The verdict in three sentences
For a Dublin import-export company targeting EU, UK and US partners, the deciding factor is whether the agency can explain trade lanes, customs services and compliance clearly, not who has the slickest portfolio. Score every agency on a 100 point scorecard and drop anyone below 65. A budget of 15,000 to 28,000 EUR ex VAT covers most 15 to 25 page B2B sites with a partner enquiry flow.
Budgets and timelines
Since Brexit, Irish traders spend much of their sales effort explaining routes: direct ferries to the continent, the UK land bridge, customs declarations and Northern Ireland arrangements. Your site has to show product lines, logistics capacity, customs services and Authorised Economic Operator status where you hold it, and a qualified partner form.
| Project type | Budget ex VAT (2026 estimate) | Timeline | Hosting per year | Maintenance per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple site, 8 to 10 pages | 9,000 to 14,000 EUR | 6 to 8 weeks | 300 to 600 EUR | 150 to 300 EUR |
| B2B site, 15 to 25 pages, 2 languages | 15,000 to 28,000 EUR | 8 to 10 weeks | 500 to 900 EUR | 250 to 450 EUR |
| Site with partner portal | 28,000 to 40,000 EUR | 10 to 12 weeks | 800 to 1,500 EUR | 400 to 700 EUR |
| Packaged build (Kolonell Premium) | 1,200 to 2,300 EUR | 21 to 30 days | included at launch | 38 to 115 EUR |
A second language such as German or Spanish usually adds 15 to 25 percent, mostly for translation and review.
The 100 point scorecard
Have two people from your team fill it in after each meeting, then compare averages.
| Criterion | Points | What earns full marks |
|---|---|---|
| B2B trade or logistics references | 20 | At least two live sites for traders or forwarders |
| Understanding of trade content | 15 | Can structure customs, routes and Incoterms pages |
| Multilingual and international SEO | 15 | hreflang, language URLs, keyword plan per market |
| GDPR compliant forms | 15 | Consent records, privacy notice, data processing agreement |
| Quote clarity | 10 | Days per phase, dated deliverables |
| Ownership and portability | 10 | Code, domain and hosting in your company name |
| Support | 10 | Written response times, daily backups |
| Accessibility | 5 | WCAG 2.1 AA target, ahead of the European Accessibility Act |
A 12,000 EUR agency scoring 58 will cost more than a 22,000 EUR agency scoring 82 once you pay for fixes.
Red flags in pitch meetings
Be wary of agencies offering machine translation lightly checked, registering your domain in their own name, or sending a quote with no day counts. Another warning sign: no answer when you ask how the enquiry form stores personal data and for how long under GDPR. If they cannot explain how a buyer in Rotterdam will find your English pages on Google, they will not bring you continental leads.
Mini case study
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Illustrative example, not a real client: Aoife, managing director of a 20 person firm importing food ingredients and re-exporting to the UK and Nordics, receives three quotes: 13,000, 24,000 and 38,000 EUR ex VAT. They score 55, 83 and 87. The top quote adds 4 points for 14,000 EUR more. Aoife picks the 24,000 EUR agency, about 289 EUR per point versus 437 EUR for the most expensive, and budgets 350 EUR a month for maintenance.
FAQ
What does an import-export website cost in Dublin?
Plan 15,000 to 28,000 EUR ex VAT for 15 to 25 pages in two languages. A partner portal pushes it toward 40,000 EUR.
Which languages should we add?
English first, then the language of your biggest growth market, often German, French or Spanish. Each one adds 15 to 25 percent.
How long does it take?
Six to twelve weeks depending on pages and languages. Translation and expert review alone often take 2 to 3 weeks.
What minimum score should we require?
Drop anyone under 65 out of 100. Above 80, compare cost per point.
What does GDPR require for enquiry forms?
A clear privacy notice, minimal data collection, consent records and a processing agreement with the agency. Doing it right adds 1 to 2 days of work.
Let's scope your project. Share your target markets, languages and page count, and we will reply with a Premium quote from 1,200 to 2,300 EUR delivered in 21 to 30 days. 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.