The verdict in three sentences
In Lugano, a website for an engineering and construction firm built by a Ticino agency costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 9 000 and 32 000 CHF, and agencies across the border in Lombardy often quote less, in euros. Kolonell builds the English-language marketing and recruitment site (disciplines, project sheets, careers, tender documents) at a fixed price: 2 700 CHF, 4 500 CHF or 8 200 CHF, but it does not write in Italian: the Italian copy is supplied by your firm or quoted separately. The decision therefore turns on which language carries your business, on the three-year cost and on who handles photography of your sites.
How do Ticino agencies, freelancers and Kolonell compare on price?
These ranges are cautious orders of magnitude, not official rates. They draw on public price lists of agencies in Ticino and northern Italy, on minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles, on hourly rates published by Swiss digital agencies and on freelancer rates visible on Upwork and Malt. Ticino rates usually sit somewhat below those of Zurich or Geneva, and freelancers in the Milan area can be cheaper than Kolonell. That is worth saying plainly.
| Criterion | Lugano agency | Ticino or Lombardy freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 order of magnitude | 9 000 to 32 000 CHF and more | 2 500 to 10 000 CHF | 2 700 CHF, 4 500 CHF or 8 200 CHF, fixed price |
| Hourly rate for changes | Often 100 to 170 CHF | Often 50 to 110 CHF | Changes quoted before any work |
| Italian copywriting | Native, usually included | Native | Supplied by you or quoted separately |
| English copywriting | Variable, often outsourced | Variable | Native English included |
| Timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Site photography | Can be organised locally | Rarely | Not included: your photos or a local photographer |
| Support after launch | Separate contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 in Premium |
Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % on delivery. Your project manager works in your time zone, with Google Meet calls at an hour that suits you and a written update every week. The team sits in Senegal (GMT), one hour behind Lugano in winter, two in summer. All plans are set out in our international website offer.
What will the site cost over three years?
The table uses a scenario common in Lugano: an Italian and English site on the Premium structure, with Italian copy produced by a translator. It applies the same maintenance assumption to both options, because Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately.
| Item over 36 months | Lugano agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Site build, two languages | 18 000 CHF | 8 200 CHF |
| Italian copy, about 25 pages | Usually in-house, 2 400 CHF | Translator or your team, 2 400 CHF |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 150 CHF per month over 30 months, so 4 500 CHF | 4 500 CHF, quoted separately |
| Site photographer, 1.5 days | Booked by the agency, 2 200 CHF | Booked by you, 2 200 CHF |
| Support after launch | Depends on contract | 6 months included |
| Indicative total | 27 100 CHF | 17 300 CHF |
The gap shrinks if you choose a Lombardy freelancer at the bottom of the range. In that case, compare the project management, the English copy and the ownership terms rather than the price alone.
What is inside each Kolonell plan for a Lugano engineering firm?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Languages | English only | English only | Two-language structure, Italian copy supplied |
| Discipline pages | Grouped overview | One page per discipline | Disciplines cross-linked with sectors |
| Projects | Gallery | Filterable project sheets | Detailed sheets by sector and canton |
| Tender documents | One capability statement | Downloadable prequalification pack | Structured document area |
| Careers | Recruitment page | Openings and open applications | Candidate journey per profile |
| Timeline and support | 3 to 4 weeks, 3 months | 3 to 4 weeks, 3 months | Usually 4 to 6 weeks, 6 months |
A client extranet, site progress tracking, a BIM viewer or an ERP connection are custom applications, quoted separately. Ongoing SEO is quoted separately too.
What does a Lugano engineering firm need from its website?
Lugano sits between two markets. Since the Ceneri Base Tunnel opened in 2020, the city is closer to Zurich, and Milan remains under an hour away. Firms in the Sottoceneri work on residential and commercial buildings, infrastructure, hillside and lakeside projects with demanding geotechnical conditions, and on mandates for clients from German-speaking Switzerland and Lombardy. Italian is the working language, German opens doors north of the Gotthard, English reaches international investors and family offices based in the city.
- Discipline pages that a German-speaking client can scan in English if the German version does not exist yet.
- Project references approved by the client, with anonymised sheets for confidential work.
- Professional standing stated accurately: Ticino regulates the practice of engineering and architecture, with a cantonal register kept by OTIA, and REG or SIA membership where it applies. ISO 9001, 14001 or 45001 only if your firm holds them, Minergie only for certified projects.
- Careers content for cross-border hiring: many engineers commute from Italy, so job pages should state work location, permit context and languages clearly.
- Fast galleries on mobile, with the photographer's licence covering web use.
On compliance, keep to the facts. Public tenders in Ticino follow cantonal procurement law within the intercantonal framework, and notices appear on simap.ch. Forms that collect enquiries or CVs fall under the Swiss nFADP (nLPD), in force since 1 September 2023; if you actively target clients in Italy, check with your adviser whether the EU GDPR also applies. WCAG 2.1 AA is a sound technical reference for accessibility. This is not legal advice.
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Which questions should you ask before signing?
- Who writes each language, and who checks the technical vocabulary in Italian?
- How many project sheets are included, and what does each additional one cost?
- Whose name is the domain under, and do you receive every access at handover?
- Does the photo licence allow web, tender and social media use?
- Is an extranet promised without a written specification?
- How heavy are the galleries on a 4G connection at a site office?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Giulia B. runs business development for a 35-person general contractor in Lugano and prepares prequalification files for clients in central Switzerland. An agency quotes 21 000 CHF including Italian copy, delivered in 12 weeks. With Kolonell, she chooses Premium at 8 200 CHF, pays a translator 2 400 CHF for the Italian pages and books a photographer for 2 200 CHF.
Kolonell route: 8 200 + 2 400 + 2 200 = 12 800 CHF. Agency route: 21 000 + 2 200 = 23 200 CHF. The gap is 10 400 CHF, and with the same 4 500 CHF maintenance assumption on both sides, the three-year totals reach 27 700 CHF and 17 300 CHF. Giulia keeps in mind the main trade-off: her Italian copy depends on a translator she must brief herself.
FAQ
How much does an engineering firm website cost in Lugano in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, 9 000 to 32 000 CHF with a local agency and 2 500 to 10 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700 CHF, 4 500 CHF or 8 200 CHF.
Does Kolonell write in Italian?
No. Kolonell writes native English and French; Italian copy is supplied by your firm or quoted separately, for example around 2 400 CHF for 25 pages through a translator.
Are Milan agencies a cheaper option?
Often yes, by a few thousand francs for a comparable scope. Check who owns the domain, how support works after launch and whether they know Swiss procurement.
Can you take photos of our projects?
No, Kolonell does not shoot on location. A Ticino photographer often charges 1 200 to 1 600 CHF per day according to published rates, and we optimise the images for the site.
How long does delivery take?
3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth. Premium gets a written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks, with 6 months of support after launch.
Let's scope your project. Send us your disciplines, the languages you need and a few approved references, and we will reply with a fixed-price plan and a 3 to 4 week timeline. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
