The verdict in three sentences
A referral partner's one-off commission (15 % on a showcase site, 12 % on e-commerce) is nice but evaporates: it lands once, then disappears. Real fortune is built on the recurring cut: 5 % on the maintenance and SEO retainers the client pays every month, for years. Twenty recurring clients form an annuity that grows with each new deal and pays you even in months when you sell nothing.
One-off vs recurring: two opposite logics
Let's compare what the same partner earns depending on whether they focus on one-shot deals or stack the recurring cut. 2026 basis: 5 % recurring commission on retainers.
| Revenue type | Client base | Partner commission | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase sale | 500,000 FCFA | 75,000 FCFA (15 %) | Once | One-off |
| Maintenance | 100,000 FCFA/month | 5,000 FCFA/month | Recurring | Annuity |
| SEO | 150,000 FCFA/month | 7,500 FCFA/month | Recurring | Annuity |
| Hosting | 50,000 FCFA/month | 2,500 FCFA/month | Recurring | Annuity |
| Total recurring / client | 300,000 FCFA/month | 15,000 FCFA/month | Ongoing | Stackable annuity |
A single client on maintenance + SEO + hosting pays you 15,000 FCFA/month with no rework. Times 20 clients, that is 300,000 FCFA/month of recurring base.
A 24-month simulation with churn
Let's model a partner signing 1 new recurring client per month (15,000 FCFA recurring each), with a realistic 5 % monthly churn. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Month | New deals | Active clients | Cumulative MRR (commission) | Churn effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 3 | 1 | ~3 | ~45,000 FCFA | Low |
| Month 6 | 1 | ~6 | ~85,000 FCFA | -1 client |
| Month 12 | 1 | ~11 | ~165,000 FCFA | -2 clients |
| Month 18 | 1 | ~15 | ~225,000 FCFA | -3 clients |
| Month 24 | 1 | ~18 | ~270,000 FCFA | -4 clients |
Even with 5 % monthly churn, stacking wins: by month 24 the partner earns about 270,000 FCFA/month in recurring cut, i.e. 3,240,000 FCFA/year, from recurring alone, on top of every sale's one-off commission.
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Mini case study
Mamadou becomes a Kolonell referral partner and signs 1 recurring client per month. Each client pays him 15,000 FCFA/month in recurring commission (maintenance + SEO + hosting). In parallel, each showcase sale earns him 75,000 FCFA one-off. After 12 months, despite 5 % churn, he has about 11 active clients, i.e. 165,000 FCFA/month recurring, plus 12 x 75,000 = 900,000 FCFA of one-off over the year. His recurring income never stops as long as he keeps his clients happy.
FAQ
Why is recurring worth more than one-off? Because it compounds: each new client adds to the previous ones instead of replacing them. Twenty clients at 15,000 FCFA/month make 300,000 FCFA/month that lands whether or not you sell that month.
What is churn and how do you limit it? Churn is the share of clients dropping each month, here estimated at 5 %. You reduce it by choosing serious clients, making sure the maintenance is genuinely useful, and keeping in regular contact.
How many clients to live off recurring? At 15,000 FCFA/month per client, you need about 20 recurring clients to reach 300,000 FCFA/month. That is achievable in 18 to 24 months at one client signed per month.
What exactly does the 5 % recurring apply to? The recurring services the client pays monthly: maintenance (50,000-200,000 FCFA), SEO (75,000-300,000 FCFA), hosting (25,000-75,000 FCFA). The commission continues as long as the client stays active.
Can you combine one-off and recurring? Yes, that is the optimal model: the one-off commission funds your daily life, the recurring builds your wealth. Both stack on every referred project.
Let's talk about your project. Become a Kolonell referral partner and build a recurring annuity. 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.
