The verdict in three sentences
When you work evenings and weekends, deliver late and your income no longer moves despite price increases, you have probably hit the freelance ceiling. The way out is choosing a model (collective, studio or agency), standardized offers and structured subcontracting before your first employee. Kolonell Academy's level 4 Intermediate course (100,000 FCFA, 20 hours) has you build these pieces one by one on your own business, with no promise of financial results.
Three models for growing in Dakar
The course's first module starts by checking, with your figures, that the time has come: hours worked, assignments declined, deadlines, income. Only then comes the choice of model.
| Model | How it works | Advantage | Main risk | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collective | Several independent freelancers sharing assignments | No fixed costs | Uneven quality, client unsure who to talk to | Freelancer testing without commitment |
| Studio | You sell and control, 2 to 4 regular subcontractors produce | Margin on subcontracting, flexibility | Reliance on a few key freelancers | Freelancer at 500,000 FCFA a month or more |
| Agency | Salaried team, written processes, sales partly delegated | Capacity, recurring revenue, company value | Payroll to cover every month | Studio that has found its offers and recurring revenue |
Moving from one model to the next comes down to three workstreams: cutting the catalog to three core offers and one subscription, writing one-page procedures so someone else can produce at your level, and subcontracting with a minimum margin coefficient and a contract (confidentiality, rights assignment, non-solicitation of the client).
Ballpark figures for a small agency
The course page cites these benchmarks, to be read as a ballpark observed in Dakar and Abidjan in 2026, highly variable depending on offers and recurring revenue share, and no income is guaranteed.
| Indicator | 2026 ballpark |
|---|---|
| Recommended freelance starting point | 500,000 FCFA in monthly sales or more (about 760 EUR), or work already declined |
| Size of a small agency | 3 to 5 people |
| Monthly sales | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (about 2,290 to 6,100 EUR) |
| Gross margin | 40 to 60 % |
| Founder's pay after break-even | 400,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA a month |
| Contributions to know in Senegal (September 2026) | IPRES 8.4 %, CSS 7 % capped, CFCE 3 % |
| Côte d'Ivoire | CNPS 7.7 % for pensions |
The main lesson: an agency with 2,000,000 FCFA in sales and 40 % gross margin generates 800,000 FCFA to pay fixed costs and the founder. Without recurring revenue (maintenance, content subscriptions, hosting), that amount swings every month, which is why a full module covers agency finances.
What you build during the course
The course Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring, taught in French, is level 4 Intermediate, 100,000 FCFA, 20 hours in the Freelance and Digital Entrepreneurship track. Eight modules of text lessons, a PDF handout and a quiz per module, and eight projects to submit, one per module, all applied to your own business:
- Growth diagnosis and target model (module 1, free preview).
- Offer catalog and three written procedures.
- Client project flow, from onboarding within 48 hours to the review request.
- Subcontracting setup: tested pool and standard contract.
- First hire: job description, paid practical test, 30-day onboarding.
- Team and quality management: rituals, checklists, incident procedure.
- Agency financial model with break-even and recurring revenue plan.
- Final project: 12-month agency development plan.
Tools used: Google Drive, Google Sheets, Trello, Notion, ClickUp, WhatsApp Business, Google Meet, Canva, Wave, Orange Money and LinkedIn. There is no video and no one-to-one coaching; questions go through the course forum and WhatsApp support.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Ibrahima, 29, a freelance designer in Dakar, billing 650,000 FCFA a month and turning down two assignments a month for lack of time.
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- He hands visual adaptations to two subcontractors with a 1.8 coefficient: an assignment sold at 180,000 FCFA is subcontracted at 100,000 FCFA.
- Margin per subcontracted assignment: 80,000 FCFA, minus about 1.5 hours of briefing and review.
- Two extra assignments a month: 160,000 FCFA in additional margin.
- Course cost: 100,000 FCFA, covered in this calculation in under a month.
This scenario is hypothetical: it illustrates a margin calculation, not an achieved result. The coefficient and volume of work depend entirely on your market.
FAQ
Do I need a team already?
No. Module 1 checks whether the time has come, then modules 4 and 5 take you to your first subcontractors and first employee. The indicative prerequisite is selling 500,000 FCFA a month or more, or already turning work down.
Do I have to set up an SARL?
Not necessarily at first. Module 1 compares sole proprietorship, SUARL and SARL according to your revenue, partners and risk exposure.
How much time should I plan?
About 20 hours, projects included, i.e. 4 hours a week for 5 weeks.
What certificate will I receive?
A numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code), that you can add to LinkedIn, obtained by passing the 8 module quizzes with at least 70 %; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. It is not a diploma.
How do I pay?
With Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33. Access is activated within 24 working hours, for life. Read the free module 1 first, since access is not refundable once activated. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring: 20 hours, 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR), verifiable Kolonell Academy certificate. 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.
