The verdict in three sentences
A referral partner's commission on a website sale is nice but one-off; real wealth is built on the 5 % recurring cut paid every month on maintenance, SEO and hosting. Each client signed onto a recurring contract becomes an annuity that stacks on last month's. With 20 recurring clients, a partner builds a passive MRR that often overtakes their cumulative sale commissions.
The Kolonell referral program
Kolonell pays its referral partners at two levels: a sale commission at signing, and a 5 % recurring commission on every monthly service the client keeps (maintenance, SEO, managed hosting). Sale rates vary by pole:
| Pole | Sale commission | Recurring | Typical ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | 5 % | 250,000 - 1,200,000 FCFA |
| E-commerce | 12 % | 5 % | 1,000,000 - 4,000,000 FCFA |
| Marketplace | 10 % | 5 % | 2,500,000 - 12,000,000 FCFA |
| Institutional | 8 % | 5 % | 5,000,000 FCFA+ |
Where many partners just pocket the 15 % sale cut and move to the next prospect, the smart ones lock in the recurring: they steer each client toward a maintenance and SEO contract, because it is that monthly 5 %, compounded, that becomes income no longer dependent on new sales.
Table — What recurring pays per service
| Monthly service | Client price | Partner commission (5 %) |
|---|---|---|
| Light maintenance | 50,000 FCFA/month | 2,500 FCFA/month |
| Full maintenance | 200,000 FCFA/month | 10,000 FCFA/month |
| SEO starter | 75,000 FCFA/month | 3,750 FCFA/month |
| Aggressive SEO | 300,000 FCFA/month | 15,000 FCFA/month |
| Managed hosting | 25,000 - 75,000 FCFA/month | 1,250 - 3,750 FCFA/month |
| Average client (bundle) | ~150,000 FCFA/month | ~7,500 FCFA/month |
An average client on a maintenance + SEO + hosting bundle weighs about 150,000 FCFA/month, i.e. 7,500 FCFA/month in recurring commission for the partner. Alone it is little; multiplied and compounded, it is a salary.
Table — Partner MRR projection over 6/12/24 months
| Horizon | Recurring clients | Partner MRR | Annual cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 6 | 5 | 37,500 FCFA | — |
| Month 12 | 12 | 90,000 FCFA | ~650,000 FCFA |
| Month 18 | 18 | 135,000 FCFA | — |
| Month 24 | 25 | 187,500 FCFA | ~1,600,000 FCFA |
| Month 24 (10 % churn) | 22 | ~165,000 FCFA | ~1,400,000 FCFA |
By signing roughly one recurring client per month and allowing for a realistic 10 %/year churn, a partner reaches 165,000 to 187,500 FCFA/month of passive income at 24 months — on top of the sale commissions earned in parallel. Compounding makes the difference: each month adds to the last instead of starting from zero.
Mini case study
Thabo is a referral partner in Durban. He signs 1 Growth showcase site/month (500,000 FCFA) and convinces each client to take a recurring bundle at 150,000 FCFA/month.
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- Sale commission: 15 % × 500,000 = 75,000 FCFA earned once.
- Recurring commission: 5 % × 150,000 = 7,500 FCFA/month per client.
By month 12 he has 12 recurring clients (with light churn): ~85,000 FCFA/month recurring, i.e. over 1,000,000 FCFA/year passive, added to his 900,000 FCFA of annual sale commissions. Recurring, invisible at first, soon overtakes the sale.
FAQ
What is the difference between sale commission and recurring?
The sale commission (8 to 15 % by pole) is paid once at signing; the 5 % recurring is paid every month as long as the client keeps their maintenance, SEO or hosting services.
How much can recurring really pay?
With an average client at 150,000 FCFA/month of services, the partner earns 7,500 FCFA/month per client. At 20-25 clients, that is 150,000 to 190,000 FCFA/month of passive income in 2026.
What happens if a client cancels?
Recurring stops for that client, which is why churn matters: at 10 %/year, you must sign a little faster than you lose so the MRR keeps growing.
Do I need special status to become a partner?
No, the program is open; simply send us qualified prospects. Sale commissions and the 5 % recurring are contracted from your first signed client.
Which pole maximises recurring?
Recurring is 5 % everywhere, so target clients who take the most monthly services: e-commerce and institutional often consume maintenance + SEO + hosting, which inflates the base for the 5 %.
Become a Kolonell referral partner. Send us your prospects, earn the sale commission then 5 % recurring every month. 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.
