The verdict in three sentences
A single marketplace deal can pay more than six months of showcase-site commissions combined, because the base ticket starts at 2,500,000 FCFA and climbs past 12,000,000 FCFA. At a 10% referral commission, every Premium sale pays out 1,200,000 FCFA or more in one shot. The trade-off: a longer sales cycle (2 to 4 months) and a lower conversion rate, so it pays to invest time in a few decisive prospects rather than chase many small deals.
The scale of marketplace tickets
The Kolonell referral program pays 10% on marketplace sales. Because the tickets are large, the per-deal commission is nothing like that of a showcase site. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Marketplace tier | 2026 ticket (FCFA) | Referral commission 10% | Equivalent in Growth showcase sites (75,000 FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter (up to 20 vendors) | 2,500,000 | 250,000 | ~3.3 sites |
| Starter high | 3,500,000 | 350,000 | ~4.7 sites |
| Growth (unlimited vendors) | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | ~6.7 sites |
| Growth high | 7,000,000 | 700,000 | ~9.3 sites |
| Premium (white-label, AI) | 12,000,000 | 1,200,000 | 16 sites |
| Premium custom | 20,000,000+ | 2,000,000+ | 26+ sites |
A partner who sells a showcase site earns 15% on ~500,000 FCFA, or 75,000 FCFA. So you need 16 Growth showcase sites to match one Premium marketplace deal. That is the whole thesis: unit value is decisive.
Volume versus value: two strategies in numbers
Let's compare two referral partners over one quarter (3 months) in Johannesburg.
| Criterion | Volume strategy (showcase) | Value strategy (marketplace) |
|---|---|---|
| Target | SMEs, artisans, merchants | Entrepreneurs, diaspora, investors |
| Deals in the quarter | 12 Growth showcase sites | 1 Growth marketplace deal |
| Unit commission | 75,000 FCFA | 500,000 FCFA |
| Sales cycle | 1 to 3 weeks | 2 to 4 months |
| Conversion rate | ~20-30% | ~5-10% |
| Quarter total | 900,000 FCFA | 500,000 FCFA |
| Effort per deal | Low, repeatable | High, bespoke |
Volume wins… if you keep up 4 showcase sites a month. But a partner who lands two Growth deals or one Premium deal in the quarter immediately pulls ahead. Marketplace doesn't require selling a lot — it requires qualifying well a small number of high-potential prospects.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Pascaline, a consultant in Johannesburg, knows three entrepreneurs who want to launch a multi-vendor platform. She guides one toward Kolonell: a Growth marketplace project at 5,000,000 FCFA. The cycle runs 3 months (scoping, validation, signature). At signature she earns 10%, or 500,000 FCFA.
Over the same period, a colleague sold 5 Starter showcase sites (15% commission on 250,000 = 37,500 FCFA each) = 187,500 FCFA. Pascaline earned 2.7 times more with a single file. And had her deal been a Premium at 12,000,000 FCFA, she would have banked 1,200,000 FCFA — the equivalent of 32 Starter showcase sites.
FAQ
How much does a 10% marketplace deal actually pay? Between 250,000 FCFA (Starter at 2,500,000) and 2,000,000 FCFA or more (custom Premium at 20,000,000+). The midpoint, a Growth at 5,000,000 FCFA, pays 500,000 FCFA in a single commission.
Why is the sales cycle longer? Because a marketplace commits a heavy budget and a company-wide vision. Expect 2 to 4 months from first contact to signature, versus 1 to 3 weeks for a showcase site.
Is a marketplace deal really worth 16 showcase sites? Yes: a Premium at 1,200,000 FCFA in commission equals 16 Growth showcase sites (75,000 FCFA each). That is the heart of the value-versus-volume trade-off.
What are the commission rates for the other Kolonell poles? The partner earns 15% + 5% recurring on showcase sites, 12% on e-commerce, 10% on marketplace and 8% on institutional. Large tickets more than offset the lower rates.
Should you drop showcase sites and only chase marketplace? No. The ideal is a base of showcase sites and recurring income for steady revenue, plus 1 to 2 large marketplace deals per quarter that lift the total.
Let's talk about your project. Join the Kolonell referral partner program and turn an address book of entrepreneurs into 5-, 6- or 7-figure 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.
