The verdict in three sentences
In Geneva, an architecture firm website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 12 000 and 40 000 CHF, and more for a practice that wants a very rich project archive or interactive 3D models. Kolonell builds the portfolio, the practice and partner pages and the enquiry journey for a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth, with native French copy. The useful comparison covers the 3-year total cost, photography of your completed buildings (a Geneva agency can arrange it on site, Kolonell cannot) and the exact presentation of your qualifications, a sensitive point in Geneva.
This version is written for the English-speaking partners of architecture practices in Geneva, many of whom work for international organisations and foreign investors.
What do Geneva agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of agencies in French-speaking Switzerland, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles of Geneva agencies, hourly rates commonly published by Swiss digital agencies (often 130 to 200 CHF per hour) and rates visible on Malt or Upwork. They vary with the number of projects published, the languages and the level of animation required.
| Criterion | Geneva agency | Geneva freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 12 000 to 40 000 CHF and up | 3 500 to 12 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 130 to 200 CHF per hour | Often 85 to 130 CHF per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Photo shoot of completed buildings | Often offered as an option | Rarely | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Project page copy | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native French or English included |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Kolonell's project manager works in your time zone: Google Meet calls at an hour that suits the practice, a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Geneva depending on the season. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. What each tier covers is detailed on our international website offer.
Which 3-year cost should you put side by side?
A practice pays far more than the build: hosting, maintenance, new project pages after each completion, photo shoots. The table keeps the same maintenance assumption on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | Geneva agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 20 000 CHF | 4 500 CHF |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 160 CHF per month over 33 months, 5 280 CHF | 5 280 CHF, maintenance quoted on request |
| 6 new project pages over 3 years | 8 hours at 160 CHF, 1 280 CHF | Quoted beforehand, assumption 800 CHF |
| Photo shoot of 2 completed buildings | 2 400 CHF option | Local photographer booked separately, 2 400 CHF |
| Indicative total | 28 960 CHF | 12 980 CHF |
These amounts structure the comparison; they do not predict an invoice. Have every supplier fill in the same grid.
What does each Kolonell tier cover for an architecture practice?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Up to 8 completed projects | Filterable portfolio (housing, public buildings, renovation, competitions) | Full archive, project pages with drawings, phases and credits |
| Practice and partners | One practice page | Partner profiles with titles and registrations | Detailed profiles, awards, publications |
| Competitions and news | No | News section | Competitions, lectures and press |
| Enquiry form | Included | Included, sorted by type of commission | Journeys for clients, recruits and press |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
An extranet to share drawings and meeting minutes with clients is a custom application, quoted on request, as is ongoing search work.
What does a Geneva architecture firm website need?
Geneva practices work on a constrained territory that keeps densifying: the large Praille-Acacias-Vernets project, the districts around the Léman Express stations, rooftop extensions and the energy renovation of existing buildings, plus commissions from international organisations and foreign investors. Clients range from public-law housing foundations and cooperatives to property managers, developers and private owners, often on both sides of the French border. The site has to speak to all of them:
- Precise project pages: client, type of commission (competition, parallel study, direct commission), phases delivered, floor areas, partners, photographer.
- Renovation and energy performance presented factually, with labels named only if obtained.
- French first, English for international clients and recruitment.
- Optimised images that display quickly on mobile.
- A competitions page, useful for juries and job applicants alike.
On compliance, the facts only. In Geneva the profession is regulated: filing building permit applications is reserved for qualified professionals (mandataires professionnellement qualifiés, MPQ) listed on the cantonal register. The site must show MPQ registration, any REG listing and SIA or FAS membership exactly, and only if they are real. Architectural photographs are protected by copyright: the photographer's licence must cover web use. Forms and analytics fall under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023. This is not legal advice.
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Which red flags should you look for in a quote?
- A lump sum with no list of templates and no number of project pages included.
- Professional titles copied without checking in the partner profiles.
- A domain or hosting account in the agency's name.
- Images weighing several megabytes with no compression planned.
- No mention of photo licences for published projects.
- Mandatory multi-year maintenance with no way to take back control.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Nathalie B., partner in an 8-person practice in Eaux-Vives specialising in rooftop extensions and renovation, receives two proposals. A Geneva agency quotes 22 000 CHF for a bilingual French and English site, delivered in 12 weeks. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 CHF, bilingual FR/EN included, with a written 5-week schedule; the practice already holds licensed photos.
Build: 22 000 CHF against 8 200 CHF, a 13 800 CHF gap. With the same maintenance assumption of 170 CHF a month over the 30 months after Premium's 6 months of support (5 100 CHF each side), the 3-year totals become 27 100 CHF and 13 300 CHF. Nathalie keeps the local agency in mind for a future presentation film shot on her building sites.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website cost in Geneva in 2026?
With a local agency, expect 12 000 to 40 000 CHF depending on scope, and 3 500 to 12 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF.
Can the site be in French and English?
Yes, the bilingual FR/EN site is included in Premium at 8 200 CHF, with native copy in both languages. A German version is supplied by the practice or quoted separately.
Who photographs our completed projects?
The practice supplies its images or books a Geneva architectural photographer, often 1 200 to 2 500 CHF per project based on published rates. Kolonell does not shoot on site.
How should partners' titles be shown?
Exactly as they appear in the registers: MPQ, REG, SIA or FAS, only if held. The practice approves every profile before launch, planned within 3 to 4 weeks.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 2 250 CHF.
Let's scope your project. Send us your list of completed projects, your photos and the languages you need, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. 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.
