The verdict in three sentences
The number-one objection a referrer hits is budget — and a flat quote reinforces it instead of removing it. Showing the SME how to spread or finance the cost turns "too expensive" into "when do we start." And here's the good news: the referrer earns their 15 % + 5 % recurring commission even when the client pays in installments.
Cash, installments or financed
An SME rarely doubts a website's value; it stalls on the one-time cash outflow. Three routes absorb the shock.
| Financing mode | Indicative monthly | Term | Total cost | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 500,000 FCFA at once | 0 | 500,000 FCFA | Rare for an SME |
| Installments 30/40/30 | 150,000 / 200,000 / 150,000 | ~2-3 months | 500,000 FCFA | Most common |
| SME microloan | ~47,000 FCFA/month | 12 months | ~560,000 FCFA (12-24 %/yr) | Preserves cash |
| Digital leasing | ~90,000 FCFA/month | 6 months | ~540,000 FCFA | Spreads without heavy credit |
| MASLOC / NBSSI scheme | Case by case | Variable | Subsidized | If eligible |
The 30 % deposit / 40 % at mockup / 30 % on delivery schedule is the simplest: it aligns payment with progress and reassures both sides. The microloan (12-24 %/yr in 2026, order of magnitude) preserves cash; digital leasing spreads over 6-12 months.
Cost vs investment: the argument that closes
A website isn't an expense, it's an asset that should pay its own installment. The referrer's job is to translate price into return.
| Element | 2026 figure (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|
| Growth website | 500,000 FCFA |
| 6-month lease installment | ~90,000 FCFA/month |
| Leads generated / month | 10 |
| Conversion rate | 10-20 % |
| New clients / month | 1-2 |
| Average client basket | 50,000-150,000 FCFA |
If the site brings in even one client at 100,000 FCFA a month, it already covers its lease installment and leaves a surplus. The referrer doesn't sell a cost — they sell a self-financing asset.
Mini case study
Ama runs a services SME in Accra. Growth website quote: 500,000 FCFA. She stalls: "I don't have 500,000 at once." The referrer proposes digital leasing over 6 months at ~90,000 FCFA/month.
From month 2 the site generates 10 leads/month, of which 1 to 2 convert at an average basket of 100,000 FCFA. Result: 100,000-200,000 FCFA of new revenue/month against a 90,000 FCFA installment. The site funds itself. Ama signs. The referrer earns 15 % of 500,000 = 75,000 FCFA on signature (even though Ama pays over 6 months), plus 5 % recurring on maintenance. In Ghana, MASLOC / NBSSI schemes play the same SME-support role.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Is the referrer paid if the client pays in installments?
Yes. The 15 % + 5 % recurring commission is calculated on the signed sale, not on the payment schedule. On a Growth at 500,000 FCFA, the referrer earns 75,000 FCFA even on a payment plan.
What's the simplest schedule?
The 30/40/30: 30 % on order, 40 % at mockup approval, 30 % on delivery. It aligns payment with progress and reassures the SME.
Is a microloan expensive?
At 12-24 %/yr (2026 order of magnitude), a 500,000 FCFA site financed over 12 months comes to ~560,000 FCFA. The surcharge is modest if the site generates even one client a month.
Are there support schemes?
In Ghana, MASLOC and NBSSI support SMEs; in Senegal, DER and ADEPME. Depending on eligibility, they can subsidize or ease digital financing.
How much does the referrer earn on this kind of deal?
75,000 FCFA up front (15 % on 500,000) plus 5 % recurring on maintenance. E-commerce is 12 %, marketplace 10 %, institutional 8 %.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Budget is no longer an objection: we provide the payment schedules and financing options to close the sale. You introduce, we frame the payment, you collect your commission — 15 % + 5 % recurring for websites, 12 % e-commerce, 10 % marketplace, 8 % institutional — on signature, even on installments.
Let's talk about your project. We'll help you remove the budget objection and earn your first commissions. 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.
