The verdict in three sentences
For a London firm of chartered land and measured building surveyors working with developers, architects and planning consultants, a brochure site (6,000 to 14,000 GBP) is enough while drawings move smoothly through an existing file transfer tool. A client portal (18,000 to 42,000 GBP) pays off once you run more than 40 live instructions a month with repeated exchanges of topographical surveys, point clouds and CAD drawings. Over 3 years, the real gap between the two runs from 15,000 to 35,000 GBP, to be weighed against admin time saved and client retention.
Two options, two jobs
The brochure site explains services (topographical surveys, measured building surveys, boundary work, setting out, utility mapping), proves credibility with project references and generates quote requests. The client portal adds a secure area where each client finds its instructions: drawings in DWG and PDF, survey reports, revision history and job status. For a developer running 8 London schemes in parallel, that means checking status in 30 seconds instead of chasing by email.
| Criterion | Brochure site | Client portal |
|---|---|---|
| Build cost (2026 market ballpark) | 6,000 to 14,000 GBP | 18,000 to 42,000 GBP |
| Timeline | 6 to 9 weeks | 10 to 16 weeks |
| Monthly maintenance | 90 to 230 GBP | 230 to 450 GBP |
| Drawing and survey sharing | link to an external transfer tool | secure upload per job, user permissions, version history |
| Job progress tracking | phone or email | online status with notifications at each stage |
| Dependence on the agency | low, firm edits content itself | medium to high, custom code to maintain |
| Room to grow | new pages and news | links to job management software, e-signature, invoicing |
Three year cost
The build price is misleading on its own. This table adds build, maintenance and likely enhancements over 36 months, as a 2026 estimate.
| Item over 3 years | Brochure site | Client portal |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 9,500 GBP | 28,000 GBP |
| Maintenance (36 months) | 5,760 GBP (160 a month) | 12,240 GBP (340 a month) |
| File storage | within transfer tool, about 800 GBP | secure UK or EU storage, 1,600 to 3,200 GBP |
| Enhancements | 1,400 GBP | 5,500 GBP |
| Transfer tool subscription | 1,600 GBP | not needed |
| Total 3 year cost | about 19,000 GBP | about 48,000 GBP |
A portal handles personal data (landowners, addresses, site access contacts), so UK GDPR applies: sign a data processing agreement, keep files in the UK or an adequate jurisdiction and log access. Professional record keeping duties for RICS regulated firms should be checked against RICS guidance.
Which option for which firm
A 3 to 6 person practice serving homeowners, party wall surveyors and small builders: brochure site plus a reliable transfer tool. A 12 to 30 person firm with a heavy share of developers and planning consultants: client portal, since these clients expect self service access and a clear record of drawing revisions. In between, a staged approach works: a brochure site built to take a portal 12 to 18 months later.
As a nearshore benchmark, Kolonell's prices: a Starter site at 1,220 to 1,830 EUR (800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA), 5 pages in 7 to 10 business days; a Growth site at 1,830 to 3,050 EUR with a blog; a client area option at 230 EUR; and for a true portal with file upload and job tracking, a simple custom application at 3,810 to 6,100 EUR. Maintenance runs 53 to 183 EUR a month.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Illustrative example, fictional firm: James, managing partner of a 16 person surveying practice in London, handles 65 live instructions a month, 40 of them for developers. Administrators spend 25 minutes per instruction each month sending drawings and answering chasers, about 27 hours a month. With a portal, he estimates 9 hours, saving 18 hours a month or 216 hours a year. At 42 GBP per hour loaded, that is 9,070 GBP a year and 27,200 GBP over 3 years. The portal's extra 3 year cost of about 29,000 GBP is almost covered by time alone, and retaining one more developer client worth 20,000 GBP a year in fees tips the balance clearly.
FAQ
Do developers expect a client portal?
Not always, but emailing 2 GB point cloud files fails quickly. Beyond 30 to 40 live instructions, secure self service access becomes a selling point.
Can we start with a brochure site and add the portal later?
Yes, if the architecture allows it from day one. Adding the portal then costs 11,000 to 28,000 GBP rather than a rebuild.
Where should survey files be stored?
In the UK or the EU, encrypted and with access logs. Budget 45 to 90 GBP a month for a few hundred gigabytes.
How long does each option take?
Six to 9 weeks for a brochure site, 10 to 16 weeks for a portal. Migrating live jobs often adds 2 weeks.
Will a brochure site actually win work?
If it targets precise local searches such as topographical survey in London or measured building survey in a given borough, yes. A well ranked firm often receives 10 to 30 enquiries a month as a 2026 estimate.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of live instructions and your main client types, and we will price the right option, its 3 year cost and timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
