The verdict in three sentences
For an 800-employee company in Berlin hiring 120 people a year, a paid employer profile on platforms such as StepStone or Kununu at 10,000 to 18,000 EUR a year helps visibility, but it rents your employer brand instead of building it. An owned careers site between 20,000 and 45,000 EUR, connected to the ATS (Personio, Greenhouse, Workday) with JobPosting markup, can bring 30 % more applications and halve the cost per application. Break-even usually lands within 12 to 18 months.
Rented employer profile or owned careers site
Berlin's market for software engineers, data specialists and industrial technicians is tight. The question is not visibility but turning visits into qualified applications. Three-year comparison, 2026 estimates.
| Criterion | Paid employer profile | Owned careers site |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 to 4,000 EUR (video shoot) | 20,000 to 45,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 10,000 to 18,000 EUR/year | 200 to 500 EUR/month |
| Total over 3 years | 30,000 to 58,000 EUR | 27,200 to 63,000 EUR |
| Ownership of content and audience | No | Yes |
| Listing in Google for Jobs | Through the platform | Direct, JobPosting markup |
| ATS integration (Personio, Greenhouse, Workday) | Limited | Full, job sync |
| Team and location pages (Berlin, Brandenburg plants) | Fixed format | Free and SEO-optimised |
The two are not exclusive: many companies keep a lighter platform presence and route applications to their own site.
What a careers site quote includes
A high-performing careers site is first a candidate conversion tool: job ads readable on mobile, an application in under 3 minutes and concrete proof of life inside the company.
| Item | Budget (excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Employer brand strategy and candidate personas | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR | 2 weeks |
| Design and build (team, location, values pages, DE/EN) | 9,000 to 18,000 EUR | 4 to 6 weeks |
| ATS integration and job sync | 3,500 to 9,000 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
| JobPosting markup and optimised job pages | 1,500 to 3,500 EUR | 1 week |
| 3-minute mobile application (CV, LinkedIn) | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | 1 week |
| Employee video and photo portraits | 1,500 to 5,500 EUR | 2 weeks |
| Maintenance and hosting | 200 to 500 EUR/month | Recurring |
JobPosting markup puts each vacancy into Google for Jobs, often the first source of free applications for a well-built careers site. In Germany, plan GDPR-compliant candidate data retention from day one.
Mini case study
Jonas, Head of People at an 800-employee industrial tech company in Berlin, hires 120 people a year and receives 3,600 applications, with a paid sourcing budget of 63,000 EUR, or 17.5 EUR per application.
- Chosen careers site: 32,000 EUR, maintenance 350 EUR/month
- Extra applications from job SEO: + 30 %, or 1,080 applications a year
- Paid sourcing cut by 40 %: saving of 25,200 EUR a year
- New cost per application: (37,800 + 4,200) ÷ 4,680 = 9 EUR, roughly half
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
The site pays for itself in about 18 months from sourcing savings alone.
FAQ
How much does a careers site cost in Berlin?
Between 20,000 and 45,000 EUR with ATS integration and JobPosting markup. Maintenance runs 200 to 500 EUR a month.
Should we drop paid employer platforms?
Not necessarily. Many companies cut their subscription from 18,000 to 10,000 EUR a year and route applications to their owned site.
Which ATS can be connected?
Personio, Greenhouse, Workday, SmartRecruiters or Teamtailor through their APIs. The connector costs 3,500 to 9,000 EUR depending on data depth.
Is JobPosting markup really worth it?
Yes: it makes your jobs eligible for Google for Jobs and can bring 20 to 35 % more applications with no media spend.
How long does the build take?
Allow 8 to 12 weeks, including 2 weeks for employee portraits and leadership sign-off.
Let's scope your project. Share your hiring volume, ATS and hard-to-fill roles, and we will price a careers site between 20,000 and 45,000 EUR, delivered in 8 to 12 weeks. 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.
