The verdict in three sentences
One-off commissions fund the present; recurring income funds the future. Kolonell's 5% on maintenance turns each referred client into a small monthly rent of 1,750 to 6,000 FCFA. In Nairobi in 2026, a well-tended 20-client portfolio can produce 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA/month with no new prospecting.
What a recurring client pays
Kolonell monthly maintenance runs from 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA depending on the plan (Basic, Standard, Premium). Your 5% follows that amount, every month, while the contract runs.
| Monthly maintenance (FCFA) | Your 5% / month (FCFA) | Over 12 months (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| 35,000 (Basic) | 1,750 | 21,000 |
| 75,000 (Standard) | 3,750 | 45,000 |
| 120,000 (Premium) | 6,000 | 72,000 |
A single client on Premium maintenance at 120,000 FCFA/month pays you 72,000 FCFA over the year, for a referral effort done just once.
The portfolio effect and compounding
The magic of recurring income is accumulation. Each new client adds to the previous ones. Here is a typical portfolio growing by about 2 clients a month, at an average 75,000 FCFA maintenance, the Standard plan (i.e. 3,750 FCFA/client/month).
| Month | Active clients | Recurring income (FCFA/month) | Cumulative received (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6 | 22,500 | ~45,000 |
| 6 | 12 | 45,000 | ~200,000 |
| 12 | 20 | 75,000 | ~675,000 |
| 18 | 26 | 97,500 | ~1,190,000 |
| 24 | 30 | 112,500 | ~1,870,000 |
By month 24, the portfolio pays 112,500 FCFA/month almost passively, on top of one-off sales commissions.
Churn: the only real risk
Recurring income only holds if clients stay. A 10%/year churn on 20 clients means 2 contracts lost per year to replace. The countermeasure: target clients whose site is vital (e-commerce, booking, institutional) and for whom stopping maintenance would be risky. Those contracts churn little.
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Mini case study
Eric, a partner in Nairobi, patiently builds his portfolio. After 18 months he manages 26 maintenance contracts at 75,000 FCFA on average.
- Recurring income: 26 × 3,750 = 97,500 FCFA/month
- Over a full year at this level: ~1,170,000 FCFA
- Monthly effort: nearly zero, Kolonell performs the maintenance
His time is now free to bring in large one-off deals while the recurring income drops in the background.
FAQ
Is recurring income really passive? Almost. Once the contract is signed, Kolonell performs the maintenance; you collect 5% each month with no involvement. Your only role is limiting churn by staying in touch.
How many clients to live off recurring income? At 3,750 FCFA/client/month (Standard maintenance), you need ~27 clients for 100,000 FCFA/month and ~54 for 200,000 FCFA/month. The first milestone is achievable over 18-24 months of steady referrals.
What happens if a client cancels? You lose that monthly flow, which is why targeting critical, hard-to-cancel sites and refreshing the portfolio with new referrals matters.
Can I combine recurring and sales commissions? Yes, that is the model: 15% on the vitrine sale + 5% recurring on its maintenance, plus e-commerce, marketplace and institutional commissions brought in parallel.
Does the 5% apply to SEO and hosting too? Recurring income mainly covers maintenance. Depending on the contract, other monthly services (SEO, managed hosting) may broaden the base — confirmed case by case.
Let's talk about your project. Build a maintenance portfolio and collect 5% every month, client after client. 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.
