The verdict in three sentences
Moving to a new domain after a rebrand is the riskiest SEO operation: Google must transfer all the trust built by the old domain, and even a clean move usually brings a temporary dip of 5 to 20 %. In Munich in 2026, expect EUR 2,500 to 9,000 (net of VAT) for 300 to 2,500 URLs, and choose the agency on the precision of its answers rather than its price. Three non negotiables: page to page 301 redirects, Search Console's Change of Address tool, and keeping the old domain live for at least 12 months.
Why a domain change differs from a redesign
In a normal redesign, the domain stays and only some URLs change. In a domain move, every URL changes and the authority of the old name, backlinks, history and brand signals, has to be passed on. If the new brand launches together with a new design and a new structure, the risks stack up.
For a Munich company, say a medtech supplier or an engineering consultancy renaming after a merger, the rebrand also touches the Impressum, privacy notice, trade register entries and directory listings such as industry portals. Your SEO agency should coordinate those updates; otherwise Google sees conflicting signals for weeks.
| Site size | Migration budget (EUR, net) | Preparation time | Expected temporary dip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 URLs | 2,500 to 4,000 | 2 to 3 weeks | 5 to 10 % |
| 800 URLs | 4,000 to 6,000 | 3 to 4 weeks | 5 to 15 % |
| 1,500 URLs | 5,500 to 7,500 | 4 to 6 weeks | 10 to 15 % |
| 2,500 URLs | 7,000 to 9,000 | 5 to 8 weeks | 10 to 20 % |
| With simultaneous redesign | Plus 20 to 40 % | Plus 2 to 4 weeks | Up to 25 % without safeguards |
Questions to ask, and the answers to expect
| Question | Bad answer | Good answer |
|---|---|---|
| How will you redirect URLs? | « One redirect to the new homepage » | Page to page 301s, every old URL to its equivalent |
| Will you use the Change of Address tool? | « Not needed » | Yes, in Search Console, once both domains are verified |
| How long do we keep the old domain? | « Three months is enough » | At least 12 months, ideally renewed indefinitely |
| Should we rebrand and redesign at once? | « Yes, it is faster » | Ideally in two steps, otherwise double QA and closer monitoring |
| What traffic dip do you expect? | « None » | 5 to 20 % temporary, back to baseline within 8 to 12 weeks |
| What about backlinks? | « Redirects handle it » | Outreach to the 20 to 50 top linking sites to update links |
| Who owns domains and accounts? | « We manage everything » | Your company, with shared admin access |
| How do you handle the .com and old .de variants? | Not addressed | Every hostname and protocol variant redirected in one hop |
An agency that promises « no traffic loss » either does not know the topic or wants the signature. The right answer names the risk, quantifies it and explains how to reduce it.
Monitoring after the switch
The first 12 weeks decide the outcome. Weekly monitoring should compare clicks on old and new domains in Search Console, track crawl errors and confirm key pages are indexed at the new address. Kolonell offers a visibility audit at 100,000 FCFA (about EUR 152), credited against setup if you start within 30 days, then a 12 month Traffic Engine plan, Presence 125,000 FCFA (about EUR 191), Momentum 225,000 FCFA (about EUR 343) or Flood 350,000 FCFA (about EUR 534) a month, with a 300,000 FCFA setup (about EUR 457) and a weekly report to watch this phase closely and then grow the new brand.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional company: Katrin, head of digital at a Munich medical device distributor, is renaming the company after a merger. The site has 1,400 URLs, 11,000 organic visits a month and produces 40 sales enquiries, 25 % of which become accounts worth EUR 15,000 a year.
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She budgets EUR 6,500 for the migration and pushes the redesign back by 3 months. At the worst point, week 2, traffic dips 11 %, costing about 4 enquiries that month. Without a method, a 35 % dip over 4 months would have cost around 56 enquiries and 14 accounts, some EUR 210,000 of annual revenue. By week 10, the new domain is back to 100 % of baseline.
FAQ
What does a domain migration cost in Munich?
Between EUR 2,500 and 9,000 net depending on URL count, from 300 to 2,500. A simultaneous redesign adds 20 to 40 %.
How long should we keep the old domain?
At least 12 months with active redirects, and ideally forever. A .de renewal costs a few euros a year, far less than the backlinks at stake.
Is a traffic dip unavoidable?
A temporary dip of 5 to 20 % is common even when done well. The realistic goal is a return to baseline within 8 to 12 weeks.
Should we contact sites that link to us?
Yes, at least the 20 to 50 domains sending the most links. A direct link to the new domain passes value better than a redirect.
Can we change domain and hosting on the same day?
Possible but not advisable, since each change adds risk. Space them 2 to 4 weeks apart if the schedule allows.
Get found by the customers searching for you. Start with a visibility audit at 100,000 FCFA (about EUR 152), credited against setup within 30 days, then a Traffic Engine plan with a weekly report so your new brand quickly regains its rankings and quote requests: Traffic Engine. 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.
