The verdict in three sentences
Referring web projects is not a small side gig: with a clear scale, a single e-commerce deal pays 120,000 to 480,000 FCFA in immediate commission. The real wealth comes from recurring income: 5% on a client's maintenance and SEO is paid every month, for as long as the client stays. Three to five introductions a month build income that compounds instead of restarting from zero each time.
The commission scale by pole
The Kolonell referral-partner program pays a commission on the initial sale, plus a recurring share on monthly services (maintenance, SEO, managed hosting). The rate depends on the pole, because ticket size and sales cycle differ.
| Pole | Project ticket (FCFA) | Sale rate | Commission per deal (FCFA) | Recurring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase | 250,000 – 1,200,000 | 15% | 37,500 – 180,000 | 5% of monthly |
| E-commerce | 1,000,000 – 4,000,000 | 12% | 120,000 – 480,000 | 5% of monthly |
| Marketplace | 2,500,000 – 12,000,000+ | 10% | 250,000 – 1,200,000+ | 5% of monthly |
| Institutional | 5,000,000 – 25,000,000+ | 8% | 400,000 – 2,000,000+ | negotiated |
The logic is simple: the bigger the ticket, the lower the rate, but the absolute commission climbs. A single institutional project at 12,000,000 FCFA pays 960,000 FCFA — the equivalent of twenty-five Starter showcase sites.
Recurring: the part everyone forgets
The sale commission is visible; recurring income is what changes a life. Every signed client usually keeps a maintenance contract (50,000 – 200,000 FCFA/month) and often SEO (75,000 – 300,000 FCFA/month). The partner earns 5% of those amounts, every month, without redoing anything.
| Monthly service | Range (FCFA/month) | 5% partner (FCFA/month) | Over 12 months (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic maintenance | 50,000 | 2,500 | 30,000 |
| Maintenance + light SEO | 150,000 | 7,500 | 90,000 |
| Maintenance + deep SEO | 350,000 | 17,500 | 210,000 |
| Premium contract | 500,000 | 25,000 | 300,000 |
With just ten referred clients generating an average of 7,500 FCFA/month recurring, you reach 75,000 FCFA/month in passive income — 900,000 FCFA a year, without closing a single new deal.
Monthly income scenarios
How much do you actually earn? It depends on how many deals you close and the pole mix. Here are three realistic 2026 profiles.
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| Profile | Deals/month | Mix | Sale commission (FCFA) | Cumulative recurring at month 6 (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1 | 1 Growth showcase | 75,000 | ~25,000 |
| Regular | 3 | 2 showcase + 1 e-commerce | 270,000 | ~90,000 |
| Established | 5 | 3 e-comm + 1 marketplace + 1 institutional | 1,090,000 | ~230,000 |
The regular profile, reachable with a network of merchants and SMEs, easily clears 350,000 FCFA/month by combining sale and recurring income from the sixth month.
Mini case study
Grace, an independent consultant in Accra, knows many shop owners. In 2026 she refers two shops a month for a Growth showcase site (the local equivalent of 500,000 FCFA) and, every other month, an online store on the e-commerce Starter tier (1,200,000 FCFA).
In a typical month with an e-commerce deal: two showcase sites at 15% = 2 × 75,000 = 150,000 FCFA, plus one e-commerce at 12% = 144,000 FCFA. Sale total: 294,000 FCFA. After six months, her referred clients accumulate roughly 100,000 FCFA/month of recurring services, of which she earns 5% — 5,000 FCFA/month and rising. Within a year, Grace passes 3,500,000 FCFA in cumulative commissions, on hours she already spent networking.
FAQ
How much do you earn on a showcase site? The commission is 15% of the sale. On a range of 250,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA, that is 37,500 to 180,000 FCFA per project, plus 5% of the monthly maintenance contract.
Do you need to be a developer to be a partner? No. The partner makes the introduction and Kolonell delivers the project. No technical skill is required; good knowledge of the SME landscape is enough to target 270,000 FCFA/month with three deals.
Is recurring income really paid every month? Yes, as long as the client keeps a maintenance or SEO contract. A portfolio of 20 clients at 7,500 FCFA/month recurring generates 150,000 FCFA/month passively.
Which pole pays the most per deal? Institutional, at 8%, but on tickets of 5,000,000 to 25,000,000+ FCFA — that is 400,000 to 2,000,000+ FCFA per project. The sales cycle is longer, but one deal can be worth a year of showcase sites.
How are commissions paid? Via Wave or Orange Money after the client pays, usually within 7 to 15 days. No minimum threshold: even a 37,500 FCFA commission is paid on validation.
Become a Kolonell referral partner. Turn your network into income: 15% on showcase sites (+ 5% recurring), 12% on e-commerce, 10% on marketplace, 8% on institutional. 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.
