The verdict in three sentences
If your 2019 website is just a digital business card, a visual redesign at GBP 4,000 to 8,000 (about EUR 4,700 to 9,400) is enough. As soon as you want qualified quote requests (port of loading, container type, Incoterm, weight), a rebuild at GBP 10,000 to 22,000 pays off better, because around 70 % of those requests come from a smartphone. A shipment tracking module (GBP 6,000 to 14,000) makes sense beyond roughly 80 active shipments a month.
The decision grid
Ask yourself five questions. If you answer yes to three or more, starting from scratch is almost always the right call.
| Question | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|
| Is the current site slow on mobile (over 5 s on 4G)? | Rebuild | Redesign possible |
| Is the CMS outdated or impossible to update without a supplier? | Rebuild | Redesign possible |
| Do you want a structured quote request form? | Rebuild | Redesign is enough |
| Do customers ask where their container is by phone or email more than 10 times a day? | Tracking module | Not a priority |
| Do you target shippers outside the UK (multilingual needed)? | Multilingual rebuild | English redesign |
A 2019 WordPress site that was never updated usually carries abandoned plugins and security holes: bringing it up to date can cost more than 40 % of a new build.
What each option costs in London
| Option | 2026 budget (order of magnitude) | Timeline | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual redesign | GBP 4,000 to 8,000 | 6 to 8 weeks | New design, 8 to 12 pages, simple contact form |
| New site + quote request | GBP 10,000 to 22,000 | 8 to 12 weeks | Multi-step quote form, email and WhatsApp alerts, CRM push |
| Shipment tracking module | GBP 6,000 to 14,000 | 4 to 6 extra weeks | Search by B/L or job number, statuses, alerts |
| Integration with freight software (CargoWise, Magaya) | GBP 4,000 to 11,000 | 3 to 5 weeks | Status import via API or EDI |
| Maintenance and hosting | GBP 200 to 550 / month | Ongoing | Backups, security, small changes |
For the full scenario (rebuild, quoting and tracking), budget GBP 16,000 to 36,000 and 10 to 14 weeks. Agency day rates in London (GBP 550 to 850) explain most of the gap with continental benchmarks.
The quote form, the heart of the project
A good forwarder quote form guides the prospect through 4 steps: flow type (import, export, cross-trade), mode (sea, air, road), cargo (nature, weight, volume, number of 20 or 40 ft containers), contact details. Each request lands structured in your inbox and CRM. Typical result: handling time per request falls from 25 to 10 minutes and the share answered within 2 hours rises sharply.
Mini case study
James, MD of a 35-person freight forwarder near Tilbury, receives about 120 quote requests a month, mostly by phone and email, and converts 18 %. He opts for a rebuild with a quote form at GBP 15,000, plus GBP 350 a month for maintenance, i.e. GBP 19,200 in year one.
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His average gross margin per job is GBP 950. If better qualified requests and faster replies lift conversion from 18 % to 21 %, he gains about 3.6 jobs a month, or GBP 3,420 of extra monthly margin. The project pays for itself in under six months.
FAQ
How much does a freight forwarder website cost in London in 2026?
A redesign costs GBP 4,000 to 8,000 and a rebuild with quoting GBP 10,000 to 22,000. Shipment tracking adds GBP 6,000 to 14,000.
Does tracking have to connect to our freight software?
Ideally yes, to avoid double entry. Otherwise, a daily spreadsheet import works for fewer than 150 active jobs and costs 40 to 60 % less.
Do we need several languages?
Only if you serve shippers in Europe or Africa directly. Each extra language adds 15 to 25 % to the budget, translation included.
Can quote requests trigger instant alerts?
Yes. Each request can notify the duty sales rep by email, Teams or WhatsApp within 30 seconds.
What timeline should we plan?
Allow 6 to 8 weeks for a redesign, 8 to 12 weeks for a rebuild and 4 to 6 extra weeks for tracking.
Let's scope your project. Tell us how many quote requests you receive each month and which system runs your jobs, and we will recommend a redesign or a rebuild with a budget between GBP 4,000 and 36,000. 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.
