The verdict in three sentences
For a lab that works with farm estates, agronomists and environmental consultancies, the website must let clients submit samples without phoning: choose a test suite, generate a submission form, print a label and track progress. Pick the agency that best models your test catalogue and sample journey, not the one with the slickest mood board. A 100 point scoring sheet applied to every shortlisted agency keeps the decision objective.
Fix the scope first
| Item | 2026 market ballpark |
|---|---|
| Overall site budget | 9,000 to 30,000 GBP |
| Online sample submission module | 2,500 to 8,500 GBP |
| Test pages (soil, tissue, water, contaminated land) | 20 to 60 pages |
| Delivery time | 8 to 14 weeks |
| Maintenance | 100 to 400 GBP a month |
| Accreditation and methods pages | 3 to 6 pages |
If you are UKAS accredited, have your quality manager review every page that mentions it and follow UKAS's published rules on referencing accreditation, rather than the agency's copy. Under UK GDPR, the submission form collects client personal data, so ask each agency who acts as processor and where data is hosted.
The 100 point scoring sheet
| Criterion | Points | What earns full marks |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of the sample journey | 25 | Agency restates your flow from order to report |
| Comparable B2B references | 15 | At least 2 live sites with online ordering or quoting |
| Method and plan | 15 | Week by week plan with dated sign off points |
| Three year total cost | 20 | Build, hosting, maintenance and enhancements priced |
| Reversibility and ownership | 15 | Code, content and domain in your name, documentation delivered |
| Post launch support | 10 | Written response times, named contact |
| Total | 100 | Recommended threshold: 70 points |
Red flags in pitch meetings
| Red flag | What it reveals | Points to deduct |
|---|---|---|
| Designs shown before any question about ordering | Brochure mindset | 10 |
| Submission module thrown in for free, undefined | Bare minimum or billed later | 8 |
| No maintenance price | Surprise invoices after launch | 8 |
| Hosting in the agency's name | Strong lock in | 6 |
| No written plan | Likely delays | 5 |
| Reluctance to show live work | Weak references | 5 |
For comparison, Kolonell's prices as a nearshore option: a Premium site (e-commerce or booking) at 3,050 to 5,340 EUR, delivered in 21 to 30 business days, or a simple custom application at 3,810 to 6,100 EUR if ordering needs client specific pricing. Standard maintenance is 114 EUR a month.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Helen, director of a 25 person soil and crop lab in London, receives three proposals. Agency A at 24,000 GBP scores 80; agency B at 15,000 GBP scores 72; agency C at 9,500 GBP scores 52, because hosting stays in its name and maintenance is unpriced. She picks B, saving 9,000 GBP for an 8 point gap. If online submission removes 350 phone calls a year at 8 minutes each, staff recover about 47 hours, and fewer samples arrive mislabelled.
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FAQ
Why give 25 points to the sample journey?
Because it separates a lab website from a brochure. An agency that misunderstands your flow will cost more in fixes than the 2,500 to 8,500 GBP module itself.
How many agencies should we meet?
Three is enough with a precise brief. Beyond that, meetings can exceed 15 hours of senior time for little gain.
What threshold should we use?
Reject any agency under 70 out of 100. Between two close scores, decide on three year total cost.
Should test prices be public?
For standard suites, yes, it cuts simple quote requests. Bespoke packages, often 20 to 30% of the catalogue, can stay on request.
How long will it take?
Eight to 14 weeks (market), including 2 to 3 weeks to write test pages. Book your technical team's time from the start.
Let's scope your project. Send us your test list and current sample submission flow, and we will price the site and ordering module with a firm 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.
