The verdict in three sentences
In Basel, redesigning the website of an accounting and tax firm (Treuhand) usually costs CHF 15,000 to 45,000 with a local agency (2026 ballpark), against CHF 2,700, 4,500 or 8,200 on the Kolonell fixed grid. For a neighbourhood firm, most new mandates arrive through local search: the Google Business Profile, office pages, Swiss directories. The redesign must therefore protect those signals, with the same name, address and phone everywhere, a 301 redirect map and a go-live outside the declaration season.
Why does local search decide whether the redesign succeeds?
A Basel firm serves a very local client base: SMEs and retailers in Grossbasel and Kleinbasel, sole traders, property owners, families, and also employees of the large life sciences employers and cross-border workers from France and Germany. These prospects search for Treuhand Basel or accountant Basel on their phone and often choose among the three listings shown on the map. A redesign that changes office page URLs, the phone number format or the opening hours without updating the listing can push the firm down those results.
| Local element | Where it appears | What breaks in a redesign | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact company name | site, Google Business Profile, local.ch, search.ch | variant with or without AG | one spelling, checked by the firm |
| Office address | footer, contact page, directories | office page moved | URL kept or 301, listing updated |
| Phone | header, listing, directories | new switchboard not carried over | same number, same format everywhere |
| Opening hours | listing, contact page | summer hours forgotten | updated on switch day |
| Website link in the listing | Google Business Profile | points to a deleted page | link to the new office page |
| Structured data | office page code | dropped by the new theme | LocalBusiness or AccountingService markup |
What does the redesign cost in Basel in 2026?
Ranges from typical quotes by Basel agencies and freelancers for 15 to 30 pages.
| Option | Budget (2026 ballpark) | Typical timeline | Local search handled? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basel freelancer | CHF 5,000 to 12,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | rarely |
| Local agency | CHF 15,000 to 28,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | often as an option |
| Established agency | CHF 28,000 to 45,000 | 10 to 14 weeks | yes, with monthly follow-up |
| Kolonell Starter | CHF 2,700 fixed | 3 to 4 weeks | office pages and basic markup |
| Kolonell Growth | CHF 4,500 fixed | 3 to 4 weeks | same, plus guides and fees |
| Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) | CHF 8,200 fixed | 3 to 4 weeks | same, in German and English |
The Kolonell price includes a project manager reachable in the Swiss time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. German copy is supplied by the firm or an independent German-speaking copywriter (third-party cost). The following stay on quote: client portal, secure document exchange, e-signature, links to Bexio, Abacus or other accounting software, and any ongoing search optimisation work. These tools are linked or embedded, never rebuilt inside a fixed-price site. As a professional services reference, Kolonell built the website of TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a signing services company in New Jersey. Tier details are on the Kolonell international offer.
What timeline, which risks, which questions?
| Days | Step | Local search check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | URL inventory, 301 map | list of existing listings and directories |
| 4 to 7 | structure, mock-ups, office pages | one page per office, map and access |
| 8 to 14 | migration of service pages, guides, fees | identical name, address, phone |
| 15 to 17 | compliance review by the firm | titles, nLPD notices, minimal form |
| 18 to 20 | switch and monitoring | Google listing and directories updated the same day |
These 20 working days, so 3 to 4 weeks, start once content is ready. Filing deadlines vary by canton, with a peak in spring: aim for a go-live in summer or autumn, away from year-end closings too.
The risks to cover: lost rankings on service and fee pages (tested 301 map, Search Console monitoring), tax guides migrated without review (each guide is dated and reviewed by the firm), broken links to the client portal, downtime during the DNS switch, and over-curious forms. A public form collects name, contact and type of need, never an AHV number, bank statement or salary certificate. Titles shown remain those the team actually holds: membership of EXPERTsuisse or TREUHAND|SUISSE is not a state licence, and only auditors licensed by the Federal Audit Oversight Authority (FAOA) may present themselves as such. The nLPD, in force since 1 September 2023 and supervised by the FDPIC, governs client data; the GDPR also matters for cross-border workers resident in the European Union. Anti-money-laundering onboarding of new clients remains the firm's own process. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask: who updates the Google listing on switch day? Do office pages keep their URL? Is the structured data markup tested?
When a Basel agency is still the better choice. If you want monthly in-person local search follow-up, a new brand identity or a custom-built client portal, an established Basel agency is justified.
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Brändli und Tochter Treuhand AG (illustrative example) is a family firm now run by the second generation, with one office in Grossbasel and another in Allschwil. The site dates from 2015 and each office shows a different address on three directories.
- Kolonell Premium (German and English): CHF 8,200
- German copy by an independent copywriter (third-party cost): CHF 2,400
- Local photographer for team and offices (third-party cost): CHF 1,200
- Total: CHF 11,800, against a hypothetical local quote of CHF 26,000, a gap of CHF 14,200.
On the local search side, 14 directory listings need aligning, at about 1 hour each for a staff member: 14 hours of internal work, scheduled in the week of the switch.
FAQ
Do we need one page per office?
Yes: one page per address, with map, hours and phone, linked to its own Google listing. For 2 offices, that means 2 pages and 2 listings to align.
Will the redesign make us lose our Google reviews?
No, reviews belong to the listing, not the website. You only need to update the website link in the listing on switch day, a 5 minute task.
Do we need a page for cross-border workers?
A page describing the services offered to cross-border workers, in German and English, can help, without tax advice online. It fits within the Premium tier at CHF 8,200.
How many 301 redirects should we plan?
Often 30 to 70 for a 15 to 30 page firm site. Office and fee pages come first.
When should we go live?
In summer or autumn, outside the spring filing peak. To price your redesign, request a free quote.
Let's scope your project. A 15 to 30 page redesign with office pages and local search preserved, from CHF 4,500 to 8,200, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
