The verdict in three sentences
A bilateral chamber of commerce website is judged on three modules: the member directory, the events calendar with registration and online membership payments. A bilingual Kolonell Premium site covering these modules costs 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA, i.e. 3,050 to 5,340 EUR, while a London agency typically quotes 15,000 to 40,000 EUR (about 13,000 to 34,000 GBP) for a comparable scope. With membership fees of 300 to 1,400 EUR per company, the site pays for itself once it wins or retains around twenty members.
What a chamber director expects in 2026
The director of a Franco-British, Senegalese-British or Moroccan-British chamber based in London usually manages 150 to 600 member companies, 20 to 40 events a year and a team of 3 to 8 staff. The problem is not having a website but running the association without re-keying: renewal reminders by email, attendee lists in spreadsheets, a PDF directory sent once a year and always out of date.
A well designed site replaces these tasks with a member area where each company updates its profile, registers for events and pays its fee. It also serves as a showcase for investors from the partner country, who browse the directory before a trade mission.
Modules, roles and what they cost
| Module | Key features | Editor roles | Included in Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member directory | Company profile, sector, city, filtered search, export | Member (own profile), staff (approval) | Yes |
| Events calendar | Calendar, registration, capacity, automatic reminder | Staff, events manager | Yes |
| Online membership fees | Scale by company size, PDF receipt, reminders | Treasurer, accountant | Yes, Stripe or bank transfer integration |
| News and publications | Economic briefs, relayed tenders | Communications | Yes |
| Bilingual content | English + partner country language | Translator, director approval | Yes, 2 languages |
| Arabic (RTL) | Full Arabic version | Translator | Optional, quoted separately |
| Partner area | Sponsor logos, member-only offers | Communications | Yes |
Roles matter as much as modules: a treasurer should not be able to edit news, and a member should only see their own profile. Getting permissions right often separates a site that gets used from one abandoned after six months.
Comparing 2026 budgets
| Provider | Website price | Lead time | Hosting and maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| London freelancer | 4,500 to 9,000 EUR | 6 to 12 weeks | Rarely contracted |
| Kolonell Growth (no advanced member area) | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA, i.e. 1,830 to 3,050 EUR | 4 to 6 weeks | Managed hosting 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA a month, i.e. 40 to 110 EUR |
| Kolonell Premium (directory, events, fees) | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA, i.e. 3,050 to 5,340 EUR | 6 to 9 weeks | Maintenance 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month, i.e. 50 to 180 EUR |
| Established London agency | 15,000 to 40,000 EUR | 8 to 16 weeks | 250 to 700 EUR a month |
| Membership SaaS platform | 300 to 900 EUR a month | 2 to 4 weeks | Included, but design and data locked in |
GBP conversions are 2026 orders of magnitude (1 EUR close to 0.85 GBP). For payments, Stripe charges around 1.5 % + 0.20 GBP on UK cards and more on international cards; Bacs or SEPA transfers remain common for invoiced fees.
Mini case study
Catherine, director of a bilateral chamber of commerce in London, has 320 members. The renewal rate is 78 %, with an average fee of 600 EUR. Manual reminders take one staff member about 2 days a month.
Investment: Premium site at about 4,600 EUR, Standard maintenance at 75,000 FCFA, i.e. 110 EUR a month (1,320 EUR a year). First year: 5,920 EUR.
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If online payment and automatic reminders lift renewals from 78 % to 86 %, that means 26 members retained, i.e. 15,600 EUR in fees. The 24 days of chasing saved each year free time to run 3 to 4 extra events.
FAQ
Do we need an Arabic or third-language version?
For a chamber that targets authorities and companies in the partner country, it helps but is rarely mandatory. An Arabic RTL version usually adds 15 to 25 % to the budget, translation included.
How do we collect fees from overseas members?
Stripe accepts international cards. For members in the partner country, a bank transfer to the chamber's account is still common; the site then generates a PDF fee notice with a unique reference.
Does the directory raise data protection issues?
Yes, UK GDPR applies, along with the partner country's data law. Publishing executives' contact details requires explicit consent, which is set up in the member profile.
How long does launch take?
Budget 6 to 9 weeks for Premium, 2 of which go to migrating the existing directory (often 200 to 600 records to clean). The ideal launch date precedes the annual renewal campaign.
Can the site grow into a fuller portal?
Yes, an advanced member area (business matchmaking, introductions, statistics) then becomes a custom application, between 2.5 M and 7 M FCFA (about 3,810 to 10,670 EUR) depending on complexity.
Let's scope your project. We price your bilingual website with member directory, events and online fees, for an indicative budget of 3,050 to 5,340 EUR and a launch in 6 to 9 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h via our quote form. 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.
