The verdict in three sentences
A mid-sized company hiring 150 people a year and spending EUR 25,000 on job boards should invest EUR 10,000 to 25,000 in a proper careers site. The ATS connector (Teamtailor, Workable, Greenhouse) costs EUR 1,500 to 4,000 and removes double entry of job ads. With an 8 to 12 week timeline and a goal of halving cost per application, the project usually pays back in under 18 months.
How much does a careers site cost in 2026
Budget depends on how much employer brand content is produced (portraits, videos, role pages) and how deep the ATS integration goes.
| Package | Content | ATS integration | 2026 budget (excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | 8 pages, synced jobs | XML feed or simple API | EUR 10,000 to 13,000 | 8 weeks |
| Employer brand | 15 pages, 6 role pages, 8 portraits | API + native application form | EUR 14,000 to 19,000 | 10 weeks |
| Multi-site | 20 pages, 4 locations, interactive map | API + source tracking | EUR 19,000 to 25,000 | 12 weeks |
| Option: videos (4 filmed portraits) | Shooting and editing | None | + EUR 4,000 to 7,000 | + 3 weeks |
| Option: employee referral | Referral module | ATS link | + EUR 2,000 to 3,500 | + 2 weeks |
| Maintenance and hosting | Yearly | Feed monitoring | EUR 1,800 to 3,600 / year | Ongoing |
The careers site can be a section of the corporate site or a dedicated subdomain (careers.company.ie). A subdomain allows independent evolution, while a folder on the main site builds SEO authority more efficiently.
Choosing and connecting your ATS
The ATS remains the source of truth for jobs: the site displays them, the ATS receives applications. The connector must handle publishing, automatic archiving and source tracking (site, LinkedIn, Indeed).
| ATS | 2026 subscription (order of magnitude) | Careers site integration | Connector cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teamtailor | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 / year | Full REST API, webhooks | EUR 1,500 to 2,500 |
| Workable | EUR 3,000 to 7,000 / year | API and XML feed | EUR 1,800 to 3,000 |
| Greenhouse | EUR 7,000 to 15,000 / year | Job Board API, rich content | EUR 2,500 to 4,000 |
| Workday / SAP SuccessFactors | Group pricing | Complex API, SSO | EUR 6,000 to 15,000 |
| No ATS (form + email) | EUR 0 | GDPR-compliant form | EUR 800 to 1,500 |
GDPR point: the form must tell candidates how long their data is kept (Ireland's Data Protection Commission expects a defined, justified period, often 12 to 24 months) and collect only what is needed.
What lowers cost per application
- SEO-optimised role pages: "production operator Dublin", "food maintenance technician Ireland". These local searches bring applications with no cost per click.
- Apply in under 2 minutes on mobile, no account required: abandonment often drops from 60% to under 25%.
- JobPosting structured data to appear in Google's job search experience.
- Employee referral: a EUR 500 to 1,000 bonus per hire is cheaper than a recruiter at 15 to 20% of annual salary.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Aoife, HR director of a food manufacturer near Dublin (900 employees, 3 sites), hires 150 people a year and receives about 2,500 applications for EUR 25,000 of job boards, so EUR 10 per application. Selected project: employer brand package at EUR 17,000, Teamtailor connector at EUR 2,000, total EUR 19,000. After 12 months, 45% of applications come through the site and Google job search, letting the company cut job boards to EUR 12,000. Yearly saving: EUR 13,000 for 2,700 applications, bringing average cost down to EUR 4.44. Payback in 18 months, before counting the gain in candidate quality.
FAQ
Do we need a careers site separate from the corporate site?
Not necessarily: a well-built /careers section is enough for a mid-sized company. A separate site makes sense above 300 hires a year or with several brands.
How long does it take to connect an ATS?
Allow 1 to 3 weeks depending on the API. Teamtailor and Workable are the fastest; enterprise ATS often need 4 to 6 weeks with IT.
Are employee videos essential?
No, but a role page with a video portrait typically converts 20 to 40% better. Four short videos at EUR 1,000 to 1,750 each are enough to start.
How do we measure ROI?
Track cost per application, cost per hire and share of applications by source in the ATS. A monthly dashboard is enough, with a target of 40% direct applications at 12 months.
Does the site need to be accessible?
Yes, candidates with disabilities must be able to apply. Targeting WCAG 2.2 AA adds about 8 to 12% to the development budget.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your hiring volume, ATS and job board budget, and we will price the careers site, the connector and the expected saving. 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.
