The verdict in three sentences
For a Vancouver company selling across Canada, the right agency treats French as a real market with its own search terms and calls to action, not as a last-minute translation. French typically adds 20 to 35 %, for a total of 15,000 to 45,000 CAD and 8 to 12 weeks. Score every agency on a 100-point grid, and drop any that cannot explain hreflang tags or how Quebec's Charter of the French language affects a site that sells to Quebec customers.
Which language rules actually apply to you
A private company headquartered in British Columbia is not bound by the federal Official Languages Act, which covers federal institutions. The practical drivers are elsewhere. If you sell to customers in Quebec, the Charter of the French language, strengthened by Bill 96, expects commercial content aimed at Quebec, including websites, to be available in French that is at least as prominent as other languages. If you bid on federal contracts or serve federally regulated clients, bilingual material is often expected in tenders. And privacy pages must meet PIPEDA, with Quebec's Law 25 adding consent and transparency duties for Quebec residents.
| Item | English only (CAD) | English and French (CAD) | Uplift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and sitemap | 2,000 | 2,600 | 30 % |
| UX and UI design | 4,000 | 4,500 | 13 % |
| Development | 7,500 | 9,000 | 20 % |
| Copywriting and French adaptation | 3,500 | 6,300 | 80 % |
| Keyword research and technical SEO | 1,300 | 2,100 | 62 % |
| Privacy policy (PIPEDA, Law 25) | 500 | 1,000 | 100 % |
| Indicative total | 18,800 | 25,500 | 36 % |
On larger projects the fixed development share weighs more, so the uplift falls back toward 20 %.
The 100-point scoring grid
Use the same grid for every agency right after the meeting. Below 65 points, move on.
| Criterion | Points | What you want to hear |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual method (keyword research per language) | 20 | Two separate keyword lists |
| French copy quality, ideally Canadian French | 20 | Named native writer, samples provided |
| Multilingual technical setup | 15 | Hreflang, /en/ and /fr/ URLs, canonical tags |
| Legal and privacy compliance | 10 | PIPEDA, Law 25, Quebec language rules |
| Ownership and portability | 10 | Domain, code and admin access in your name |
| Timeline and milestones | 10 | 8 to 12 weeks with sign-off dates |
| Maintenance | 10 | Written plan and response time |
| Bilingual references | 5 | At least one live EN and FR site |
Red flags in pitch meetings
| What you hear | Risk | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| We will machine translate and you proofread | Weak French, your time | Who writes the French and at what level? |
| A plugin handles everything | Poorly indexed French pages | What URL structure will you use? |
| French SEO can come later | French version invisible | Which French queries are you targeting? |
| We keep the domain for you | Lock-in | Will the domain be registered to us? |
| France French is fine | Wrong tone for Quebec buyers | Who adapts for Canadian usage? |
Kolonell, a remote agency working in both languages, can be scored with the same grid: Growth site of 8 to 12 pages at 530 to 910 EUR in 14 to 21 days, or Premium at 1,200 to 2,300 EUR in 21 to 30 days.
Mini case study
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Illustrative example: David, VP sales at a Vancouver industrial software reseller, gets 30 % of revenue from Quebec. He receives three proposals at 16,000, 27,000 and 41,000 CAD, scored 55, 84 and 80 points. The cheapest one relies on machine translation and is out. Cost per point is 321 CAD for the second and 513 CAD for the third. David picks the 27,000 CAD proposal and saves 14,000 CAD for a comparable score.
FAQ
How much does a bilingual English French website cost in Vancouver?
Plan 15,000 to 45,000 CAD in 2026 depending on page count and copywriting. French usually represents 20 to 35 % of the total.
Is a French version legally required for a BC company?
Not by default, but if you actively sell to Quebec, the Charter of the French language expects French content at least as prominent as English. Fines under the Charter can reach tens of thousands of dollars for repeat offences.
Do we need a separate .ca domain for French?
No: one .ca or .com with /en/ and /fr/ folders and hreflang tags works in about 80 % of cases. It also keeps link authority in one place.
How long does it take?
Eight to 12 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks for French copy and review. Having a French-speaking reviewer available early prevents most delays.
What minimum score should we accept?
We suggest 65 out of 100, with at least 30 points on the first two criteria. Below that, the French version rarely generates leads.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your two markets, page count and target launch date, and we will return a full bilingual scope with an indicative budget and plan. 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.
