The verdict in three sentences
When an executive search firm receives quotes at EUR 5,900, 9,400 and 14,800 (about GBP 5,000, 8,000 and 12,600), the gap does not come from design but from four business features: job board, ATS connection, GDPR compliance for applications and local SEO. The cheapest quote is often a brochure site that sends candidates to an email form, which later costs hours of manual re-entry. A good estimate itemises each component with its price and timeline, over a total of 6 to 10 weeks.
Reading the three quotes line by line
Here is a typical reconstruction of three offers received by an 8-consultant search firm focused on finance, industrial and C-suite roles.
| Line item | Quote A: EUR 5,900 | Quote B: EUR 9,400 | Quote C: EUR 14,800 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brochure site, 10 to 15 pages | included | included | included |
| Integrated job board (listings, filters, application) | missing | +EUR 2,500 | +EUR 2,500 |
| ATS API connection | missing | missing | +EUR 1,800 |
| GDPR compliance for CVs (consent, 2-year purge) | privacy notice only | compliant form | automatic purge and records |
| Local SEO (city, region, functions) | missing | 5 pages | 12 pages and Google profile |
| Practice pages by function | 3 | 6 | 10 with salary studies |
| Monthly maintenance | EUR 100 | EUR 150 | EUR 200 |
| Stated timeline | 4 weeks | 7 weeks | 10 weeks |
Quote A looks attractive, but the job board and compliance will have to be added later, often at a higher cost than upfront. Quote C only makes sense if the firm already uses an ATS (such as Recruitee, Bullhorn or Loxo) and posts at least 15 roles a month.
GDPR: what the quote must cover for CVs
Data protection regulators, including the French CNIL and the UK ICO in its guidance, expect CVs not to be kept indefinitely; a 2-year retention after last contact is the common benchmark without candidate consent. A firm receiving 300 applications a month accumulates 7,200 CVs in two years: without automatic purging, legal exposure grows every month.
| GDPR requirement | Technical solution | Indicative 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Information and consent at application | Dedicated checkbox and clear notice | EUR 200 to 400 |
| 2-year retention period | Automatic purge or re-consent email at 23 months | EUR 600 to 1,200 |
| CV storage in Europe or UK | EU/UK hosting, encrypted files | included in hosting |
| Right of access and erasure | Deletion link in confirmation email | EUR 300 to 500 |
| Record of processing | Template supplied by the agency | EUR 0 to 300 |
| Transfer to the ATS | Secure API rather than email | included in ATS connection |
Questions to ask before signing
Ask who owns the code and domain name, what maintenance includes (hours of changes, updates, backups), how many design revision rounds are included and what penalties apply for delays. A serious quote answers these points in writing.
Mini case study
Sophie, partner at an executive search firm, selects Quote B at EUR 9,400 and adds automatic purging (EUR 900), totalling EUR 10,300 plus EUR 150 a month. Year one: EUR 12,100. The job board removes manual re-entry of 300 monthly applications, about 25 hours a month of junior consultant time. At a fully loaded EUR 35 an hour, savings reach EUR 10,500 a year, and a single extra assignment won through local SEO (average fee EUR 18,000) more than pays for the project.
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FAQ
Why such a gap between EUR 5,900 and 14,800?
The most expensive quote includes the job board, ATS connection and automated GDPR compliance, roughly EUR 5,000 of business features missing from the first.
Is an integrated job board essential?
It becomes so above 5 roles posted a month. Below that, a simple listings page plus LinkedIn distribution is enough.
Should the site connect to the ATS?
Yes if your consultants already work in it: the EUR 1,800 connection avoids re-entry and lost applications sent by email.
What does maintenance cost for a search firm website?
Between EUR 100 and 200 a month depending on included hours and GDPR purge monitoring.
What timeline is realistic?
Allow 6 to 10 weeks. A 4-week timeline is possible for a brochure site without job board or ATS.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current quotes or your needs (role volume, ATS in use, budget of EUR 6,000 to 15,000) and we will price each line, including GDPR compliance and a 6 to 10 week plan. 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.
