The verdict in three sentences
For a freight forwarder, a serious redesign costs between EUR 3,000 and EUR 9,150 (2 to 6 million FCFA on the Douala market) and ships in 8 to 12 weeks. Almost all the return comes from a multi-step quote form (container, incoterm, destination) that filters out vague requests and hands sales a file they can actually price. A client shipment-tracking portal (+EUR 2,300 to 4,600) pays off once you handle more than 80 active files per month.
Why your current site does not produce qualified quotes
Most forwarder websites, whether in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Douala, stop at a "Our services" page and a generic contact form. The result: the sales director receives messages like "how much to ship a container?", with no container type, no incoterm, no origin port. Each request needs two or three emails or WhatsApp exchanges before it can be priced.
In 2026, 60% of quote requests come from a smartphone, often from a warehouse floor or a port terminal with patchy coverage. A long single-page form loses half of these prospects. Splitting it into short steps with autosave changes the outcome.
| Site element | Typical 2020 site | Redesigned 2026 site |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Generic contact, 4 fields | 4-step quote, 12 guided fields |
| Share of usable requests | 20 to 30% | 65 to 80% |
| Mobile load time on 3G | 6 to 9 seconds | 1.5 to 2.5 seconds |
| Languages | One language | Two or more (e.g. EN + NL or FR) |
| Shipment tracking | By phone | Client portal with statuses |
| Sales response time | 24 to 72 h | 4 to 12 h |
2026 budget: what each building block costs
The budget depends mainly on three variables: the depth of the quote form, whether you need a client portal, and integration with your freight management software (or your current Excel sheet). Figures below are Kolonell estimates, in EUR excluding VAT, with the FCFA equivalent for our West and Central African clients.
| Building block | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | FCFA equivalent | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase redesign (10 to 15 pages, bilingual) | 3,050 to 4,575 | 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Multi-step quote form | 915 to 1,830 | 600,000 to 1,200,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Indicative calculator (freight + port charges) | 1,220 to 2,745 | 800,000 to 1,800,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Client shipment-tracking portal | 2,290 to 4,575 | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Connection to freight software or Excel | 760 to 2,290 | 500,000 to 1,500,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Maintenance and hosting | 90 to 230 / month | 60,000 to 150,000 / month | Ongoing |
A full redesign without a client portal lands around EUR 4,000 to 6,400. With shipment tracking and software integration, plan for EUR 6,900 to 9,150, slightly more if you want an automatic cost calculator. Amsterdam agencies typically quote 2 to 3 times these figures for the same scope.
The minimum specification to demand
A good specification for a forwarder fits in about ten precise points:
- Quote form: commodity type, container type (20 ft, 40 ft, 40 HC, LCL), incoterm (FOB, CIF, DAP...), origin port or city, final destination, desired date, attachments (proforma invoice).
- Automatic routing: import to one sales rep, export to another, hinterland or transit corridors to a dedicated team.
- WhatsApp and email notification to the sales rep in under one minute.
- Separate service pages: customs clearance, sea freight, air freight, road haulage, warehousing.
- Performance: WebP images, page weight under 1 MB, CDN hosting.
- Shipment tracking: statuses (B/L received, declaration filed, duties settled, release, delivery) with secure per-client access.
Mini case study
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Paul, sales director of a licensed forwarder at Bonaberi (port of Douala), receives 140 requests a month through his current site, of which only 35 can be priced. His team converts 25% of quotes sent, with an average margin of 450,000 FCFA (about EUR 686) per file.
After the redesign (4.8 million FCFA, about EUR 7,320, with multi-step form and client tracking), volume drops to 120 requests, but 85 become usable. At constant conversion: 85 × 25% = 21 files won versus 9 before, i.e. 12 extra files and 5.4 million FCFA (about EUR 8,230) of additional margin per month. The investment pays back in under 30 days, even if you halve that gain to stay conservative.
FAQ
How much does a freight forwarder website redesign cost in 2026?
Plan for EUR 3,050 to 4,575 for a well-built bilingual showcase site, and EUR 6,900 to 9,150 with an advanced quote form and client tracking portal. These are 2026 estimates excluding VAT.
How long until the site goes live?
The standard timeline is 8 to 12 weeks. It drops to 6 weeks for a simple showcase and can exceed 12 weeks if the portal must connect to existing freight software.
Do we need a second language?
Yes, as soon as you deal with shippers abroad. Each additional language generally adds 10 to 15% to the showcase budget.
Can the site display an automatic price?
An indicative calculator is possible for EUR 1,220 to 2,745, but it must remain an estimate. Port charges and duties vary too much to guarantee a firm price without human validation.
How does the site handle slow connections?
With CDN hosting, pages under 1 MB and a form that saves each step. The target is a load time under 2.5 seconds on 3G.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current site and your monthly request volume: we will price the redesign, quote form and client portal, with an indicative budget and an 8 to 12 week schedule. 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.
