The verdict in three sentences
For a private hospitality school in Montreal, the website must work as an application engine: every visitor from a fair, Instagram or TikTok should find their program and submit an application in under 5 minutes. A realistic budget runs from 30,000 to 55,000 CAD over 10 weeks, built around an application form with automated follow-ups and bilingual program pages designed for the 30% of international students. With ad leads costing 20 to 55 CAD, every conversion point gained turns directly into enrolments.
Why leads from fairs and social media get lost
At a student fair in Montreal or Quebec City, or a recruitment tour in France and North Africa, a school collects 300 to 600 contacts on paper or tablet. Three weeks later, fewer than a third have been called back. Meta lead forms fill a spreadsheet nobody handles at weekends, while families compare three or four schools at once.
International applicants from France, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire have specific questions: study permit, Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), housing, credential recognition, fees. If the site does not answer them, they move on to another school.
| Lead source | 2026 cost per lead (CAD) | Application rate without follow-up | With automated follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student fairs (Montreal, Quebec, abroad) | 40 to 70 | 8% | 18% |
| Meta Ads (Facebook, Instagram) | 20 to 35 | 4% | 11% |
| TikTok Ads | 15 to 30 | 3% | 8% |
| Google Ads ("hospitality school Montreal") | 35 to 55 | 12% | 22% |
| Organic search | Content cost only | 10% | 20% |
| International agents | 1,000 to 2,500 per enrolee | Not applicable | Not applicable |
These rates are 2026 orders of magnitude seen at comparable private schools, to be measured on your own campaigns.
What the site includes and what it costs
The core is the applicant journey: program page, fee simulator, step-by-step form, document upload, then a follow-up sequence by email, SMS and WhatsApp.
| Item | 2026 budget (CAD) | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, applicant journey, mock-ups | 3,500 to 6,000 | 2 weeks |
| Bilingual FR/EN site (French first, per Bill 96) | 9,000 to 16,000 | 4 weeks |
| Program pages (DEP, AEC, diplomas, short courses) | 3,000 to 5,000 | 2 weeks |
| Step-by-step application form with document upload | 5,000 to 10,000 | 3 weeks |
| Admissions CRM and automated follow-ups (D+1, D+3, D+7) | 5,000 to 10,000 | 2 weeks |
| International student pages (CAQ, permit, housing, fees) | 2,000 to 4,000 | 1 week |
| Video shoot of kitchens, training restaurant, rooms | 2,500 to 4,000 | 2 days |
Add 300 to 700 CAD per month for hosting, CRM and SMS. The site must comply with Quebec's Law 25 on personal information, with explicit consent and a named privacy officer.
Automated follow-ups, the main lever
An applicant who starts a file without finishing it gets an email on day 1, an SMS on day 3 with a direct link back to the file, then a WhatsApp message from an advisor on day 7. Fair contacts are imported the same evening and receive the brochure for their chosen program. This simple setup usually doubles the lead to application rate.
Mini case study
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Catherine, director of a private hospitality school in Montreal (600 students, average annual tuition 14,000 CAD), collects 2,400 leads a year for a 90,000 CAD advertising and fairs budget. Without follow-ups, 7% apply and half enrol: 84 students. After a 44,000 CAD website with automated follow-ups, the application rate climbs to 14%, or 168 enrolees. The 84 additional enrolments represent about 1.2 million CAD of annual tuition. Even with a cautious assumption of 20 extra students, the site pays for itself at the first intake.
FAQ
How much does a private school website cost in Montreal in 2026?
Budget 30,000 to 55,000 CAD with an application form, CRM and follow-ups. A plain showcase site costs 12,000 to 20,000 CAD but does not process leads.
What cost per lead should a hospitality school target?
Between 20 and 55 CAD depending on channel, with TikTok and Meta cheapest and Google most qualified. The real metric is cost per enrolee, often 500 to 1,500 CAD.
Do we need French and English?
Yes. French must come first under the Charter of the French Language, and English widens international reach for an extra 15 to 20% on content.
How should we handle fair contacts?
With tablet entry connected to the CRM, or a QR code leading to the form. Contacts receive the brochure the same day, lifting the application rate from 8% to around 18%.
Can application fees be paid online?
Yes, by card through Stripe or Moneris, for 2,000 to 4,000 CAD of integration. International students can also pay by bank transfer with a unique reference.
Let's scope your project. Send us your programs, lead sources and intake targets: we will price an application-focused website with automated follow-ups for an indicative 30,000 to 55,000 CAD over 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.
