The verdict in three sentences
In Auckland, a dental practice that sees many expatriate and international patients loses appointments when its site is slow, hard to read or awkward to use for an older or anxious first-time patient. A redesign built around WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility and mobile speed costs USD 4,900 on Growth or USD 8,900 on Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), against roughly NZD 8,000 to 30,000 with a local agency. The project stays under control when the pages that already rank are protected by a 301 redirect map.
Is your current site putting off older or anxious patients?
A patient who dreads the dentist leaves a page at the first obstacle: tiny text, a button they cannot find, a ten-field form. A newcomer in Ponsonby, Newmarket or on the North Shore who reads English as a second language hits the same obstacles. These are the checks to run before pricing the redesign.
| Check | Common flaw | Target after redesign |
|---|---|---|
| Text contrast | Light grey on white | Ratio of at least 4.5:1 (WCAG 2.2 AA) |
| Tap target size | Cramped links on mobile | Targets of at least 24 x 24 px |
| Keyboard navigation | Menu unusable without a mouse | Visible focus on every element |
| Contact form | 8 to 12 fields, including medical history | 3 fields: name, contact, reason in a few words |
| Mobile speed | LCP of 4 s or more | LCP under 2.5 s |
| Language | Clinical jargon | Short sentences, first visit explained step by step |
| Alt text | Images with no description | Useful description on every image |
What budget should you plan for in 2026?
2026 ballpark figures from typical quotes and public rate pages of Auckland agencies. NZD amounts are converted approximately into USD (about 0.60).
| Option | 2026 ballpark | Accessibility included? | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | NZD 3,000 to 8,000 (approx. USD 1,800 to 4,800) | Rarely tested | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Auckland studio | NZD 8,000 to 18,000 (approx. USD 4,800 to 10,800) | Depends on the studio | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Established agency | NZD 18,000 to 30,000 (approx. USD 10,800 to 18,000) | Often, with an audit | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | WCAG 2.2 AA good practice | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | WCAG 2.2 AA good practice | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier) | USD 8,900 | WCAG 2.2 AA good practice | 3 to 4 weeks |
Included at Kolonell: a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, 3 months of support. An independent audit by a specialist tester remains an optional third-party cost. On quote: online booking, patient portal, recall reminders and practice management software integrations (Dentally, Exact or Pearl-type tools), always embedded or linked. See the international offer.
How do the 3 to 4 weeks unfold?
| Week | Kolonell side | Practice side |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Brief and content list | Fees, hours, practitioner registration details |
| 1 | URL inventory, 301 map, site structure | Approve pages to keep |
| 2 | Accessible wireframes, copywriting | Review treatment pages |
| 3 | Build, keyboard and contrast tests, language versions | Native reviewer checks translations |
| 4 | Mobile testing, go-live, Search Console | Compliance review, final sign-off |
Avoid switching during the busiest weeks, such as the run-up to Christmas and the school holidays.
Which risks should you watch?
- Rankings: implant, aligner or emergency pages that bring in patients keep their URL or get a 301, and the new sitemap is submitted in Search Console.
- Compliance: practitioners are registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand, whose standards cover advertising; the Fair Trading Act prohibits misleading claims. No superlatives, no promised results, specialist titles only where the practitioner is registered as a specialist.
- Health information: the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020 apply; the public form stays minimal and tracking pixels on treatment pages are reviewed with the practice's privacy adviser.
- ACC: accident-related treatment funded by ACC is described in general terms, with eligibility confirmed by the practice.
- Continuity: hours, emergency number and Google Business Profile listing match on switch day.
This is not legal advice.
When is a local agency a better fit?
If you want an accessibility audit with in-person user testing with patients, or a deep integration with practice software configured locally, an Auckland agency has a real advantage. Ask every provider: which WCAG 2.2 AA criteria are tested, and with which tools? Who writes the 301 map? Who checks the translations?
Need a professional website?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example. Harbourstone Dental, a fictional Newmarket practice, sees many expatriate patients. Its 22-page site has a mobile LCP close to 4 s and a 10-field form. Two scenarios:
- English only: Kolonell Growth USD 4,900 + optional independent audit, third-party cost estimated at USD 1,200 = USD 6,100.
- English and Simplified Chinese: Kolonell Premium USD 8,900 + independent native reviewer, third-party cost USD 500 + third-party audit USD 1,200 = USD 10,600.
Comparable local quote: NZD 24,000, about USD 14,400. The practice keeps its booking tool, embedded on quote, and adds a te reo Māori greeting on the home page.
FAQ
What does WCAG 2.2 AA mean for a dental practice?
It is a set of accessibility criteria: contrast of at least 4.5:1, keyboard navigation, alt text, adequate tap targets. It is checked page by page before go-live in week 4.
Will the site be faster on mobile?
The target is an LCP under 2.5 s on key pages. Images are compressed and third-party scripts kept to what is needed.
Do we need to translate the whole site?
No: translate 5 to 8 useful pages (emergency, first visit, fees, access). The USD 8,900 Premium tier sets the languages in the quote.
Can the form collect medical history?
No, the public form is limited to 3 fields. The medical questionnaire goes through the secure tool in your practice software, on quote.
What does maintenance cost after delivery?
3 months of support are included; beyond that, Kolonell maintenance is on quote. Plan an accessibility check each time a page is added.
Let's scope your project. Describe your pages, languages and accessibility constraints for a Growth or Premium estimate delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
