The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, the home-services market — plumbing, electrical, cleaning, air conditioning — is huge but crippled by distrust: you never know who will ring the doorbell. A platform with verified ratings, artisan KYC and mobile money escrow builds trust on both sides. The model lives on a 10–15% commission on each job.
Why ratings + escrow build trust
The client fears being scammed or poorly served; the artisan fears not being paid. Escrow solves both: the client pays on order, the money is locked, then released to the artisan once the job is validated. Public ratings reward good artisans and weed out bad ones.
| Trust mechanism | Informal market | Platform 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Artisan verification | None | KYC: ID + trade + references |
| Proof of skill | Word of mouth | Verified ratings + reviews |
| Payment security | Cash, disputes | Escrow released on validation |
| Recourse on problems | None | Mediation + refund |
| Pricing | Blind negotiation | Displayed grid + quote |
| Traceability | None | Full history |
The platform economics
A 10–15% commission on varied tickets builds solid revenue from a few hundred monthly jobs. 2026 order of magnitude for a platform targeting 2,000 jobs/month.
| Job type | Average ticket | Volume/month | Commission (12%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring cleaning | 8,000 FCFA | 800 | 768,000 FCFA |
| Plumbing | 20,000 FCFA | 400 | 960,000 FCFA |
| Electrical | 25,000 FCFA | 300 | 900,000 FCFA |
| Air conditioning | 35,000 FCFA | 250 | 1,050,000 FCFA |
| Small works/painting | 50,000 FCFA | 250 | 1,500,000 FCFA |
| Estimated monthly total | — | 2,000 | ~5,178,000 FCFA |
The build cost (web + app, KYC, escrow, geolocation, ratings, artisan dashboards) ranges from 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA equivalent in 2026.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know an entrepreneur who wants to launch a services platform, a school looking for software, or a salon ready to go digital? The Kolonell referral partner programme pays you on every project signed thanks to you. No technical skill required: you introduce, we deliver, you earn.
| Referred project type | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase website | 15% | 5% |
| E-commerce | 12% | — |
| Marketplace / platform | 10% | — |
| Institutional | 8% | — |
On a services marketplace billed at 5,000,000 FCFA, a referrer earns 500,000 FCFA. An 800,000 FCFA showcase site yields 120,000 FCFA plus 5% on recurring maintenance.
Mini case study
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
David, a property manager, oversees 60 apartments and juggles unreliable artisans. He launches a platform (build 4,500,000 FCFA) first for his portfolio, then opened to the neighbourhood. Within three months, 1,200 jobs/month flow at a 12% commission, i.e. about 3,100,000 FCFA/month in revenue. Escrow eliminated payment disputes, and his average artisan rating (4.6/5) draws new clients without advertising.
FAQ
How much does a home-services platform cost in 2026?
Between 3,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA equivalent depending on features: artisan KYC, mobile money escrow, geolocation, ratings, dashboards. Price depends mostly on the maturity of the mobile app.
How does escrow payment work?
The client pays on order via mobile money; funds are locked, then paid to the artisan once the job is validated. In a dispute, the platform arbitrates and can refund.
What commission should I charge?
The 2026 standard sits between 10 and 15% per job. On tickets of 5,000–50,000 FCFA, that comfortably funds operations and support.
How do you verify artisans?
KYC combines an ID document, proof of trade and client references. Only validated artisans appear, and their public rating keeps them under positive pressure.
Can I earn money by referring Kolonell?
Yes, via the referral programme: 15% on a showcase site (+5% recurring), 12% on e-commerce, 10% on marketplace, 8% on institutional. You introduce, we deliver.
Let's talk about your project. Whether you are launching a services platform or want to become a referral partner, let's talk. 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.
