The verdict in three sentences
For a consulting firm's B2B website, a freelancer makes sense below EUR 6,000 if the scope fits in 10 pages and you accept dependency on a single person. A studio (3 to 8 people) offers the best value between EUR 8,000 and 15,000, with design, development and SEO under one roof. An agency is justified above EUR 20,000 once the site carries CRM integrations, multiple languages, editorial governance and a contractual maintenance commitment.
Why three quotes for the same site vary from 1 to 6
The price of a B2B website in a major European capital such as London or Paris breaks down into person-days multiplied by an average day rate. What differs between the three providers is the number of days quoted, the seniority of the people and what is actually included. Figures below are in EUR excluding VAT (roughly GBP 3,850, 9,400 and 22,200).
| Criterion | Freelancer | Studio | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote received (12 to 15 page site) | EUR 4,500 | EUR 11,000 | EUR 26,000 |
| Average day rate 2026 | EUR 450 | EUR 650 | EUR 850 |
| Person-days quoted | 10 | 17 | 30 |
| People involved | 1 (all-round dev) | 3 (UX/UI, dev, SEO) | 5 to 6 (PM, UX, UI, dev, SEO, copy) |
| Announced timeline | 5 to 6 weeks | 7 to 9 weeks | 10 to 12 weeks |
| Post-launch warranty | 1 month, often verbal | 3 months | 6 to 12 months in contract |
| Scoping workshop | None or 1 h | Half a day | 2 to 3 workshops |
The freelancer does not quote workshops, copywriting or formal acceptance testing: those tasks land on your side. The agency bills project management, on average 15 to 20% of the budget. The studio sits in the middle: a project lead who also codes or designs, so lower coordination costs.
The risks the price does not show
A low quote can cost more over three years. The items to assess are continuity of service, code ownership and the cost of a takeover by a third party if the relationship ends.
| Risk (2026 order of magnitude) | Freelancer | Studio | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probability of unavailability over 3 years | High (30 to 40%) | Medium (10 to 15%) | Low (under 5%) |
| Takeover cost by another provider | EUR 2,000 to 4,000 | EUR 1,500 to 3,000 | EUR 1,000 to 2,000 (documented code) |
| Professional indemnity insurance | Variable | Yes | Yes, high ceilings |
| Monthly maintenance offered | EUR 80 to 150 | EUR 150 to 350 | EUR 400 to 900 |
| 3-year total cost (build + maintenance) | EUR 7,400 to 9,900 | EUR 16,400 to 23,600 | EUR 40,400 to 58,400 |
| Late-delivery penalties in contract | Rare | Sometimes | Frequent |
The main freelancer risk is dependency: one person holds the access, the hosting and the knowledge of the code. In every case, require an assignment of rights, admin access in your name and the code stored in a Git repository you own.
Decision grid for your situation
| Your need | Recommended provider | Realistic budget |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 10 page brochure site, content ready | Experienced freelancer | EUR 3,500 to 6,000 |
| Firm website with blog and basic SEO | Studio | EUR 8,000 to 12,000 |
| Bilingual site with case studies | Senior studio or small agency | EUR 12,000 to 18,000 |
| HubSpot or Salesforce integration, qualified forms | Agency or specialist studio | EUR 18,000 to 30,000 |
| Multi-contributor governance, approval workflow | Agency | EUR 25,000 to 45,000 |
| Ongoing maintenance and improvements | Studio or agency under contract | EUR 2,000 to 10,000 per year |
Rule of thumb: if the site must generate measurable leads (forms connected to the CRM, pages per expertise, regular content), move beyond the solo freelancer model. If the goal is a credible business card, a freelancer is enough.
Mini case study
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Thomas runs a 25-consultant advisory firm and is weighing the three quotes. His average engagement is worth EUR 45,000 and he targets 4 extra engagements a year from the website. With the freelancer (EUR 4,500), he gets a clean site but no expertise pages or CRM connection: he estimates 1 inbound engagement a year. With the studio (EUR 11,000), he adds 6 optimised expertise pages and a form wired to his CRM: estimate 3 engagements. The EUR 6,500 gap is repaid by the first extra engagement, a payback under 6 months. The EUR 26,000 agency only adds value if he also runs a monthly content strategy, which he does not yet have the resources to produce. He picks the studio, with a maintenance contract at EUR 250 per month.
FAQ
Can a freelancer deliver a B2B website as good as an agency?
Yes for a scope limited to 10 to 15 pages and a senior developer at EUR 500 a day or more. The difference lies in scoping, copywriting and continuity: plan 20 to 30% more internal time on your side.
How do I compare three quotes with different scopes?
Convert each quote into person-days and list the deliverables: workshops, mock-ups, revision rounds, acceptance testing, training. A EUR 4,500 quote without copy or SEO often becomes EUR 7,000 once those items are added.
What deposit is normal in 2026?
Between 30 and 40% on order, then 30 to 40% on mock-up approval and the balance at launch. Be wary of a deposit above 50%, especially from a provider without a track record.
Is a studio a good compromise for a consulting firm?
In most cases, yes: EUR 8,000 to 15,000, 7 to 9 weeks and a single contact who handles both design and tech. Check that it has at least two developers to avoid dependency.
Should I budget maintenance from the start?
Yes, plan 2 to 4% of the build cost per month for updates, security and small changes. Without a contract, an unpatched vulnerability costs on average EUR 1,500 to 3,000 to clean up.
Let's scope your project. Send us your three quotes and your scope: we will tell you the right model, a realistic budget and a 6 to 10 week timeline. 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.
