The verdict in three sentences
A tutoring marketplace lives on a 15 to 25 % commission taken on lessons billed at 3,000 to 15,000 FCFA per hour. Payment held in escrow until the session protects both sides, while ratings, reviews and tutor KYC build trust. With a 40 % repeat booking rate and weekly payouts, a target GMV of 5M FCFA/month is achievable.
The business model
The platform's value is trust: tutor vetting, secure payment, verified reviews. The commission funds this infrastructure and the matchmaking.
| Parameter | 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Platform commission | 15 to 25 % |
| Lesson price | 3,000 to 15,000 FCFA/h |
| Escrow | Until validated session |
| Repeat booking | ~40 % |
| Tutor verification (KYC) | Mandatory |
| Seller payout | Weekly (Wave/OM) |
| Target GMV | 5,000,000 FCFA/month |
Payment split and payout
On a 10,000 FCFA lesson with 20 % commission, the split is immediate and transparent.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Paid by student | 10,000 FCFA |
| Platform commission (20 %) | 2,000 FCFA |
| Paid to tutor (80 %) | 8,000 FCFA |
| Payout frequency | Weekly |
| On GMV 5M FCFA/month | ~1,000,000 FCFA platform revenue |
Kolonell referral program
Know someone with a marketplace project? Become a Kolonell business referrer and earn a commission on every signed project. For a marketplace platform, the referrer commission is 10 % of the contract. Other divisions: showcase 15 % + 5 % recurring, e-commerce 12 %, institutional 8 %. A single qualified contact can be worth several hundred thousand FCFA.
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Mini case study
Fatou, a student in Dakar, launches a tutoring marketplace. In month one, 250 lessons at 8,000 FCFA generate 2,000,000 FCFA of GMV and, at 20 % commission, 400,000 FCFA of revenue. By referring two school directors to Kolonell as a referrer, she also earns 10 % on a 3M FCFA marketplace project, i.e. 300,000 FCFA — enough to fund her user acquisition.
FAQ
How do you guarantee tutor quality? KYC (ID, diplomas) is mandatory at sign-up, complemented by verified ratings and reviews after each lesson. Poorly rated tutors are deprioritized.
When is the tutor paid? After the session is validated, funds leave escrow and are paid out in the weekly payout via Wave or Orange Money.
Which commission should I set? Between 15 and 25 % depending on added value (matching, payment, disputes). 20 % is a common balance point in 2026.
What happens in a dispute? Escrow enables arbitration: refund, reschedule or partial payment. The message history serves as evidence.
Can I become a referrer without being a developer? Yes. Simply introduce a qualified project owner to Kolonell to earn the referrer commission (10 % for marketplace).
Let's talk about your project. We build your tutoring marketplace with escrow, KYC and Wave/OM payouts — or join our referral program. 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.
