The verdict in three sentences
A civil engineering contractor with 600 staff and 5 subsidiaries hiring 80 site supervisors and engineers a year pays twice for an outdated website: in weaker tender submissions and in sponsored job ads. As a 2026 ballpark in Singapore, a group website with subsidiaries costs SGD 60,000 to 170,000 (about USD 45,000 to 127,000), and a careers page connected to an ATS SGD 5,000 to 15,000 more. The return comes mainly from direct applications and project references that reassure developers and public agencies.
Two audiences, two journeys
A contractor's website serves visitors with nothing in common. The developer or the procurement officer of a public agency wants comparable references, BCA grading, certifications and financial capacity. The site supervisor or engineer wants pay, project locations and team culture. Mixing them on the same home page serves neither.
| Need | Developer, procurement | Candidate supervisor or engineer |
|---|---|---|
| First thing they look for | references by project type | jobs by role and location |
| Proof expected | photos, contract value, duration, client | pay range, allowances, team stories |
| Useful documents | BCA grade, ISO 9001, 45001, bizSAFE | job description, work pass requirements |
| Device used | office desktop | smartphone, often on site |
| Expected action | business enquiry, prequalification | application in under 2 minutes |
| Update frequency | each completed project | every week |
A good group website therefore offers a filterable Projects entry and a mobile-first Careers entry, with no mandatory CV for site roles.
Detailed budget
Cost varies mainly with the number of subsidiaries, the volume of references to enter and the recruitment software integration.
| Item | Content | Indicative 2026 budget (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| Group strategy and architecture | positioning, journeys, wireframes | 9,000 to 24,000 |
| Core design and build | templates, CMS, multi-subsidiary | 20,000 to 60,000 |
| Subsidiary pages | 5 sections or microsites with own content | 10,000 to 28,000 |
| Project reference database | 60 to 150 entries filterable by type, location, value | 10,000 to 28,000 |
| Careers page and ATS connection | synced jobs, mobile application | 5,000 to 15,000 |
| Site photography and video | 2 to 4 shoot days | 6,000 to 15,000 |
| Total | 60,000 to 170,000 |
A realistic timeline is 4 to 6 months, with reference entry usually the bottleneck: plan one internal person 2 days a week for 6 weeks. For reference, Kolonell, as a nearshore French-speaking agency, prices Premium websites at 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (about EUR 3,050 to 5,340) and complex custom applications at 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and up (about EUR 10,670 to 22,870 and up); a multi-subsidiary group is quoted after scoping.
Hiring: what a missing careers site costs
Without an effective careers page, every role goes through a paid ad or an agency. The 2026 benchmarks below are estimates for Singapore.
| Channel | Cost per hire (2026 estimate) | Average time to hire |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsored ad on a major job board | SGD 400 to 1,200 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| MyCareersFuture listing | free, but low visibility for senior roles | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Recruitment agency, site engineer | 15 to 25% of annual salary, SGD 10,000 to 15,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Foreign hire via agency | agency fee plus work pass processing | 8 to 14 weeks |
| Direct application via the website | near-zero marginal cost | 2 to 5 weeks |
| Employee referral promoted on the site | bonus of SGD 500 to 1,500 | 2 to 4 weeks |
Mini case study
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Wei Ling heads corporate communications for a Singapore civil engineering group. The group hires 80 people a year and spends on average 1.5 sponsored ads at SGD 800 per role, plus 5 project engineers hired through agencies at SGD 12,000 each.
- Current annual spend: 80 x 1.5 x 800 = SGD 96,000 in ads + 5 x 12,000 = SGD 60,000 in agency fees, or SGD 156,000
- With a careers site generating 30% direct applications: SGD 28,800 saved on ads
- If 3 of 5 engineers are hired directly: SGD 36,000 saved
- Estimated annual gain: SGD 64,800
- Investment: SGD 110,000 group website + SGD 10,000 ATS connection = SGD 120,000, paid back in about 22 months
FAQ
How much does a corporate website for a contractor with subsidiaries cost?
As a 2026 ballpark, SGD 60,000 to 170,000 depending on subsidiaries and references. A careers page connected to an ATS adds SGD 5,000 to 15,000.
How many project references should we publish?
60 to 150 entries cover the main project types. Each should state location, client, contract value and duration.
Do we need a microsite per subsidiary?
Not necessarily: a section per subsidiary within the group site costs 30 to 50% less and strengthens the shared brand. Microsites make sense for subsidiaries in very different trades.
What timeline should we plan?
Allow 4 to 6 months, including 6 weeks of reference entry. Start the photo shoot at scoping so it does not hold up launch.
How do we get our job ads onto Google?
JobPosting structured data makes jobs eligible for Google's job search features. Our monthly SEO plans run from 100,000 to 350,000 FCFA a month (about EUR 150 to 530).
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of subsidiaries, hiring volume and ATS: we will price a group website deliverable in 4 to 6 months, references and careers included. 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.
