The verdict in three sentences
A referral sale pays once; maintenance pays every month. Kolonell pays 5% recurring on maintenance contracts (50,000 to 200,000 FCFA/month), i.e. 2,500 to 10,000 FCFA per client per month, for as long as the client stays active. With 80%+ retention and a book of 20 to 30 clients, the partner builds an annuity that quickly overtakes their sale commissions.
One-shot vs recurring: the optical illusion
A sale commission impresses in the moment, but it does not repeat. Recurring income stacks up. Over 24 months, one client on maintenance can pay more than the initial sale commission.
| Item | Sale commission (one-shot) | Maintenance recurring (5%) |
|---|---|---|
| Website 500,000 FCFA | 75,000 FCFA once | - |
| Maintenance 100,000/month | - | 5,000 FCFA/month |
| Cumulative over 12 months | 75,000 FCFA | 60,000 FCFA |
| Cumulative over 24 months | 75,000 FCFA | 120,000 FCFA |
| Effort after sale | None | None |
| Predictability | Random | Stable |
Beyond 15 months, a single recurring client overtakes the initial sale commission. Multiply by a whole book, and recurring becomes the bedrock of income.
The compounding effect across a book
The secret is accumulation: each new client adds its block without removing the earlier ones. Here is the stack for an average maintenance of 100,000 FCFA/month (partner recurring 5,000 FCFA/client/month).
| Number of clients | Recurring/month | Recurring/year | With 80% retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 25,000 | 300,000 | ~240,000 |
| 10 | 50,000 | 600,000 | ~480,000 |
| 20 | 100,000 | 1,200,000 | ~960,000 |
| 30 | 150,000 | 1,800,000 | ~1,440,000 |
| 50 | 250,000 | 3,000,000 | ~2,400,000 |
Payment is made by mobile money each month, with no invoice to issue: Kolonell manages the relationship, you collect the recurring share.
Mini case study
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David, a real-estate agent in Nairobi, has referred two to three websites a month for a year. He has placed 28 clients, of whom 23 kept maintenance at an average of 90,000 FCFA/month.
- Recurring per client: 90,000 x 5% = 4,500 FCFA/month
- 23 active clients: 23 x 4,500 = 103,500 FCFA/month passive income
- Over a year: about 1,242,000 FCFA with no new prospecting
David keeps selling, but even if he stopped, his book would keep paying him over 100,000 FCFA/month as long as his clients stay. That is exactly how an annuity works.
FAQ
How many clients to live off recurring income? At 100,000 FCFA average maintenance, 20 clients pay 100,000 FCFA/month passive. Depending on your lifestyle, 30 to 50 clients make a comfortable base income.
What if a client cancels maintenance? You lose that client's recurring share but keep the others. With 80% retention, departures are largely offset by new clients.
Does recurring apply to other divisions? Yes, the 5% recurring also exists on e-commerce and marketplace maintenance, often pricier. An e-commerce store on maintenance at 200,000 FCFA/month pays the partner 10,000 FCFA/month.
Do I have to chase clients every month? No. Payment is automatic as long as the contract runs. Your only useful work is to keep placing new clients to thicken the book.
How do I track my recurring income? The partner CRM shows every active client, their maintenance amount and your monthly share. You watch your annuity grow client after client.
Let's talk about your project. Build your Kolonell referral annuity: 5% recurring on every maintenance, paid by 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.