The verdict in three sentences
A web referral partner does not live off the one-time sale commission, but off the compounding effect of the recurring share on maintenance and SEO. With 2 sales a month in the median scenario, the portfolio generates over 3.4 million FCFA in commissions across twelve months, a growing part of it passive. The lever is not selling faster, but keeping clients on recurring contracts as long as possible.
What a sale pays: one-time + recurring
At Kolonell, the partner earns a sale commission (15 % showcase, 12 % e-commerce) plus 5 % recurring on maintenance and SEO contracts signed. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude per revenue line.
| Revenue line | 2026 range (FCFA) | Partner commission | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase Growth sale | 500,000 | 15 % = 75,000 | Once |
| E-commerce Starter sale | 1,000,000 | 12 % = 120,000 | Once |
| Monthly maintenance | 50,000 to 200,000 | 5 % = 2,500 to 10,000 | Every month |
| Monthly SEO | 75,000 to 300,000 | 5 % = 3,750 to 15,000 | Every month |
| Managed hosting | 25,000 to 75,000 | 5 % = 1,250 to 3,750 | Every month |
A single showcase sale with maintenance + SEO can pay 75,000 FCFA once, then 6,250 to 25,000 FCFA a month as long as the client stays.
Portfolio simulation over 12 months
We model three scenarios based on monthly sales and recurring attachment rate. Assumption: 50 % of clients take maintenance + SEO at a combined 150,000 FCFA/month (7,500 FCFA of recurring per attached client).
| Scenario | Sales/month | One-time commission/yr | Recurring cumulative/yr | 12-month total (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cautious | 1 | 1,080,000 | ~290,000 | ~1,370,000 |
| Median | 2 | 2,160,000 | ~1,260,000 | ~3,420,000 |
| Ambitious | 4 | 4,320,000 | ~3,510,000 | ~7,830,000 |
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Recurring is cumulative: each attached client generates income every remaining month of the year, hence the snowball effect. In year 2, the median scenario's recurring alone exceeds 1.8 million FCFA without a single new sale.
Mini case study
Fatou, an independent sales rep in Thies, closes 2 sales a month (one showcase, one e-commerce alternating). Over the year she places 24 projects, 12 with maintenance + SEO at 7,500 FCFA recurring. One-time commissions: 12 x 75,000 + 12 x 120,000 = 2,340,000 FCFA. Recurring: as clients stack month after month, the cumulative reaches about 1,200,000 FCFA in the first year. Year 1 total: ~3,540,000 FCFA, with recurring becoming a ~90,000 FCFA/month base entering year 2.
FAQ
Is the recurring paid as long as the client stays? Yes, the 5 % recurring is due every month the client pays for maintenance or SEO. With an 80 %/year retention rate, an attached client pays 3 to 4 years of recurring on average.
Do you have to be a Kolonell employee? No, the partner is independent. There is no imposed quota or exclusivity: you earn 15 % showcase + 5 % recurring on what you bring, with no cap.
How long before the first commission? A showcase sale closes in 1 to 3 weeks. The one-time commission is paid when the client pays; recurring starts the first month of billed maintenance.
Is the ambitious scenario realistic? 4 sales/month requires an active network and steady prospecting. It is an achievable 2026 order of magnitude for an experienced rep, not a promise.
Let's talk about your project. Join the Kolonell referral partner program and turn your network into recurring income. 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.
