The verdict in three sentences
A referral partner recommends and earns a commission; a white-label reseller resells under their own brand and keeps the margin. The income difference is major: 8-15% commission versus 25-40% margin on the same project. The price of that margin: the reseller owns the client relationship, invoicing and first-level support.
Referral partner vs white-label reseller
Both models rely on Kolonell for production, but differ radically on client ownership and margin. Here is the 2026 comparison on an identical project.
| Criterion | Referral partner | White-label reseller |
|---|---|---|
| Brand shown | Kolonell | Their own |
| Pay | 8-15% commission | 25-40% margin |
| Client ownership | Kolonell | The reseller |
| Price setting | Kolonell scale | Free |
| Invoicing | Kolonell | The reseller |
| Level-1 support | Kolonell | The reseller |
| Upfront investment | 0 | Contract + cash flow |
The referral partner is the ideal entry point: no risk, no cash flow needed. The reseller is the next step for those who want to build their own brand and client base.
Reseller margin: the 2026 figures
The reseller buys from Kolonell at a wholesale price and resells at the public price of their choice. The margin depends on the division and positioning. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Division | Kolonell wholesale price | Suggested resale price | Reseller margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase Starter | 175,000 FCFA | 300,000 FCFA | 125,000 FCFA (42%) |
| Showcase Premium | 800,000 FCFA | 1,300,000 FCFA | 500,000 FCFA (38%) |
| E-commerce Growth | 1,400,000 FCFA | 2,200,000 FCFA | 800,000 FCFA (36%) |
| Marketplace Starter | 2,000,000 FCFA | 3,200,000 FCFA | 1,200,000 FCFA (37%) |
| Institutional Standard | 4,200,000 FCFA | 6,500,000 FCFA | 2,300,000 FCFA (35%) |
On a Starter showcase, a referral partner would earn 37,500 FCFA (15%); a reseller keeps 125,000 FCFA of margin, i.e. more than triple. In exchange, they handle the quote, invoice and relationship.
Client management and scaling
The reseller signs wholesale contracts with Kolonell: the more projects they place, the lower their purchase price. Here is a 2026 wholesale tier model.
| Volume/quarter | Wholesale discount | Dedicated support |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 projects | 0% | Standard |
| 4-9 projects | -5% | Shared project manager |
| 10-19 projects | -10% | Dedicated project manager |
| 20+ projects | -15% | Dedicated team + SLA |
The reseller who reaches 20 projects per quarter buys 15% cheaper and gets a dedicated team, further increasing their net margin. This is the scaling lever: build a micro-agency without an in-house technical team.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Moussa, a freelancer in Dakar, was a referral partner: on 6 showcases placed in a quarter, he earned 6 × 37,500 = 225,000 FCFA. He switches to white-label reseller. The next quarter, he places the same 6 Starter showcases, but under his brand at 300,000 FCFA, bought at 175,000 FCFA from Kolonell (4-9 tier: -5%, i.e. ~166,000 FCFA). Unit margin: ~134,000 FCFA × 6 = 804,000 FCFA. He multiplies his income by 3.5 for the same volume, in exchange for handling invoicing and first-level support.
FAQ
What is the real income difference between partner and reseller?
On a Starter showcase, the partner earns 37,500 FCFA (15%) and the reseller keeps 125,000 FCFA margin (42%), more than triple. The trade-off is managing the client and invoicing.
Do you need a technical team to be a white-label reseller?
No. Kolonell produces everything white-label; the reseller handles the sale, relationship and first-level support. Production, hosting and maintenance stay with Kolonell.
How do the tapering wholesale prices work?
The more projects the reseller places per quarter, the bigger the discount: -5% from 4 projects, up to -15% beyond 20. Net margin rises with volume.
Can you be both a partner and a reseller?
Yes. Many start as a risk-free partner, then switch to reseller on segments they master. The two models coexist by client type.
Who handles support after delivery?
The reseller provides level-1 support (common questions); Kolonell takes level-2 technical. An SLA is provided from 20 projects/quarter.
Let's talk about your project. Move from referral partner to Kolonell white-label reseller and keep 25 to 40% margin under your own brand. 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.
