The verdict in three sentences
In George Town, an architecture firm website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 8 000 and 30 000 KYD, about 9 800 to 36 600 USD, and more for an image-heavy portfolio with video. Kolonell builds the project portfolio, service pages and project enquiry journey for a fixed price of 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. The real comparison is the 3-year total cost, who handles photography of completed projects (a Grand Cayman agency can arrange it on site, Kolonell cannot) and how each quote treats enquiry data.
What do George Town agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of agencies in the Cayman Islands and Florida, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by local agencies (often 100 to 160 KYD per hour, about 120 to 195 USD) and rates visible on Upwork. The Cayman dollar is pegged to the US dollar (1 KYD is about 1.22 USD), and many local quotes are issued in USD anyway.
| Criterion | George Town agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 8 000 to 30 000 KYD (9 800 to 36 600 USD) | 2 500 to 8 000 KYD (3 000 to 9 800 USD) | 2 900 / 4 900 / 8 900 USD, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 100 to 160 KYD per hour | Often 60 to 110 KYD 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 |
| Photos of completed projects | Often offered as an option | Rarely | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Project page copy | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in the firm's name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery. A project manager works in your time zone, with Google Meet calls at a time that suits the practice and a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), five hours ahead of George Town all year: your mornings are our afternoons. Full details are on our international website offer.
Which 3-year total cost should you compare?
The build price is only part of the bill. A practice also pays for hosting, maintenance, new completed projects and photography. The table assumes the same maintenance budget on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | George Town agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 22 000 USD | 4 900 USD |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 200 USD per month over 33 months, 6 600 USD | 6 600 USD, maintenance quoted on request |
| 5 new project pages over 3 years | 10 hours at 150 USD, 1 500 USD | Quoted beforehand, assumption 1 000 USD |
| Architectural photography | Option, 2 500 USD | Local photographer booked separately, 2 500 USD |
| Indicative total | 32 600 USD | 15 000 USD |
These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each Kolonell tier include for an architecture firm?
| Item | Starter 2 900 USD | Growth 4 900 USD | Premium 8 900 USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project portfolio | Selection of flagship projects | One page per project, filterable by type | Full structure, detailed case studies |
| Service pages | Residential, commercial, interiors | One page per service, including planning applications | Pages by service and by client type |
| Team and qualifications | Team page | One profile per architect with exact registrations | Detailed profiles, languages spoken |
| Project enquiry form | Included | Included, sorted by project type | Journey per project type |
| 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 |
A client extranet for sharing drawings and site reports is a custom application, quoted on request. So is ongoing search work.
What does a George Town architecture firm need online?
On Grand Cayman, a practice's clients are often second-home owners from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom, condominium developers along Seven Mile Beach, and financial services firms fitting out offices in George Town or Camana Bay. Many discover the firm from abroad, before their first visit. The site has to build trust at a distance:
- Factual project pages: brief, floor area, the firm's exact role (design, site supervision, interiors), partner credits.
- A page on tropical design: hurricane resistance, natural ventilation, materials suited to salt air, water risk management.
- A plain explanation of the approval route with the Central Planning Authority, with no promised timeline.
- Qualifications stated exactly: many architects on Grand Cayman hold registrations abroad (ARB in the UK, US state boards, Canadian provincial associations). The site must state each registration as held, with no misuse of the title.
- Photos under a clear licence: the photographer's contract must cover web and social media use.
On compliance, the facts only. The Cayman Islands Data Protection Act has applied since 30 September 2019 and covers forms, cookies and the use of prospects' contact details. For European clients, the GDPR may also come into play. WCAG 2.1 AA remains a sound technical accessibility reference. This is not legal advice.
How do you compare quotes, and which red flags matter?
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- A price without a written scope: ask for the list of pages, number of project pages and integrations.
- A domain registered in the supplier's name: it must be in the firm's name.
- No copywriting in the quote: without texts, a portfolio sits empty for weeks.
- Project photos used without checking the photographer's licence.
- Mandatory long-term maintenance with no way to take back control.
- A pitch focused on style rather than enquiries: the site has to bring qualified project requests.
Our first North American client, TR Signing Group (notary and apostille services in New Jersey), received a bilingual FR/EN site with a full back office, handled entirely remotely: that is the working model a George Town practice can expect.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Marcus T., principal of a six-person George Town practice focused on villas and office fit-outs, receives two proposals. A local agency quotes 24 000 USD, plus 3 000 USD of optional photography, delivered in 14 weeks. Kolonell proposes Growth at 4 900 USD, delivered in 4 weeks, with a Grand Cayman architectural photographer booked separately for 2 800 USD.
Build and photos: 27 000 USD with the agency versus 7 700 USD with Kolonell, a 19 300 USD gap. With the same maintenance assumption over 33 months (180 USD per month, 5 940 USD on each side), the 3-year total becomes 32 940 USD versus 13 640 USD. Marcus picks the second option, and would keep the local agency in mind if the practice wanted a presentation film shot on its sites.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website cost in George Town in 2026?
With a local agency, expect a ballpark of 8 000 to 30 000 KYD (about 9 800 to 36 600 USD), and 2 500 to 8 000 KYD with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD.
Is project photography included?
No. The practice supplies its images or books a local architectural photographer, often 1 500 to 3 000 USD a day based on published rates. This is a genuine advantage of Grand Cayman agencies, which can arrange it on site.
Is the time difference a problem?
George Town is five hours behind our team, with no daylight saving change. Calls fit into your mornings, and you get a written update every week during the 3 to 4 week project.
Can my site be in English and French?
Yes, the bilingual FR/EN site is included in Premium at 8 900 USD. Another language, such as Spanish for Latin American clients, is supplied by the practice or quoted separately.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 2 450 USD.
Let's scope your project. Send us your flagship projects, your services and the photos you already have, 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.