The verdict in three sentences
For a Montreux accounting and tax firm, a website redesign in 2026 costs roughly CHF 9,000 to 21,500 with a Riviera agency, compared with CHF 4,500 (Growth, one language) or CHF 8,200 (Premium, the multilingual tier) at Kolonell. The most fragile part is not the home page: it is local visibility, meaning the Google Business Profile, a page for each office and the same name, address and phone number everywhere after the switch. Allow 3 to 4 weeks of build once the copy is approved, and go live outside the Vaud filing peak.
The signals that a redesign is due
In a family firm on the Riviera, between Montreux, Clarens, Territet and Vevey, the redesign is often triggered by concrete issues: the next generation has taken over and the site still shows the old team, international residents find no page in English, or prospects see three different addresses depending on the directory. Another common one: a contact form asking for an AHV number or a copy of a tax return, which the nLPD does not justify for a first enquiry.
What does the redesign cost, line by line?
Ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages from local agencies.
| Item | Riviera agency | Freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and structure | CHF 4,000 to 9,000 | CHF 2,000 to 4,500 | Included |
| French copy | CHF 2,000 to 5,000 | CHF 0 to 2,000 (often supplied by the firm) | Included, native copywriting |
| English version | CHF 1,500 to 4,000 | CHF 800 to 1,500 (third-party translator) | Premium, languages set in the quote |
| Office pages and local markup | CHF 800 to 2,000 | CHF 300 to 800 | Included |
| 301 redirect map | CHF 600 to 1,500 | CHF 0 to 500 (often forgotten) | Included |
| Client portal, e-signature | On quote | Rarely offered | On quote |
| Indicative total | CHF 8,900 to 21,500 | CHF 3,100 to 9,300 | CHF 4,500 or 8,200 |
Starter at CHF 2,700 suits a one-person practice with a compact site. Every Kolonell package includes a project manager reachable in Swiss time, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support; maintenance afterwards is on quote. The portal, secure document exchange and links to Bexio, Abacus or similar software stay outside the grid: the site links to or embeds them, it does not rebuild them.
How do you keep local visibility after the redesign?
A Riviera firm lives largely on searches such as "fiduciaire Montreux" or "accountant Vevey". Those positions depend as much on the Google profile as on the website.
| Element | Before the redesign | After go-live | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Links to the old home page | Links to the relevant office page | Firm, with the provider |
| Name, address, phone | "Fid. X & Fils" here, "X SA" there | Same legal name everywhere | Firm |
| Office pages | One Contact page for two addresses | One page per office: map, hours, access | Provider |
| local.ch and search.ch listings | Old number, former partner | Updated on launch day | Firm |
| Client reviews | Unanswered | Short replies, never any client data | Firm |
| Structured data | None | AccountingService markup per office | Provider |
| Search Console | Owned by the previous provider | Ownership transferred to the firm | Both |
Service pages that already rank (bookkeeping, payroll, tax returns, VAT, audit where the firm is licensed) and the fee page go through a URL inventory and a 301 map tested on staging. Changing the address on the Google profile at the same time as the switch can trigger re-verification: spread the changes out.
Timeline, risks and questions to ask
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable | What the firm provides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory | 2 to 3 days | URL list and 301 map | Search Console access |
| Structure and design | Week 1 | Key page mock-ups | Logo, brand guide, photos |
| Build | Week 2 | Site on staging | Approved copy |
| Content and local | Week 3 | Office pages, markup, forms | Exact hours and addresses |
| Review and switch | Week 4 | Go-live, sitemap submitted | Compliance sign-off |
Risks to watch: a DNS switch in the middle of a client day (prefer an evening, with the TTL lowered the day before), broken portal links, fee figures copied without review, and above all badly worded titles. "Expert-fiduciaire diplômé", "expert-comptable diplômé", membership of EXPERTsuisse or TREUHAND|SUISSE and audit work under a licence from the Federal Audit Oversight Authority (FAOA) appear only if the firm actually holds them; association membership is not a state licence. The nLPD, in force since 1 September 2023, requires a clear privacy notice; for clients living in the EU, the GDPR may also apply. Anti-money-laundering checks remain the firm's own process. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask: Who updates the Google profile and the directories? Is the 301 map delivered in writing? Who owns the domain and Search Console? What falls outside the grid?
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When a local agency is better. If the redesign comes with a name change after the succession, an identity workshop, partner photo shoots and in-person support in Montreux, a Riviera agency at CHF 15,000 and up keeps the advantage of proximity.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example, fictional firm.* Fiduciaire Rochebrune & Fils SA in Clarens is now in its second generation: Claire Rochebrune took over the firm her father founded, with a second office in central Montreux. Before the redesign: 2 Google profiles, 9 directory listings including 4 with an old number, 26 URLs of which 11 had clicks over 12 months.
- Kolonell Premium, French and English: CHF 8,200
- Local photographer for partner portraits (third-party cost): CHF 700
- Total: CHF 8,900, against CHF 17,000 for a hypothetical agency quote, a difference of CHF 8,100
- Updating the 9 directory listings in-house: about 6 hours
- Redirects: 11 URLs with one-to-one 301s, 15 merged or retired, 11 + 15 = 26
Go-live set for the autumn, well away from the filing peak.
FAQ
Does the Google Business Profile change with the redesign?
Only the website link should change, to the office page. Keep the name, address and phone identical on both profiles to avoid re-verification.
Do we need one page per office?
Yes, from 2 addresses. Each page carries its hours, map and local markup, and the matching Google profile points to it.
Is English essential in Montreux?
For a clientele of international residents, often. It sits in Premium at CHF 8,200, the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote.
How long before rankings recover?
With a complete 301 map, fluctuations usually last 2 to 6 weeks. Without redirects, pages can drop out of results.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your offices, languages and go-live window, and you will receive a fixed CHF budget with a 3 to 4 week plan. 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.
