The verdict in three sentences
In Basel, a dental practice that serves international patients, older patients and anxious first-time patients benefits from putting accessibility and mobile speed at the heart of its redesign. Kolonell's fixed grid covers the project at CHF 2,700 (Starter), CHF 4,500 (Growth) or CHF 8,200 (Premium, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. Online booking, recalls and practice management software integration stay on quote, and every page that already ranks gets its 301 redirect.
Which accessibility and speed targets should you set?
Basel patients include long-standing patients from Grossbasel and Kleinbasel, international life-sciences employees who search in English, and cross-border patients from France or Germany. An older or anxious person must find the phone number, the emergency line and what happens at a first appointment without effort.
| Criterion | Redesign target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility level | WCAG 2.2 AA | Screen readers, keyboard navigation, contrast |
| Text size | 18 px minimum on mobile, 200% zoom without breaking | Readability for older patients |
| Touch targets | 24 x 24 px minimum, ideally 44 x 44 px | Call and Emergency buttons easy to tap |
| Mobile rendering | Main content in under 2.5 s on 4G | Fewer drop-offs |
| Home page weight | Under 1.5 MB | Speed on average networks |
| First visit page | Five-step walkthrough, factual tone | Reassures without promising |
What does a redesign cost in Basel in 2026?
2026 ballpark, based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages of Basel agencies.
| Scope | Basel agency | Freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple redesign, German only | CHF 15,000 to 25,000 | CHF 5,000 to 10,000 | Starter, CHF 2,700 |
| Detailed treatment pages and blog | CHF 22,000 to 35,000 | CHF 8,000 to 15,000 | Growth, CHF 4,500 |
| German, English, possibly French | CHF 30,000 to 45,000 | Rarely offered | Premium, CHF 8,200, languages set in the quote |
| WCAG 2.2 AA audit and tests | Often extra | Rarely | Tests included in the redesign |
| Booking, recalls, practice software | On quote | Varies | On quote, embedded or linked |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, 3 months of support and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. Native German copy is supplied by the practice or reviewed by an independent translator, a third-party cost. See the international offer.
Which risks, and what are the safeguards?
| Risk | Likelihood | Safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic loss on implant, hygiene, emergency or fee pages | High without a plan | URL inventory, 301 map, 4 weeks of Search Console monitoring |
| Content migrated without review | Medium | Fee guides and treatment pages reviewed by the practice |
| Inaccessible booking widget | Medium | Keyboard and screen reader test before the switch |
| Downtime during the switch | Low | Off-peak DNS switch, outside the busiest weeks |
| Non-compliant advertising | Medium | Review before go-live |
| Google Business Profile mismatch | Medium | Hours and emergency line aligned on launch day |
On compliance: every dentist practises under a cantonal licence; the Medical Professions Act (MedBG/LPMéd) requires advertising to be objective and in the public interest, and SSO members also follow the association's professional rules. Specialist titles appear only where the dentist actually holds them. No painless claims, no superlatives; before/after photos and testimonials only where the rules allow, with consent. Because dental care is mostly paid directly or through supplementary insurance, the fees page stays factual. The nLPD (revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023 under FDPIC oversight, treats health data as sensitive personal data: the public form is limited to name, contact and a few words on the reason for the visit, and the GDPR may apply for patients living in the EU. Tracking pixels are cleared with your privacy adviser. This is not legal advice.
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When is a Basel agency the better choice?
If you want native German copywriting produced locally, an accessibility audit certified by a Swiss body, or a patient portal built and hosted by the same provider, a local agency is the better fit. Questions to ask: who tests accessibility and with which tools? Is the booking widget tested with a keyboard? Who owns the 301 map?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Dr Matthias Keller runs Zahnpraxis Lindenblatt, a fictional practice in Kleinbasel where many patients are expatriates. His current site is in German, hard to read on mobile, with a single English page. He picks Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) at CHF 8,200 for German and English, and adds an independent German reviewer, a third-party cost estimated at CHF 800: CHF 9,000. A local agency quote for an equivalent scope with a WCAG audit came to CHF 32,000, a gap of CHF 23,000. Embedding his booking tool stays priced separately, on quote.
FAQ
Why aim for WCAG 2.2 AA? It is the current version of the international reference and adds, among other things, a minimum 24 x 24 px size for touch targets. Tests are included from Starter at CHF 2,700.
Will the site be faster? The target is main content rendered in under 2.5 s on 4G and a home page under 1.5 MB. We measure these values before and after the switch.
Do we need a French version for cross-border patients? It is possible with Premium at CHF 8,200, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote. Many practices start with German and English.
How long does the project take? 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, plus 1 to 2 weeks of writing on the practice side.
What happens after the included support? The first 3 months are included; maintenance after that is on quote.
Let's scope your project. A WCAG 2.2 AA accessible redesign from CHF 2,700 to 8,200, 301 redirects included, 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.
