The verdict in three sentences
In Bellevue, an architecture firm website built by a Seattle or Eastside agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 20 000 and 75 000 USD, one of the highest price levels in the United States, pushed up by tech sector salaries. Kolonell builds the portfolio, the residential and tenant improvement pages and the inquiry form for a fixed price of 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. The point to weigh honestly is the 7 to 8 hour time difference with our team, set against a 3-year cost often cut by a factor of three.
How do Eastside agency quotes compare with a freelancer and Kolonell?
These ranges are prudent ballparks. They rest on public rate cards of Seattle and Bellevue agencies, minimum budgets listed on Clutch.co profiles (often 10 000 to 25 000 USD for studios in the region), locally published hourly rates (150 to 225 USD per hour at agencies) and rates visible on Upwork for Washington State developers.
| Criterion | Seattle or Bellevue agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 20 000 to 75 000 USD and up | 5 000 to 18 000 USD | 2 900 / 4 900 / 8 900 USD, fixed |
| Hourly rate outside scope | Often 150 to 225 USD | Often 90 to 150 USD | Written quote before any work |
| Usual timeline | 12 to 18 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| On-site photo and video | Possible, often an option | Rarely | No: your images or a local photographer |
| Project copy | Often extra | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Meetings | In person possible | In person possible | Google Meet only, no in-person meetings |
| Ownership | Check | Check | Domain in your name, access handed over |
Our team is based in Senegal (GMT), 7 to 8 hours ahead of Pacific time. In practice, an 8 a.m. call in Bellevue lands in our late afternoon, and the weekly written update is in your inbox when you arrive at the office. Payment by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. Everything is detailed on the Kolonell international offer.
What does a Bellevue practice pay over three years?
| Item over 36 months | Eastside agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 35 000 USD | 4 900 USD |
| Support after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (identical assumption) | 250 USD per month over 33 months, 8 250 USD | 8 250 USD, maintenance quoted on request |
| 6 projects added over 3 years | 12 hours at 175 USD, 2 100 USD | Quoted beforehand, assumption 1 200 USD |
| Web licence for existing photos | 1 800 USD | 1 800 USD |
| Indicative total | 47 150 USD | 16 150 USD |
Maintenance is deliberately identical on both sides: at Kolonell it is quoted on request after the support period. This table aligns quotes; it does not predict an invoice.
Which Kolonell tier fits an Eastside practice?
| Item | Starter 2 900 USD | Growth 4 900 USD | Premium 8 900 USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 8 flagship projects | Page per project, filters for residential, commercial, multifamily | Case studies with challenges, plans and project facts |
| Service pages | One page | Custom homes, office tenant improvements, additions | One page per segment and client type |
| Team | Team page | Profiles, licences, LEED credentials where held | Full profiles, talks, publications |
| Form | Simple contact | Project type, lot, budget, schedule | Separate journeys for homeowners and companies |
| Bilingual FR/EN | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A Mandarin or Hindi version, both widely spoken in Bellevue, is possible if you supply the texts, or quoted separately. A client portal to follow design phases is a custom application, quoted on request.
What do Bellevue clients expect from an architect's website?
The Eastside combines custom homes in Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point and on Mercer Island, infill and additions in older neighbourhoods, and office fit-outs for tech companies in downtown Bellevue and Redmond. Clients are often engineers or executives used to polished digital products: a slow or sloppy site makes them doubt the practice.
- Precise project pages: floor area, sloped lot, site constraints, materials, construction duration.
- Slopes and terrain: many Eastside parcels are steep or wooded; showing how the firm handles these constraints reassures.
- Exact credentials: the architect title is protected and practice in the state falls under the Washington State Board of Registration for Architects. Only licensed people are presented as architects.
- Licensed images: architectural photographers often grant limited rights; web use must appear in the licence.
- Accessibility: the ADA is frequently invoked against inaccessible sites; aim for WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Little data: a form asking for the essentials (project type, approximate address, budget) is enough, with a privacy policy that matches the applicable law.
This is not legal advice.
Which questions should you ask before signing?
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- How many project pages and pages overall are included, in writing?
- Who writes the copy, and with how many rounds of revisions?
- Are the domain, hosting and code in your name?
- What is the hourly rate after delivery, and when does it apply?
- Does the site stay fast with 30 projects and 300 photos on a phone?
- Can you switch supplier without losing the site?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Priya S., partner in a 12-person firm that splits its work between custom homes and office fit-outs, compares three offers. A Seattle agency: 38 000 USD over 16 weeks. A Kirkland freelancer: 12 000 USD, no copywriting. Kolonell Growth: 4 900 USD in 4 weeks. In all three cases, the firm pays 1 200 USD to extend its existing photo licence to the web.
Build and photos: 39 200 USD, 13 200 USD and 6 100 USD. With the same 8 250 USD maintenance over 33 months, the 3-year totals become 47 450 USD, 21 450 USD and 14 350 USD. Priya picks Kolonell, sets calls at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and keeps the agency for a future project film.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website cost in Bellevue in 2026?
As a ballpark, 20 000 to 75 000 USD with a Seattle or Eastside agency and 5 000 to 18 000 USD with a freelancer. Kolonell charges 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, fixed price.
Is the 7 to 8 hour time difference a problem?
For a 3 to 4 week website, rarely: calls happen early in the Bellevue morning and the written update arrives every week. If you want in-person workshops, a local agency is a better fit.
Can we show our LEED credentials?
Yes, if they are actually held by the people named. Profiles on the Growth tier at 4 900 USD include licences and credentials.
Is the photo shoot included?
No, Kolonell does not travel. An architectural photographer in the region often charges 2 000 to 4 000 USD per day based on published rates.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
You keep all access and can hand maintenance to anyone you like. If you give it to Kolonell, it is quoted on request.
Let's scope your project. Send us your recent projects, your photo licence terms and your client segments, and we come back with a fixed-price tier delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
