The verdict in three sentences
A website redesign for a 35-person accounting firm fits in 9 weeks if discovery wraps up in 2 weeks and a single partner signs off. The firm should block 6 hours a week at most, provided the agency drafts content from interviews instead of waiting for partners to write. To launch before the T1 and T2 rush, start no later than mid-November and put late-delivery penalties in the contract, balanced by approval deadlines on the firm's side.
The week-by-week plan
A Toronto CPA partner has no spare time between February and April 30: personal returns, year-end files and corporate filings absorb every team. The site has to be live before then, and the project should never wait on the firm for more than 48 hours.
| Week | Phase | Deliverable | Firm's time |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1 | Discovery | Goals workshop, audiences (owner-managed businesses, professionals, newcomers), content audit | 6 h |
| W2 | Discovery | Approved sitemap, list of service pages, interview brief | 5 h |
| W3 | Design | Homepage and service page mock-ups, mobile view | 4 h |
| W4 | Design | Secondary templates approved, 8 service pages drafted | 6 h |
| W5 | Build | Templates built, appointment booking form | 2 h |
| W6 | Build | Team pages, tax updates section, simple tax calculator | 3 h |
| W7 | Build | Content loaded, technical SEO, 301 redirects | 3 h |
| W8 | Testing | 12 user journeys tested, fixes, compliance review of disclosures | 6 h |
| W9 | Launch | DNS switch, form monitoring, training for 2 editors | 3 h |
Total firm time: 38 hours over 9 weeks, a little over 4 hours on average with peaks of 6 hours at approvals. The rule that protects the schedule: each deliverable is approved or commented within 2 business days, otherwise it is deemed accepted.
Budget and what makes timelines slip
In Toronto in 2026, a redesign of this size falls within a fairly stable range. What varies is how much writing the agency takes on and how many tools are connected.
| Item | 2026 order of magnitude | Slippage risk |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and sitemap | CAD 2,500 to 4,000 | Low with one decision maker |
| Design of 6 templates | CAD 4,500 to 7,500 | Medium: brand back-and-forth |
| Build and CMS | CAD 6,000 to 10,000 | Low |
| Copywriting for 8 service pages | CAD 2,800 to 5,000 | High if partners write it |
| Booking and forms | CAD 1,200 to 2,000 | Medium: tool choice |
| Testing, SEO, launch | CAD 1,000 to 1,500 | Low |
Total: CAD 18,000 to 30,000. The first cause of delay, by far, is in-house writing. A partner promising copy « next week » in the middle of year-end pushes the project back 3 to 5 weeks. The fix: 2 interviews of 45 minutes, then agency-written copy reviewed by the firm.
Second cause: compliance. CPA Ontario advertising standards and the firm's disclosures must be reviewed in week 8, not discovered the night before launch. At 35 staff the firm is below the AODA threshold of 50 employees for mandatory WCAG compliance, but building to WCAG 2.0 AA costs little extra at this stage and avoids a rebuild if the firm grows.
Negotiating late-delivery penalties
Penalties work when they are symmetrical. A common formula: 0.5 % of the fee per business day of agency-caused delay, capped at 10 %. In return, the contract sets the firm's approval deadlines and states that any delay on its side shifts the delivery date by the same amount. Add a payment milestone at each phase (30 % at signature, 30 % at design, 30 % at testing, 10 % at launch) to align incentives.
Mini case study
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Daniel, managing partner of a 35-person accounting firm in Toronto, signs on November 17 for CAD 24,000. Launch is set for January 23: 9 weeks plus 1 week off over the holidays.
The old site generated 6 consultation requests a month. With service pages by client profile and online booking, the target is 14 a month. If 25 % of requests become clients at CAD 4,500 of average annual fees, the 8 extra requests mean 2 new clients a month, or CAD 9,000 of recurring annual fees added each month. The site pays back in under 3 months of new engagements. The 38 partner hours are worth about CAD 11,400 at an internal rate of CAD 300 an hour.
FAQ
Can it be done faster than 9 weeks?
Yes, 6 to 7 weeks with an existing template and finished copy. Any shorter and testing gets sacrificed, so disclosure errors appear after launch.
When should we start to launch before tax season?
For a late January launch, sign by mid-November, allowing for a week of holiday closure. Starting in January usually pushes delivery to June.
Who should approve on the firm's side?
One lead partner, supported by one staff member for content. With more than 2 approvers, add 1 to 2 weeks per design phase.
Should we migrate old tax update articles?
Only those that bring traffic: often 10 to 20 out of 150. The rest are redirected to keep their search value.
Do agencies accept late-delivery penalties?
Most accept 5 to 10 % of the fee, provided the client's approval deadlines are also contractual.
Let's scope your project. We build your 9-week schedule with approval milestones and the exact time your partners need to commit. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
