The verdict in three sentences
For a Perth group dental practice, the honest question is whether three more years of patching the old site costs less than a redesign, and once maintenance and ad hoc fixes are added, it usually does not. A fixed-grid redesign with Kolonell costs USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium), delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, with online booking, recall reminders and practice software links quoted separately. The main risks are lost rankings on treatment pages, a mismatch with AHPRA advertising rules and a go-live during the practice's busiest weeks.
Patch or redesign: what does each cost over 3 years?
The figures below are illustrative 2026 assumptions for a site of 20 to 35 pages, with local figures converted approximately from AUD to USD. Market maintenance figures are assumptions, not Kolonell prices: Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote.
| Line (approx. USD) | Patch the old site | Perth agency redesign | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 0: fixes or build | 2,000 | 13,000 | 4,900 |
| Hosting and maintenance, market assumption | 150 x 36 = 5,400 | 120 x 36 = 4,320 | 120 x 33 = 3,960 after 3 included months |
| Ad hoc developer work, market assumption | 1,500 x 3 = 4,500 | 500 x 3 = 1,500 | 500 x 3 = 1,500 |
| Total over 3 years | 11,900 | 18,820 | 10,360 |
| What you own at the end | A 6 or 7 year old site | A current site | A current site |
| Booking, recall, software links | On quote | On quote | On quote |
Patching looks cheap in year 0 and ends up close to a redesign, with an older site at the end. A Perth agency costs more and brings local presence, which some groups value.
What do Perth redesigns cost in 2026?
Ranges are 2026 ballparks from typical agency quotes and public rate pages, converted approximately from AUD.
| Option | 2026 ballpark (approx. USD) | Typical timeline | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance developer | 1,950 to 5,850 | 4 to 10 weeks | Availability, redirects rarely included |
| Perth web agency | 7,800 to 22,800 | 8 to 14 weeks | Change requests billed separately |
| Dental marketing agency on retainer | 975 to 2,600 per month | Ongoing | Minimum terms, site ownership |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Compact scope |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Fuller treatment and team sections |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Advanced design; the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
All tiers include a project manager reachable in the Perth time zone, native English copywriting and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer page.
How does the timeline fit a busy group practice?
- Week 0, content: treatment pages, fees, dentist and hygienist profiles, written or approved by the practice. This takes 1 to 3 weeks, before the build clock starts.
- Week 1, inventory: every live URL exported, a 301 redirect map written, Search Console access confirmed.
- Weeks 2 and 3, build: staging site hidden from search engines, booking tool embedded or linked, forms limited to name, contact and a short reason for visit.
- Week 3 or 4, compliance review: the principal checks claims, testimonials, before-and-after photos and specialist titles.
- Go-live: a mid-week morning, outside the end-of-year period when many patients try to use their remaining health fund extras.
Many Perth patients work fly-in fly-out rosters, so early, late and Saturday sessions must stay visible on the site and the Google Business Profile on day 1.
Which risks need a named owner?
- Rankings: 301 map for every treatment and fee page, sitemap submitted in Search Console, crawl errors reviewed for 2 weeks.
- Advertising compliance: dentists are registered with the Dental Board of Australia through AHPRA, and the National Law restricts testimonials and misleading claims in health advertising. No superlatives, no promised results, specialist titles only where the dentist is registered as a specialist. Australian Consumer Law also applies to price claims: any surcharge or gap is shown clearly.
- Privacy: the Privacy Act 1988 applies to private health service providers holding health information, whatever their turnover. Forms collect the minimum and tracking tags on treatment pages are reviewed with your privacy adviser. This is not legal advice.
- Integrations: booking, recall reminders and practice management software stay on quote, embedded or linked, never rebuilt.
- Downtime: the old site stays live until approval, with DNS changes prepared 48 hours ahead.
What should you ask, and when is a Perth agency better?
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Ask every provider who writes the 301 map, who owns the domain and content, what support costs after launch and how health fund information and Child Dental Benefits Schedule mentions are kept accurate. A Perth agency is the better choice if the group wants regular on-site workshops, video shoots across several clinics or one partner for ads, IT and web. A remote studio fits when the scope is clear and the budget fixed.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Priya is practice manager of Swan Coast Dental Group, a fictional group practice with 5 dentists and 3 hygienists. Using the 3-year table, Kolonell Growth totals USD 10,360 with market maintenance assumptions (Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months on quote). Spread across 5 dentists: 10,360 / 5 = USD 2,072 each, or about USD 58 per dentist per month over 36 months. A local photographer for the team pages, a third-party cost of about USD 780 (AUD 1,200), would add USD 156 per dentist.
FAQ
Is patching the old site really that expensive?
In the illustrative table, patching reaches USD 11,900 over 3 years against USD 10,360 for a Growth redesign. Your own figures may differ, so ask for a written comparison.
Can we keep our booking system?
Yes. Your existing booking tool is embedded or linked on quote, on any tier from USD 2,900.
How long before go-live?
3 to 4 weeks once content is ready; content itself often takes 1 to 3 weeks for a group practice.
Can we show patient testimonials?
Only within AHPRA advertising rules, which restrict testimonials about clinical aspects. The principal reviews every quote before go-live.
Which tier suits a 5-dentist group?
Growth at USD 4,900 covers most groups; Premium at USD 8,900 fits groups needing advanced design or several languages.
Let's scope your project. Send us your domain, number of clinicians and booking tool, and we will return a fixed price between USD 2,900 and USD 8,900 with a 3-year comparison. 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.
