côte d'Ivoire (CNPS 7.7 % for pensions), at the rates in force in September 2026.
What a small agency can represent, and what the course costs
The syllabus quotes this order of magnitude observed in Dakar and Abidjan in 2026, highly variable depending on offers and the share of recurring revenue; no income is guaranteed, and a market like Thiès may sit lower.
| Indicator | 2026 order of magnitude (agency of 3 to 5 people) |
|---|---|
| Monthly sales | 1.5 to 4 million FCFA |
| Gross margin | 40 to 60 % |
| Founder's pay after break-even | 400,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA per month |
| Recommended prerequisite for level 4 | About 500,000 FCFA of monthly sales, or jobs already turned down |
| Kolonell Academy level 4 course | 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR), 20 h |
| Freelance and Digital Entrepreneurship track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 |
This course is level 4, Intermediate, of the Freelance and Digital Entrepreneurship track, after "Running your business: invoicing, taxes and cash flow" (level 3) and before "Digital entrepreneur: building a profitable offer and growing it" (level 5). Incubator support or an in-person business management programme costs roughly 200,000 to 600,000 FCFA, with examples rarely suited to digital trades.
The format is written (lessons, PDF handouts, exercises with answer keys, quizzes, projects), with no video and no live sessions; support runs through the course forum and WhatsApp. Passing the quizzes with at least 70 % earns a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code), to add to LinkedIn; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Ibrahima, 33, a freelance graphic designer and videographer in the Grand Thiès district. He bills about 600,000 FCFA a month, turns down two jobs a month and often delivers late.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Illustrative calculation: if he hands two 150,000 FCFA jobs a month to a tested subcontractor with a margin coefficient that leaves him 40 %, he keeps 60,000 FCFA per job, or 120,000 FCFA a month. The 100,000 FCFA course would be covered in less than one month of this setup. This calculation is an illustration: it assumes those jobs are actually signed and delivered well, which is never guaranteed.
Ibrahima starts with the free module 1 and fills in his growth diagnosis before deciding.
FAQ
Do I need a team already to take this course?
No. Module 1 checks that the time has come, then modules 4 and 5 take you to your first subcontractors and your first team member. Ideally you already sell about 500,000 FCFA a month.
Do I need to set up a SARL?
Not necessarily at first. Module 1 compares sole proprietorship, SUARL and SARL depending on your turnover, partners and risk exposure.
How much time should I plan?
About 20 hours, exercises and eight projects included, or 4 hours a week for 5 weeks. Every project uses your own business.
How do I stop a subcontractor from taking my client?
Module 4 provides a contract with confidentiality, transfer of rights and client non-solicitation. It also stresses a clear brief and payment on a fixed date.
How do I pay?
You pay 100,000 FCFA by Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33; access is activated within 24 working hours, for life. It is non-refundable once activated, so read the free module 1 first.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring: 20 hours, 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR), verifiable Kolonell Academy certificate, free module 1 to try first. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
