The verdict in three sentences
Private schools buy two distinct things: a showcase site that reassures parents, and a school-management app that collects fees and tracks pupils. By bundling the two, your referral commission jumps from a plain 15% showcase to a showcase + 12% portal mix that exceeds 300,000 FCFA on a single school. The decisive lever: strike during enrollment season, when the head teacher wants to show off the school and secure payments.
Single sale or bundle: the math that changes everything
A rushed partner sells a site at 800,000 FCFA and pockets 120,000 FCFA. A strategic partner sells the site plus the fees-management app, doubling the commission while solving the head teacher's real problem: unpaid fees.
| Scenario | Component | 2026 price (FCFA) | Tier | Commission (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site only | School showcase | 800,000 | 15% | 120,000 |
| Premium site | Showcase + blog + online enrollment | 1,500,000 | 15% | 225,000 |
| Standard bundle | Showcase 600,000 + fees app 1,200,000 | 1,800,000 | 15% + 12% | 90,000 + 144,000 = 234,000 |
| Premium bundle | Showcase 1,000,000 + fees app 1,800,000 | 2,800,000 | 15% + 12% | 150,000 + 216,000 = 366,000 |
Order of magnitude for 2026: a 300-pupil school in Lagos with average fees of 250,000 FCFA/year turns over 75,000,000 FCFA. Cutting unpaid fees by 2% recovers 1,500,000 FCFA: your app pays for itself in one term.
The stakeholder map
In a private school, no single person decides. Identify the right contact for each argument.
| Stakeholder | What drives them | Argument to serve |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietor / Owner | Image, filling classes, cash flow | "More enrollments, fewer unpaid fees" |
| Head teacher / Principal | Organization, reputation | "Automated parent communication" |
| Bursar / Accountant | Fee tracking, reminders | "Every payment tracked, auto reminders" |
| Parents (users) | Pay easily, stay informed | "Fee payment by mobile money" |
In Lagos, collection runs through MoMo and Paystack. The school app must collect on these rails, and that is a central selling point.
The seasonal pipeline
Timing does half the work. Do not prospect a school mid-term.
| Period | School mindset | Partner action |
|---|---|---|
| April-June | Preparing new year, budgets open | Intensive prospecting, demos |
| July-August | Enrollment, urgent need for a site | Closing, fast signatures |
| September | Term start, collecting fees | Sell the fees app |
| October-March | Steady operation | Upsell maintenance + 5% recurring |
Mini case study
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Grace, a former teacher turned referral partner in Lagos, targets 8 private schools between April and August. She signs Palm Grove College in July: a site at 1,000,000 FCFA, then in September the fees-management app at 1,800,000 FCFA.
Her commission calculation:
- Showcase 1,000,000 FCFA × 15% = 150,000 FCFA
- School app 1,800,000 FCFA × 12% = 216,000 FCFA
- Total on this school: 366,000 FCFA
The school then takes a maintenance plan at 60,000 FCFA/month. Grace earns 5% recurring = 3,000 FCFA/month, or 36,000 FCFA over the school year, with no extra effort.
FAQ
When is the best time to prospect a school? From April to August, when new-year budgets are open and the fear of empty classes is real. A school rarely signs mid-term: keep October-March for upsell and recurring revenue.
Is the site + app bundle hard to sell? No, because they answer two distinct fears: filling classes (site) and unpaid fees (app). Order of magnitude for 2026: on 75,000,000 FCFA of fees, cutting arrears by 2% pays for the app in one term.
How much does the partner earn on a full school? Between 234,000 and 366,000 FCFA at signature depending on the bundle (15% showcase + 12% app), plus 5% recurring on maintenance of 40,000 to 60,000 FCFA/month.
Who should I convince first? The proprietor or owner, since they control the budget. But prepare an argument for the bursar (automatic reminders) and the head teacher (parent communication), who can block or accelerate.
Can I sell the app without the site? Yes, if the school already has a site. The standalone school app stays at the 12% tier, i.e. 144,000 to 216,000 FCFA in commission depending on the project.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
The Kolonell referral program pays across all divisions, with no cap: showcase 15% + 5% recurring, e-commerce/portal 12%, marketplace 10%, institutional 8%. Private schools are ideal because they combine a showcase and an app, doubling your commission per client. You bring the contact, we close and deliver.
Let's talk about your project. Become a referral partner before enrollment season and sign your first school. 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.
