The verdict in three sentences
For an executive search firm of 10 to 15 consultants, the realistic budget for a premium website is EUR 9,000 to 16,000 excluding VAT (roughly GBP 7,700 to 13,700) with an agency in 2026. What makes the difference with HR directors and senior executives is sector credibility: practice pages by industry, typical mandates and a precise presentation of the team. A confidential candidate portal (around EUR 3,000) pays off once the firm handles more than 40 active mandates a year.
What a premium recruitment firm website costs
London and Paris are among the most expensive markets in Europe, but the gaps mostly come from scope. An executive search website does not need a full job board: it must earn the trust of a CEO looking for a new CFO and reassure an executive approached in confidence.
| 2026 option | Budget excl. VAT | Timeline | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress freelancer | EUR 4,000 to 7,000 | 5 to 7 weeks | Adapted theme, 8 to 12 pages, basic SEO |
| Kolonell agency, premium core | EUR 9,000 to 12,000 | 8 weeks | Custom design, 15 pages, practice pages |
| Kolonell agency, premium + candidate portal | EUR 12,000 to 16,000 | 9 to 10 weeks | Encrypted CV upload, application tracking |
| Large London agency | EUR 20,000 to 35,000 | 12 to 16 weeks | Advanced art direction, photo shoot |
| ATS platform with built-in site | EUR 250 to 600 per month | 3 weeks | Standard template, little differentiation |
The freelance route suits a firm with 2 or 3 partners. Beyond 10 consultants, brand consistency and the quality of sector pages directly affect the response rate to headhunting approaches.
Detailed cost items
A readable quote must break the project down. Here is a typical split for a 12-consultant firm specialising in finance, industry and tech.
| Item | 2026 estimate excl. VAT | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy workshop and sitemap | EUR 1,200 | Positioning, HR and candidate audiences |
| Custom design (desktop and mobile) | EUR 3,000 to 4,500 | Understated identity, premium typography |
| Build and CMS | EUR 2,500 to 4,000 | Pages editable by the team |
| Sector practice pages (6 to 8) | EUR 1,500 to 2,500 | SEO copy, anonymised typical mandates |
| Confidential candidate portal | EUR 3,000 | Encrypted CV upload, GDPR consent |
| Hosting in the UK or EU | EUR 30 per month | Certified server, daily backups |
| Maintenance and updates | EUR 150 to 250 per month | Security, minor changes, support |
Data protection is a sensitive matter for a search firm: CVs hold personal data usually kept for 2 years at most. The candidate portal must handle explicit consent, automatic purging and hosting within the UK or the European Union under UK GDPR or GDPR.
The pages that bring in mandates
Firms that convert organic traffic best share the same structure: one page per sector (banking, industry, healthcare, tech), one page per function (finance, sales, HR leadership), consultant profiles with their real background and expert content published once or twice a month. A query such as « CFO headhunter London » is won with a dedicated page, not a generic home page. Expect 3 to 6 months before the first page-one rankings.
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Helen, managing partner of a 12-consultant executive search firm in Mayfair, picks the premium option with a candidate portal for EUR 14,500 excl. VAT, plus EUR 200 a month for maintenance. Over the first year, total cost reaches 14,500 + 2,400 + 360 for hosting, i.e. EUR 17,260. Her average fee per mandate is EUR 28,000. If the site helps win just one extra mandate a year through sector pages, the investment pays for itself in year one, with a net gain of about EUR 10,700.
FAQ
How long does it take to deliver a recruitment firm website?
Allow 8 to 10 weeks for a premium site with a candidate portal. The timeline depends mostly on how fast partners sign off content, which often takes 2 to 3 weeks on its own.
Does an executive search website need a job board?
Rarely, because 70 to 80 % of leadership mandates are confidential. A selection of 3 to 5 publishable roles is enough, the rest goes through direct approach and the candidate portal.
Where should candidate CVs be hosted?
In the UK or the European Union, on encrypted hosting from EUR 30 a month. A retention period of about 2 years after last contact is the usual recommendation.
Can the site connect to our ATS?
Yes, most ATS products expose an API. The connector usually adds EUR 1,500 to 3,000 excl. VAT depending on the quality of the vendor's documentation.
What SEO budget should we plan after launch?
Support of EUR 600 to 1,200 a month covers 2 expert articles per month and ranking tracking. First results usually appear between 3 and 6 months.
Let's scope your project. We define the practice pages, candidate portal and schedule with you for a budget of EUR 9,000 to 16,000 delivered in 8 to 10 weeks. 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.
