The verdict in three sentences
A referral partner's real wealth comes not from a single sale but from the 5% recurring paid every month on clients' maintenance, SEO and hosting contracts. A portfolio of 20 recurring clients can generate around 150,000 FCFA/month of near-passive income in 2026. Unlike a one-off commission, this flow stacks as long as clients stay active — which is why it pays to refer solid, well-supported projects.
Recurring contracts and their commission
Each client can subscribe to one or more monthly services. You earn 5% on each.
| Recurring service | 2026 range | 5% commission /month |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 50,000-200,000 FCFA | 2,500-10,000 FCFA |
| SEO | 75,000-300,000 FCFA | 3,750-15,000 FCFA |
| Managed hosting | 25,000-75,000 FCFA | 1,250-3,750 FCFA |
| Full pack (3 services) | 150,000-575,000 FCFA | 7,500-28,750 FCFA |
A single premium client on a full pack can therefore be worth nearly 28,750 FCFA/month in recurring commission.
One-off vs recurring: the compounding effect
Let's compare two partners over 24 months. One only chases sales; the other builds a recurring portfolio (assumption: +1 net recurring client per month, 7,500 FCFA/month each).
| Horizon | "Sales-only" partner | "Recurring" partner (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| Month 6 | 0 recurring | ~45,000 FCFA/month |
| Month 12 | 0 recurring | ~90,000 FCFA/month |
| Month 18 | 0 recurring | ~135,000 FCFA/month |
| Month 24 | 0 recurring | ~180,000 FCFA/month |
Figures are a 2026 order of magnitude. Recurring turns prospecting work into an annuity that grows mechanically.
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How to maximize retention
Your recurring income depends on client loyalty. Three levers: recommend the right tier (an undersized site disappoints and churns), push the maintenance + SEO pack at signing (a maintained site stays online for years), and hold a friendly quarterly check-in with the client to strengthen the relationship. A happy client keeps their contract for 24-36 months.
Mini case study
Awa, an accountant in Thiès, recommends Kolonell to her SME clients. Over 18 months of 2026 she builds a portfolio of 20 recurring clients: 12 on simple maintenance (100,000 FCFA/month → 5,000 FCFA commission) and 8 on a maintenance + SEO pack (250,000 FCFA/month → 12,500 FCFA). Recurring total: 12 x 5,000 + 8 x 12,500 = 160,000 FCFA/month, collected every month with no new sale, on top of her initial sale commissions.
FAQ
Is recurring income really passive? Almost: once the client is retained, the commission lands every month with no action from you. An occasional relationship touch is enough to protect retention.
What happens if a client cancels? Recurring stops for that client, but all your other active clients keep paying. Hence the value of diversifying the portfolio.
Can I earn recurring on e-commerce and institutional? Yes, the 5% recurring applies to all divisions whenever there is a monthly contract (maintenance, SEO, hosting).
How many clients to live off recurring? As a 2026 order of magnitude, 30 to 40 clients on a maintenance + SEO pack generate 250,000-400,000 FCFA/month of stable recurring income.
Build an annuity, not just a sale. Each recurring client pays you 5% every month via mobile money. Let's talk about your project. 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.
