The verdict in three sentences
Marketplace is the high-ticket division: 2,500,000 to 20,000,000+ FCFA per project. At 10% referral commission, a single deal can be worth 250,000 to 2,000,000+ FCFA, i.e. several months of a Senegalese manager's salary. You don't bring a merchant, but an entrepreneur or investor who wants to build a multi-vendor platform — a rare profile, hence highly rewarding.
The marketplace commission grid
Three tiers, from a 20-vendor starter to premium white-label with a public API. The 10% commission applies to the sale price.
| Marketplace tier | Sale price (FCFA) | 10% commission | EUR equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter (20 vendors) | 2,500,000 | 250,000 | ~€381 |
| Upper Starter | 3,500,000 | 350,000 | ~€534 |
| Growth (unlimited vendors, KYC) | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | ~€762 |
| Upper Growth | 7,000,000 | 700,000 | ~€1,067 |
| Premium (white-label, API, AI) | 12,000,000 | 1,200,000 | ~€1,830 |
| Max Premium | 20,000,000+ | 2,000,000+ | ~€3,049+ |
A single Premium deal can represent six months of salary in one commission. Here it's not volume that counts, but the quality of the introduction.
Why marketplaces justify these tickets
A marketplace isn't a website: it's a multi-tenant architecture with automatic payment splitting. Here's what's behind the price.
| Component | What it does | Business impact |
|---|---|---|
| Auto payment split | 85% vendor / 15% platform | Recurring income for the client |
| Vendor KYC | Identity verification | Trust and compliance |
| Weekly payout | Automatic Wave/OM transfer | Loyal vendors |
| Per-vendor dashboard | Individual analytics | Platform retention |
| Configurable commission | 5 to 20% adjustable | The client's business model |
When you explain to an entrepreneur that they'll earn 15% on every transaction on their platform, for life, a 5,000,000 FCFA budget becomes an obvious investment. Your 10% follows the same value logic.
The Kolonell referral program
Marketplace sits within a tiered referral scale based on ticket size.
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| Division | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase | 15% | 5% |
| E-commerce | 12% | 5% |
| Marketplace | 10% | — |
| Institutional | 8% | — |
No capital, no code: you introduce a credible project owner, Kolonell designs the architecture, payment splitting and dashboards, and the commission goes out via mobile money on collection. The cycle runs 1 to 4 months — longer, but a single signed deal changes your quarter.
Mini case study
Aïssatou, a consultant in Abidjan, moves in diaspora investor circles. She introduces an owner who wants to launch a local Fiverr-style services marketplace. The project signs at the Growth tier for 6,000,000 FCFA. Referral commission: 10% = 600,000 FCFA. Three months later, she brings a second Premium project at 12,000,000 FCFA: 1,200,000 FCFA. Two introductions in a quarter, 1,800,000 FCFA in commission — without writing a line of code.
FAQ
Is the sales cycle really several months? Yes, expect 1 to 4 months: marketplace decisions often involve a funding round or a business plan. But the single commission (250,000 to 2,000,000+ FCFA) more than compensates for the wait.
Who should I target? Entrepreneurs, diaspora investors and ambitious project owners. These aren't merchants but people who want to build a platform and take a commission on every transaction.
Why 10% and not 15% like showcase? The rate drops as the ticket rises, but 10% of 12,000,000 FCFA (1,200,000 FCFA) far exceeds 15% of a showcase site. The absolute amount is incomparable.
Is there recurring income on marketplace? The referral commission covers the sale. However, these projects often generate maintenance and enhancement contracts, discussable with the Kolonell team depending on the case.
How many deals a year is realistic? Even 3 to 5 successful marketplace introductions a year put the referrer at several million FCFA in commission, with effort concentrated on contact quality.
Let's talk about your project. Introduce a marketplace owner and earn 10% on tickets up to 20M FCFA+, paid via mobile money. 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.
