Website requirements checklist for an accounting and tax firm in Dublin before asking for quotes (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

An accounting and tax firm in Dublin that sends agencies a short email usually gets quotes ranging from about €3,000 to €30,000, because nobody knows whether a client portal, document exchange or booking tool is in scope. A requirements checklist written before asking for quotes, covering audiences, pages, regulated titles, GDPR-compliant forms, integrations on separate lines and a launch date outside the October and November filing peak, makes those quotes comparable. Measured against it, Kolonell's fixed grid is simple: €2,700 (Starter), €4,500 (Growth), €8,200 (Premium), with portals and integrations on quote.

What must the specification answer before you contact anyone?

Your document answers each block in writing.

Who is the site for, and what should they do?

• Main audiences: owner-managed businesses, the Irish entities of multinationals, contractors and sole traders (stay general, describe services rather than client names)
• One primary action: a consultation request or a call, measured monthly
• Office locations shown, for example Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Sandyford or the IFSC

Which pages and templates?

• Home, services (audit, tax, payroll, company secretarial, advisory), sector pages, team, careers, insights, contact, privacy and cookie notices
• Templates: service page, team profile, insight article
• Page count at launch, typically 15 to 25

Who writes, approves and signs off?

• A named partner approves all copy; technical tax content reviewed by a qualified colleague
• Titles such as Chartered Accountant or Chartered Tax Adviser used only by people entitled to them, in line with Chartered Accountants Ireland and Irish Tax Institute rules
• No client counts, tax savings or outcome claims

Which languages?

• English by default; state if any page needs another language (for example for clients of a parent company abroad)

Which integrations, each on its own line?

• Client portal: link only, or embedded login (on quote)
• Secure document exchange: existing tool linked, or new (on quote)
• Meeting booking: existing calendar tool embedded (on quote)
• CRM and newsletter tool, with consent records (on quote)

Data protection, accessibility, ownership

• Forms collect name, email, phone and a general topic; never PPS numbers, tax reference numbers or bank details
• GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and Data Protection Commission guidance applied to privacy notice, retention and cookies
• Accessibility target: WCAG 2.2 AA, and awareness of the European Accessibility Act for any digital service you offer
• Domain, hosting and analytics in the firm's name

Migration, acceptance, timing, budget

• If a site exists: URL inventory, 301 redirect map, Search Console access
• Acceptance criteria: forms tested end to end, no broken links, accessibility checks passed, mobile review signed off
• Launch window outside October and November, and a stated budget range

This is not legal advice; your data protection adviser should approve the privacy notice.

How does a vague brief distort the quotes?

The figures are a 2026 ballpark, based on typical Dublin agency quotes and public rate pages, not a published survey.

How should you score three quotes?

Weights favour data handling, the basis of trust. Each score from 1 to 5 is multiplied by the weight and divided by 5.

How does the Kolonell grid map to the specification?

Every tier includes a project manager reachable in Irish business hours, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. For a professional services reference, Kolonell built the website of TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a signing services company in New Jersey. Full details are on the international offer page.

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Ciarán is managing partner of "Liffeyside Tax & Accounts", a fictional 14-person firm in Sandyford. His first request produced quotes of €3,200, €11,000 and €27,500: one ignored the portal, another priced a custom one.

With the specification above (about 9 hours of partner time), the next quotes landed between €4,500 and €12,000.

• Scenario choice: Growth at €4,500.
• Client portal: outbound link only, no build.
• Secure document exchange: on quote, separate line, if the existing tool needs embedding.
• Local photographer for team profiles (third-party cost, assumed €900).
• Known total before signing: €5,400, with launch planned for mid-September.

The spread between quotes fell from €24,300 to €7,500. The example implies nothing about new clients; it shows how a written specification makes prices comparable.

FAQ

Should the client portal be part of the website quote?

List it on a separate line, even if it is only a link. At Kolonell portals and document exchange are on quote, on top of the €2,700 to €8,200 tiers.

What can a contact form ask for?

Name, email, phone and a general topic are enough. Never PPS numbers, tax references or bank details; GDPR expects data minimisation and a clear privacy notice.

When should an accounting firm launch a new site?

Avoid October and November, when income tax self-assessment deadlines keep the team busy. Mid-September or January leaves room for 3 to 4 weeks of production and review.

Can we describe staff as Chartered Tax Advisers on the site?

Only those who hold the title. Ask a partner to verify all 10 to 15 profiles against current memberships before acceptance.

How long does writing the specification take?

About 8 to 10 hours for a firm of 10 to 20 people. It usually shortens the quoting round to about 2 weeks.

Let's scope your project. Send your specification and we will price it line by line from €2,700, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks and timed outside the filing peak. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.