The verdict in three sentences
White-label lets you sell, under your own brand, sites built by a partner while pocketing a gross margin of 50 to 60% without touching code. The model is profitable as soon as you can sell and manage the client relationship, not necessarily develop. If you have neither the time nor the appetite to manage production, the 15% referral model is simpler but caps your income.
The white-label model, in figures
In white-label you buy production at a negotiated fixed cost and resell at market price under your brand. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for the Senegalese and Ivorian markets.
| Site tier | Subcontracted production cost | Resale price | Gross margin | Margin % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase Starter (5 pages) | 150,000 FCFA | 400,000 FCFA | 250,000 FCFA | 62% |
| Showcase Growth (+ blog) | 250,000 FCFA | 600,000 FCFA | 350,000 FCFA | 58% |
| Showcase Premium | 400,000 FCFA | 1,000,000 FCFA | 600,000 FCFA | 60% |
| E-commerce Starter | 600,000 FCFA | 1,300,000 FCFA | 700,000 FCFA | 54% |
| E-commerce Growth | 1,200,000 FCFA | 2,500,000 FCFA | 1,300,000 FCFA | 52% |
Margin shrinks on complex projects because the management share (specs, back-and-forth, content) grows. Also count a hidden cost: your sales and coordination time, often 8 to 15 hours per showcase project.
White-label vs referral: which profile?
The two models don't demand the same commitment. The table below decides based on your 2026 profile.
| Criterion | White-label | Referral |
|---|---|---|
| Income per showcase project | 250,000-600,000 FCFA | 60,000-90,000 FCFA (15%) |
| Client management | You (quote, follow-up, support) | The partner |
| Production risk | You carry it | None |
| Cash to advance | Often yes | No |
| Time per project | 8-15 h | 1-2 h |
| Ideal for | Structured salesperson, future agency owner | Network, busy profile |
A Kolonell referrer earns 15% on the sale + 5% recurring on a showcase site without managing anything; white-label pays you 4 to 7 times more per project, but you carry the relationship and sometimes the cash.
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Mini case study
Fatou, a marketing consultant in Dakar, resells white-label. She signs 3 Growth showcase sites per month at 600,000 FCFA, paying her technical partner 250,000 FCFA each. Monthly gross margin: 3 x 350,000 = 1,050,000 FCFA. After her costs (travel, phone, ~150,000 FCFA), she keeps 900,000 FCFA net. To reach 1,500,000 FCFA net, she must move to 5 sales/month or add a higher-margin Premium tier.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to code for white-label? No. You sell and coordinate; the partner builds. Your key skills are sales, project management and support. It's the ideal model for a business profile without a technical background.
Who handles support after delivery? It's negotiated. Many partners include 1 to 3 months of fixes; beyond that, plan a maintenance contract (50,000-200,000 FCFA/month) that you also resell with margin.
Do I have to advance the cash? Often yes: ask the client for a 50 to 70% deposit to cover production cost. With a 60% deposit on 600,000 FCFA, you collect 360,000 FCFA, enough to pay the 250,000 FCFA of subcontracting.
What margin should I target to live off it? Aim for at least 50% and a volume of 4 to 6 showcase projects per month, roughly 1,200,000-1,800,000 FCFA of gross margin. Below that, referral stays more profitable per hour spent.
Can the client discover my subcontractor? With a real white-label agreement and a non-solicitation clause, no: the partner stays invisible (domain, emails, invoices under your brand). Check this point before signing.
Let's talk about your project. Kolonell produces white-label for resellers and leaves you the full client-side margin. 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.
