The verdict in three sentences
The showcase tier is the best starting point for a referral partner: accessible ticket, short cycle and double commission (15% on the sale + 5% recurring). A Growth site at 500,000 FCFA pays 75,000 FCFA upfront, plus 3,750 FCFA/month recurring on maintenance. Signing 3 sites/month for a year, cumulative sale commissions reach 2.7M FCFA and the recurring climbs toward ~127,500 FCFA/month by year-end.
The showcase scale tier by tier
The sale commission is 15% of the site price. Here is the breakdown by Kolonell tier, with the 5% recurring share on monthly maintenance.
| Showcase tier | Site price | Sale commission 15% | Maintenance/month | Recurring 5%/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 250,000 FCFA | 37,500 FCFA | 50,000 FCFA | 2,500 FCFA |
| Growth | 500,000 FCFA | 75,000 FCFA | 75,000 FCFA | 3,750 FCFA |
| Premium | 1,200,000 FCFA | 180,000 FCFA | 150,000 FCFA | 7,500 FCFA |
The sale commission is one-off but immediate; the recurring is small per client, but it accumulates with each new retained contract. That's the mechanism that builds baseline income.
The recurring curve over 12 months
Here's how the recurring swells if you sign 3 Growth sites/month with 90% retention (2026 order of magnitude).
| Month | Active clients | Cumulative monthly recurring | Sale commission that month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | ~11,250 FCFA | 225,000 FCFA |
| 3 | 8 | ~30,000 FCFA | 225,000 FCFA |
| 6 | 15 | ~56,250 FCFA | 225,000 FCFA |
| 9 | 22 | ~82,500 FCFA | 225,000 FCFA |
| 12 | 34 | ~127,500 FCFA | 225,000 FCFA |
Over the year: 2.7M FCFA in sale commissions (12 x 225,000) plus a recurring stream reaching ~127,500 FCFA/month at month 12. The key point: at some stage the recurring alone covers your monthly expenses, even in months when you sign nothing.
Mini case study
Sekou, a referral partner in Dar es Salaam, targets shops in his neighborhood: boutiques, restaurants, hair salons. In the first month he signs 2 Starter and 1 Growth. Sale commissions: 2 x 37,500 + 75,000 = 150,000 FCFA. Recurring starts: 2 x 2,500 + 3,750 = 8,750 FCFA/month. After 8 months at this pace, he retains ~22 clients, collects ~65,000 FCFA/month in recurring, plus his monthly sales. The recurring already covers his rent.
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Where showcase fits in the Kolonell referral program
Showcase is the only tier offering a recurring stream, making it the best baseline income foundation for a referrer.
| Tier | Sale commission | Recurring | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase | 15% | 5% maintenance | short |
| E-commerce | 12% | 5% | medium |
| Marketplace | 10% | — | medium-long |
| Institutional | 8% | — | long |
Winning strategy: start with showcase for volume and recurring, then gradually move up to e-commerce, marketplace and institutional as your network grows.
FAQ
How does the 15% + 5% work? You earn 15% of the site price at signing (75,000 FCFA on a 500,000 FCFA Growth), then 5% of the monthly maintenance as long as the client keeps it (3,750 FCFA/month).
Is the recurring worth it, so small? Yes, because it accumulates: with 34 active clients by year-end, the recurring reaches ~127,500 FCFA/month, income that lands even without a new sale (2026 estimate).
How many showcase sites can I sign per month? With a good local network, 2 to 3 signatures/month are realistic, as the showcase cycle is short (a few days to two weeks).
Which tier is most profitable to present? Growth offers the best balance: accessible ticket (500,000 FCFA), solid commission (75,000 FCFA) and maintenance feeding the recurring.
What happens if a client stops maintenance? You lose that client's recurring but keep the sale commission already paid. A 90% retention preserves most of the baseline income.
Let's talk about your project. Start with showcase at 15% + 5% recurring and build income that compounds. Join the Kolonell 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.
