The verdict in three sentences
For an executive search boutique in Geneva, a website that earns credibility with CEOs and CHROs costs between 25,000 and 70,000 CHF in 2026, depending on whether you stop at a premium showcase or add a candidate database with CV upload and a consultant area. The legal framework is not optional: the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD), in force since September 2023, requires transparent information, a record of processing activities and proportionate retention. With 300 to 800 CVs a month, the real return comes from automatic sorting and confidentiality, two arguments that reassure both senior candidates and clients.
Two audiences, two journeys on one site
An executive search firm sells to companies and recruits executives. The site must serve both without mixing them: CEOs look for a method, sectors covered and timelines, while candidates look for mandates, discretion and a reply. Mandates are often published on LinkedIn, which drives most candidate traffic, whereas clients arrive by referral and check the website before a first meeting.
| Feature | Audience | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Sector expertise pages (private banking, commodities, pharma, NGOs) | CEOs, CHROs | 6 to 10 pages to cover the Geneva market |
| Mandate request form | Clients | 3 to 12 qualified requests a month |
| Online roles with LinkedIn sharing | Candidates | 60% to 75% of candidate traffic comes from LinkedIn |
| CV upload with explicit consent | Candidates | 300 to 800 CVs a month for an established boutique |
| Filtering by function, seniority, sector | Consultants | 2 to 4 hours saved per consultant per week |
| Secure candidate area | Senior candidates | Profile updates and data deletion |
| Confidential roles without client name | Sensitive clients | Essential for C-level searches |
2026 cost of an executive search website in Geneva
The ranges below reflect the Geneva and Lausanne market in 2026 for Swiss and international agencies. They are orders of magnitude, not a Kolonell offer.
| Level | Scope | 2026 market budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium showcase | 10 to 15 pages, FR/EN, mandate form | 25,000 to 35,000 CHF | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Showcase + roles | Roles module, LinkedIn sharing, simple application | 35,000 to 48,000 CHF | 7 to 10 weeks |
| Candidate platform | CV database, filtering, candidate area, consent log | 48,000 to 70,000 CHF | 10 to 14 weeks |
| nLPD documentation | Record of processing, privacy notice, data processing agreements | 3,000 to 8,000 CHF | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Swiss or EU hosting | Encryption, backups, access logs | 150 to 500 CHF per month | Ongoing |
| LinkedIn Ads targeting C-level | Awareness among decision makers | 2,000 to 6,000 CHF per month | 3 months minimum |
For firms open to a nearshore or offshore build, Kolonell's 11/10/2026 grid places a Premium website at 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR) and a medium-complexity custom application, such as a candidate database with a consultant area, at 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR). Maintenance starts at 35,000 FCFA a month.
Compliance: what the nLPD changes for a search firm
A CV holds sensitive personal data: career history, salary, sometimes family situation. The nLPD requires clear information at collection, a right of access and deletion, privacy by design and default, and proportionate retention, commonly set at 24 months after last contact. In practice, the site must timestamp consent, let candidates remove their profile in one click and restrict access to authorised consultants. These safeguards double as a sales argument: a CEO entrusting a confidential search wants to know where the data goes.
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Marc, founder of an executive search boutique in Geneva, employs 4 consultants and receives 500 CVs a month, currently by email. Each consultant spends about 5 hours a week opening, renaming and filing CVs, or 80 hours a month for the team. With a platform that filters by function and seniority, the assumption is to halve that time, freeing 40 hours a month. Valued at 150 CHF per consultant hour, that is 6,000 CHF a month. On a 55,000 CHF project, time savings alone cover the investment in about 9 months, before counting mandates won through a stronger image.
FAQ
Do I need to notify the FDPIC about my CV database?
Private companies generally do not need to register processing with the FDPIC, but they must keep a record of processing activities if they handle sensitive data at scale. Budget 3,000 to 8,000 CHF if you use outside counsel.
How long can I keep a CV?
Common practice is 24 months after the last exchange, with a reminder to the candidate before deletion. Beyond that, you need fresh explicit consent.
Should the site be bilingual?
In Geneva, FR/EN is the minimum for a firm placing executives in international organisations and multinationals. It usually adds 15% to 25% to the content budget.
Is LinkedIn not enough for publishing roles?
LinkedIn brings 60% to 75% of candidate traffic, but CVs stay scattered and you do not own the pool. The site centralises applications and builds a reusable talent pool for future mandates.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your monthly CV volume, sectors and current tools, and we will price the scope, indicative budget and launch timeline. 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.
