The verdict in three sentences
A finance director at an energy contractor or construction group picks a broker for its grasp of sector risk, not for a list of insurer logos. In London in 2026, a well-built commercial broking website costs a ballpark 25,000 to 55,000 GBP, with 8 sector risk pages, class-specific quote forms and a client portal for certificates. The return shows up as better-qualified submissions and freed team hours, all within FCA financial promotion rules.
A site organised by sector, not by product
The managing director of a 14-person broker in the City handles programmes for North Sea service companies, construction contractors, logistics operators and fleet hire firms. The current site lists products (« liability », « property », « motor ») that speak to none of these decision makers.
An effective architecture starts from the client's business. Each sector page describes key exposures, cover to negotiate, frequent exclusions and an example of a claim handled. Visitors recognise themselves and see the broker knows their world.
FCA rules require clear, fair and not misleading promotions, the firm reference number, the status statement and complaint information including the Financial Ombudsman Service. Client data falls under UK GDPR and ICO registration.
| Sector risk page | Key exposures | Typical request |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and offshore services | Liability, machinery breakdown, transit | Annual contractor programme |
| Mining and quarrying | Contractors all risks, environmental liability | Site extension |
| Construction | CAR, professional indemnity, JCT requirements | Cover for a public contract |
| Motor fleet | Fleet, goods in transit | Fleet of 20 to 300 vehicles |
| Logistics and freight | Cargo, warehouse legal liability | Goods in transit |
| Employee benefits | Group health, travel | Group of 50 to 800 staff |
| Commercial property | Property, business interruption | HQ and depots |
| Directors and officers | D&O liability | Board cover |
Quote forms and client portal
The heart of the site is the class-specific forms. A fleet submission must capture vehicles by category, use, 3-year claims history and operating area. A property submission needs building and contents values, fire protection and trade description.
The client portal lets clients download certificates, motor fleet schedules and endorsements, notify a claim with photos and follow its progress. For a hire firm running 150 vehicles, that saves a lot of time.
| Project item | Ballpark 2026 (GBP excl. VAT) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy and sector architecture | 2,000 to 4,000 | Workshops with account executives |
| Design and development | 7,000 to 15,000 | Sober institutional look |
| 8 sector risk pages written | 3,000 to 6,000 | Reviewed by in-house specialists |
| Class-specific quote forms | 6,000 to 14,000 | Fleet, liability, property, benefits |
| Client portal for certificates and claims | 5,500 to 13,000 | Secure access, history |
| FCA wording, data, QA | 1,500 to 3,000 | Compliance and testing |
| Indicative total | 25,000 to 55,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
At Kolonell, the Premium showcase site sits between 2,000,000 and 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR), and a client portal is custom application work, from 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) for a simple application. Exact scope is set in the quote. See /en/services/webapp.
Before briefing an agency, gather three inputs: the submission forms your account executives already use by class, your FCA register details, and the volume of certificates issued last year. With these ready, scoping takes about one week, and the online forms mirror what your insurers ask for, which avoids a second round of questions to the client.
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James Whitaker, managing director of the broker, invests 40,000 GBP in the site. Account executives spend an average of 2 hours completing each submission taken by phone, for 60 submissions per month, so 120 hours. With structured forms that drops to 45 minutes each, or 45 hours.
The 75 hours saved, at a loaded cost of 55 GBP per hour, are worth about 4,100 GBP per month. If the site also brings 2 new fleet programmes a year with average commission of 15,000 GBP, the project pays back in under 8 months.
FAQ
Can a broker show automatic online quotes?
For commercial risks it is better to collect the data and reply within 48 to 72 hours with a negotiated proposal. Instant pricing only makes sense for simple products such as fleets under 10 vehicles.
What FCA information must appear on the site?
The firm reference number, the authorisation statement, complaints procedure and Financial Ombudsman details. This fits on a « Regulatory information » page of about 400 words.
Is the client portal needed at launch?
It pays off once a broker issues more than 300 certificates a year. You can launch the public site first and the portal 2 to 3 months later.
How do we protect client data?
Login with two-factor authentication, encrypted hosting, access logs and a defined retention period. ICO registration and a UK GDPR privacy notice are needed before launch.
How long does the project take?
Plan 8 to 10 weeks, including 3 weeks to write and approve the 8 sector pages with your specialists. Forms need a week of testing with account executives.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your key sectors, your priority classes and your timeline, and we will scope the quote forms and the client portal. 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.
