An agency that delivers every project without you doing the work, with a calculated margin and a team paid on fixed dates
A small digital agency of 3 to 5 people in Dakar or Abidjan commonly generates 1.5 to 4 million FCFA (about $2,500 to $6,700) in monthly sales with a gross margin of 40 to 60%, which lets the founder pay themselves 400,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA (about $670 to $1,670) a month once break-even is passed (order of magnitude observed in Dakar and Abidjan in 2026, varying widely with the offers and the share of recurring revenue; no income is guaranteed).
Indicative estimate, depending on your market, pace and work. No income is guaranteed.
Who it is for: Experienced freelancers and founders of small digital businesses (communications, design, video, web development, marketing) in Dakar, Thiès, Saint-Louis, Abidjan, Bamako, Cotonou or in the diaspora who already turn down work, or work too many hours for an income that has stalled, and want to grow with freelancers or a first team.
A module-by-module path: lessons, exercises, quizzes and projects to submit.
Module 1· 12 exercises
Decide whether you should grow, in what form (collective, studio, agency) and at what pace, based on your figures and your ceiling of hours.
Module 2· 12 exercises
Turn what you do from memory into packaged offers, written procedures and reusable templates, so that someone else can deliver at your level.
Module 3· 12 exercises
Set up the same project workflow for every client: onboarding, kickoff meeting, schedule, approvals, acceptance testing, delivery and close-out.
Module 4· 12 exercises
Find, test and pay reliable freelancers, set a sustainable agency margin and frame the relationship with a subcontracting contract.
Module 5· 12 exercises
Choose between intern, regular freelancer and employee, hire based on a practical test and get the first 30 days right, in line with local labor law.
Module 6· 12 exercises
Set up short routines, individual indicators and a quality check before every delivery, and handle delays and mistakes without taking everything back yourself.
Module 7· 12 exercises
Track profitability project by project, calculate your break-even point including salaries and subcontracting, and secure recurring revenue to pay the team every month.
Module 8· 12 exercises
Build a sales system that no longer depends on you alone, respond to corporate requests for proposals and set a 12-month growth plan.
Certificate included
A numbered certificate with your validated skills, a public page and a verification QR code. Add it to LinkedIn in one click.
Certificate of skills
Your name
has completed and validated the course
Growing your agency: processes, subcontracting and hiring
Certified skills
Number KOL-CERT-2026-XXXXX
Mohamed Bah
Founder, Kolonell Academy
Download the poster to print it, send it to your employer or share it with colleagues. The full programme details every module.
This course is part of the track
Level 4 of 5 · Career
See the 5 track levelsNext level · 5/5 Pro Track
Senior level, projects and leadership
A profitable flagship offer, a 50% recurring revenue target and a 24-month growth plan your cash flow can support
200,000 FCFA 40 h
View the next levelYour instructor
Founder of Kolonell, a digital agency in Dakar. He sells and delivers websites, content and applications for small and medium businesses in Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Dubai, manages a team of freelance writers, designers and developers whom he recruits, subcontracts and pays, and handles his company's invoicing, cash flow and tax returns himself.
No. Many learners start alone, at the limit of their hours. Module 1 checks that the time is right, and modules 4 and 5 take you to your first subcontractors and then your first team member.
Not necessarily at first. Module 1 compares sole proprietorship, single-member limited company (SUARL) and multi-member limited company (SARL) based on your revenue, your partners and your exposure to risk, and refers you to level 3 for the formalities.
About 20 hours, including exercises and the eight projects, or 4 hours a week for 5 weeks. Every project uses your own business, so the work pays off immediately.
It covers what a founder needs to know to make decisions: the full cost of an employee, internships, fixed-term contracts, and social security obligations in Senegal (IPRES, CSS, IPM) and Côte d'Ivoire (CNPS). Rates and formalities are given as in force in September 2026: IPRES 8.4%, CSS 7% up to a salary cap and CFCE 3% in Senegal, and CNPS 7.7% for retirement in Côte d'Ivoire.
Module 4 provides a subcontracting contract with confidentiality, transfer of rights and a client non-solicitation clause, and above all a working relationship (clear brief, payment on fixed dates) that makes good freelancers want to stay.
This level 4 teaches you to run an agency. Level 5 focuses on the business model: a profitable offer, recurring revenue and digital products, customer acquisition, large accounts, financing and growth over 24 months.
Via Wave or Orange Money. After enrolling you receive a pro forma invoice by email with the number to pay. Send the proof on WhatsApp: your access is activated within 24 business hours.
For life, updates included. Learn at your own pace and revisit lessons as often as you need.
Complete the lessons and pass each module quiz with at least 70%. The certificate is generated automatically, with a unique number and a public verification page.
100,000 FCFA · 152 €
Career