The verdict in three sentences
On the Vaud Riviera, an architecture firm website built by an agency in Montreux, Vevey or Lausanne costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 10 000 and 35 000 CHF, and more with a separately written English version and a custom portfolio. Kolonell delivers the portfolio, project pages and enquiry form for a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF, with a bilingual French and English site included from Premium. What separates the offers is the 3-year total cost, who produces the photography (Kolonell does not visit your sites) and how precisely the site presents qualifications and completed work.
This version is written for the English-speaking partners of architecture practices on the Montreux Riviera, and for the international owners who commission them.
What do Riviera agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
These ranges are prudent ballparks. They draw on public rate cards of agencies in French-speaking Switzerland, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by Vaud digital agencies (often 120 to 190 CHF per hour) and rates visible on Malt and Upwork. The number of projects, the languages and how custom the portfolio is can triple the price.
| Criterion | Riviera or Lausanne agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 10 000 to 35 000 CHF and up | 3 500 to 10 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed |
| English version | Often 2 000 to 5 000 CHF extra | Rarely offered | Included on Premium, native copy |
| Work outside scope | Often 120 to 190 CHF per hour | Often 80 to 130 CHF per hour | Additions quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Photos on site | Can coordinate locally | Rarely | Not included: your images or your photographer |
| Meetings at your office | Yes | Yes | No: Google Meet calls at your hour |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. A project manager follows the project in your time zone, with a written update every week. The team works from Senegal (GMT), one hour behind Montreux in winter and two in summer. The tiers are detailed on our international website offer.
A Riviera agency keeps real strengths: meetings at your office, site visits with the photographer, close knowledge of the local fabric. If those weigh more than the budget, it is a sound choice.
Over three years, which bill should you really compare?
A practice completing two or three buildings a year keeps its site moving. The table assumes the same maintenance budget on both sides over 30 months, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | Riviera agency (mid range) | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 17 000 CHF | 8 200 CHF |
| Full English version | 3 000 CHF | Included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 140 CHF per month over 30 months, 4 200 CHF | 4 200 CHF, quoted on request |
| 8 new projects over 3 years | 8 hours at 160 CHF, 1 280 CHF | Quoted beforehand, assumption 800 CHF |
| Photos of 2 completed buildings | 3 000 CHF | 3 000 CHF, photographer booked by you |
| Indicative total | 28 480 CHF | 16 200 CHF |
This table aligns quotes; it does not predict your invoice. Have every supplier fill it in with the same assumptions.
What does each tier include for an architecture practice?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed work | Gallery of main projects | One page per project with photos, drawings and data | Portfolio filterable by type: villa, housing, heritage, hospitality |
| Practice approach | Introduction page | Approach, expertise and team pages | Detailed pages, publications, awards |
| Enquiries | Simple form | Form sorted by project type | Structured project brief |
| Languages | French or English | French or English | Bilingual FR/EN 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 |
Kolonell has, for instance, delivered the bilingual FR/EN site of TR Signing Group, a notary and apostille service in New Jersey, with appointment booking and a back office. A construction progress extranet for your clients or a drawing-sharing area is a custom application, quoted on request, as is ongoing search work. A German or Italian version is supplied by the practice or quoted separately.
What should an architect's website in Montreux show?
Commissions on the Riviera have a distinct profile: conversions of villas and apartments with lake views, renovation of Belle Époque and listed buildings, projects on steep plots, and work within the Lavaux area, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007. Part of the clients are foreign residents, executives of international companies around Lake Geneva or owners who live elsewhere part of the year, hence the value of an English version.
- Careful heritage pages: initial state, constraints, design choices, with the owner's consent and no precise address for private homes.
- Discretion: many clients refuse to be named; plan anonymised projects.
- Exact qualifications: the canton of Vaud regulates who may prepare plans submitted for public inquiry, and REG registration or SIA or FAS membership are distinct credentials. Each partner is presented exactly according to their titles.
- Clear photo rights: the photographer's licence must cover the site and social media, with credit.
- Optimised images: 8 MB lake panoramas slow the whole site down on mobile.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
On compliance, the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP) has been in force since 1 September 2023: forms, cookies and analytics tools need a suitable privacy notice. The GDPR may apply if the site actively targets visitors in the European Union. WCAG 2.1 AA remains the technical reference for accessibility. This is not legal advice.
Which questions should you ask before signing?
- Who writes the English version, and is it priced in the quote?
- Are the domain and hosting in our name from day one?
- What does adding a project cost once the site is live?
- Are the photos cleared for web use, or is a licence needed?
- What is the written timeline, and what happens if it slips?
- Can we leave the supplier with all access and content?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Sophie M., partner of a five-person practice in Montreux focused on villa conversions and heritage renovation, wants a French and English site. A Lausanne agency quotes 18 000 CHF plus 3 000 CHF for the English version, delivered in 12 weeks. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 CHF, bilingual included, with a written 6-week schedule.
Build: 21 000 CHF versus 8 200 CHF, a 12 800 CHF gap. With the same maintenance over 30 months (4 200 CHF on each side) and a Riviera photographer booked in both cases for 1 800 CHF, the 3-year total comes to 27 000 CHF versus 14 200 CHF. Sophie picks Kolonell and books the photographer herself for two recent buildings.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website cost in Montreux in 2026?
Expect a ballpark of 10 000 to 35 000 CHF with a Riviera or Lausanne agency, and 3 500 to 10 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF.
Is the English version included?
Yes on Premium at 8 200 CHF, written natively. On Starter and Growth, the site is in French or English, your choice.
Can Kolonell come and photograph our buildings?
No, Kolonell does no on-site shoots or meetings. A regional architectural photographer often costs 1 000 to 2 000 CHF for a half day based on published rates.
Can we show projects without naming clients?
Yes, and it is common on the Riviera. Each project page can stay anonymous, with no address, from Growth at 4 500 CHF.
How is the project paid?
By bank transfer or Wise, in two parts: 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery. On Premium, two payments of 4 100 CHF.
Let's scope your project. Send us your flagship projects, your languages and the photos you have, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline, or a written schedule on Premium. 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.
