The verdict in three sentences
For a 20-person engineering consultancy that wants a 25-page website, a freelancer costs two to three times less than a Dublin agency at build stage, but the gap narrows sharply once you calculate the 3-year total cost. The real decision criterion is not the starting price: it is key-person dependency and the ability to evolve the site without starting over. A strong freelancer suits a simple, stable site; a team suits a site that drives business development.
What each option really costs in Dublin
Dublin has a deep pool of independent developers, fed by the tech multinationals and a strong contractor culture. Figures below are 2026 ballpark ranges for a 25-page B2B site with service pages, project references, news, a qualified enquiry form and basic SEO. All prices exclude VAT at 23%.
| Criterion | Freelancer | Dublin agency | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference rate | day rate of 400 to 650 EUR | fixed project fee | fixed fee by tier |
| Quote for 25 pages | 4,000 to 9,000 EUR | 12,000 to 25,000 EUR | 800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (1,220 to 5,340 EUR) |
| Delivery time | 4 to 8 weeks, depending on workload | 8 to 12 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
| People involved | 1 generalist | project manager, designer, developer | project manager, designer, developers |
| Maintenance | ad hoc, often no contract | 100 to 350 EUR a month | 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month (53 to 183 EUR) |
| Continuity if someone is away | weak | good | good, team plus documented code |
The freelancer is unbeatable on entry price and flexibility. A Dublin agency offers face-to-face meetings and a team, at rates that carry high city-centre overheads. Kolonell, whose production team is based in Dakar, combines a multidisciplinary team with pricing closer to freelance rates.
The risks the price tag hides
The cheapest quote can become the most expensive if the site has to be rebuilt after two years. Assess these risks before signing.
| Risk | Freelancer | Agency | How to protect yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider unavailable for weeks | high, single person | low | require access to code and hosting accounts |
| Undocumented code, hard to hand over | medium to high | low to medium | portability clause and code in your own Git repository |
| Missed deadline | medium, depends on workload | medium | contractual milestones |
| No security maintenance | high without a contract | low with a contract | written contract with response times |
| Generic design from a bought theme | medium | low | ask for 2 to 3 custom references |
| Unclear intellectual property | medium | low | written assignment of rights |
Whatever the provider, the most important clause is portability: the domain name, hosting and code repository must be in your company's name. That single precaution turns a critical risk into a minor inconvenience if the provider disappears.
Total cost over three years
Comparing build quotes alone distorts the decision. Add maintenance, changes and the cost of a possible incident.
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| Item over 3 years | Freelancer | Dublin agency | Kolonell Growth tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 6,500 EUR | 17,000 EUR | 3,050 EUR at the top of the range |
| Maintenance over 36 months | 3,000 EUR (ad hoc fixes) | 8,400 EUR (233 EUR a month) | 4,104 EUR (114 EUR a month) |
| Changes (2 new sections) | 2,500 EUR | 3,500 EUR | on quotation |
| Incident or code takeover provision | 3,500 EUR (meaningful probability) | 500 EUR | 500 EUR |
| Estimated total | 15,500 EUR | 29,400 EUR | about 7,650 EUR, excluding changes |
These amounts are indicative, but they show that a 6,500 EUR freelance build often ends above 15,000 EUR over three years once an incident forces a code takeover.
Mini case study
Conor, managing director of a 20-person building services engineering firm in Dublin, receives three bids: a freelancer at 6,200 EUR, a Dublin agency at 16,500 EUR, and Kolonell at Growth tier for 2,000,000 FCFA (3,050 EUR). His current site generates 6 tender enquiries a month and one in five becomes an average 22,000 EUR engagement.
If he assumes the site is down or frozen for 3 weeks during a code takeover, he loses about 4 enquiries: 0.8 engagements and 17,600 EUR of potential revenue. That one scenario wipes out the saving on the freelancer. Conor therefore makes continuity a pass or fail criterion, then decides on price between the two bids that pass.
FAQ
Can one freelancer handle a 25-page site alone? Yes, technically, and many do it very well in 4 to 8 weeks. The question is what happens next: who steps in if they are unavailable for a month?
How do I vet a freelancer? Ask for 3 sites delivered more than a year ago and call those clients. Also check they offer a written maintenance contract with a 48 to 72 hour response time.
Why does a Dublin agency cost three times more? It assigns 3 to 4 people, bills project management and carries city-centre overheads. The premium buys continuity, not necessarily a better site.
Is working with a remote team a problem? Not for a B2B site: workshops run on video calls and sign-off happens on a staging link. Expect 3 to 4 one-hour meetings across the whole project.
What must the contract include in every case? Assignment of rights, ownership of domain and hosting, access to source code and a milestone schedule. These four clauses prevent around 80% of the disputes we see.
Let's scope your project. Send us your sitemap or current site and we will propose a scope, the right tier and a 4 to 8 week plan, with code and domain in your name. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
