The verdict in three sentences
For a 25-person accounting firm in Dublin, a full rebuild (EUR 8,000 to 18,000 ex. VAT) pays off as soon as the current site produces fewer than 5 qualified requests per month. A facelift (EUR 3,000 to 5,000 ex. VAT) still makes sense if the structure, CMS and local search visibility are already sound. A Wix template looks cheap, but its 3-year total cost catches up with a facelift without delivering the same lead generation capacity.
Facelift or rebuild: what each option covers
A facelift keeps the site tree, the CMS and the URLs. You rework the visual identity, the homepage, the service pages (bookkeeping, payroll, company formation, advisory, charity accounts) and the forms. Plan for 3 to 5 weeks.
A rebuild starts again from strategy: personas (tradespeople, independent professionals, SMEs with 10 to 50 staff, non-profits), a new site tree, content rewritten for local SEO, online booking connected to the partners' calendars, and a client portal for document uploads. Plan for 8 to 12 weeks from scoping to launch.
| Criterion | Facelift | Full rebuild | Wix template |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 initial budget | EUR 3,000 to 5,000 ex. VAT | EUR 8,000 to 18,000 ex. VAT | EUR 600 to 1,500 (setup) |
| Timeline | 3 to 5 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Service pages rewritten | 4 to 6 | 12 to 25 | 3 to 5 |
| Built-in booking | Option | Included | Third-party module |
| Local SEO (Dublin and surrounding counties) | Partial | Structured by area and service | Limited |
| Mobile performance (LCP) | 2.5 to 3.5 s | Under 2 s | 3 to 4.5 s |
| Ownership of code and content | Yes | Yes | No, platform lock-in |
Total cost over 3 years: the real comparison
The entry price is misleading. You need to add maintenance (EUR 90 to 250 per month depending on service level), hosting and yearly improvements. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for a firm of this size.
| Item over 36 months | Facelift | Full rebuild | Wix template |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | EUR 4,000 | EUR 13,000 | EUR 1,000 |
| Maintenance | EUR 90/month, i.e. EUR 3,240 | EUR 180/month, i.e. EUR 6,480 | Subscription EUR 35/month, i.e. EUR 1,260 |
| Improvements and content | EUR 2,500 | EUR 1,500 | EUR 3,000 (ad hoc freelancer) |
| Likely early rebuild | EUR 6,000 in year 3 | None | EUR 8,000 in year 3 |
| Estimated total | EUR 15,740 | EUR 20,980 | EUR 13,260 |
| Target qualified requests per month | 6 to 12 | 15 to 30 | 2 to 6 |
| Cost per request over 3 years (mid-range) | about EUR 49 | about EUR 26 | about EUR 92 |
The rebuild costs more in absolute terms, but it halves the cost per request. For a firm whose annual bookkeeping engagement is worth EUR 2,500 to 6,000 on average, one extra signed client per quarter covers the difference.
Brief items you should not forget
| Item | Why it matters | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| Pages per service and per audience | Capture searches such as "accountant Dublin company formation" | +EUR 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Online booking | Cuts phone back-and-forth by roughly 40% | +EUR 800 to 2,000 |
| Secure client portal | Document uploads, GDPR compliance | +EUR 2,500 to 6,000 |
| Optimised Google Business Profile | 50 to 70% of local contacts come through Maps | +EUR 300 to 600 |
| Calculators (tax, company structure) | High-converting content | +EUR 1,200 to 3,500 |
| Professional body disclosure rules | Regulated marketing communication | Included |
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Claire, partner in a 25-person firm in Dublin, currently receives 4 requests per month through her website, and only one converts. She opts for a EUR 14,000 rebuild with online booking and 18 service pages, delivered in 10 weeks. Six months after launch, the site produces 18 qualified requests per month and 3 new clients per month. With an average engagement of EUR 3,200 per year, the firm adds roughly EUR 9,600 of recurring annual revenue for each month of signings, and the rebuild pays for itself in under two months of new business.
FAQ
How much does an accounting firm website redesign cost in 2026?
Budget EUR 8,000 to 18,000 ex. VAT for a full rebuild and EUR 3,000 to 5,000 for a facelift. The gap mostly depends on the number of service pages, the client portal and online booking.
What timeline should we plan for?
Between 8 and 12 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks of scoping and copywriting. Firms that deliver their content late often extend the project by 3 to 4 weeks.
Do we need a monthly maintenance plan?
Yes, between EUR 90 and 250 per month depending on service level. It covers security updates, backups and 1 to 3 hours of improvements.
Is a Wix template enough for a 25-person firm?
It works for a minimal presence, but it usually caps out at 2 to 6 requests per month. Its 3-year total cost, around EUR 13,000, catches up with a facelift.
How do we measure return on investment?
Track qualified requests and the signing rate. A target of 15 to 30 monthly requests is realistic after 6 months for a well-positioned firm.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current site and your meeting targets: we price a facelift and a rebuild side by side, with an indicative budget and an 8 to 12 week plan. 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.
