The verdict in three sentences
In Basel, an immigration and relocation firm website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, 9 000 to 35 000 CHF, more with three languages or a case-tracking portal. Kolonell delivers an English site, or English and French on Premium, designed for pharma staff, researchers, families and cross-border commuters, at a fixed price of 2 700 CHF, 4 500 CHF or 8 200 CHF. The right yardstick remains the three-year total cost, with a clean separation between the lawyer's work and the relocation coordinator's.
What does a site cost with a Basel agency, a freelancer or Kolonell?
The ranges below are cautious ballparks. They rest on public price lists of agencies in north-western Switzerland, minimum project sizes visible on Clutch.co profiles of Basel and Zurich agencies, hourly rates published by agencies in the region (often 130 to 200 CHF per hour) and freelance rates shown on Malt or Upwork. The number of languages is the first price driver in a city where English, German and French meet.
| Criterion | Basel agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 9 000 to 35 000 CHF and up | 3 500 to 10 000 CHF | 2 700 CHF, 4 500 CHF or 8 200 CHF, fixed |
| Hour outside scope | 130 to 200 CHF | 85 to 130 CHF | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Languages | Native German, others extra | Varies | Native English; English and French included on Premium; German supplied or quoted |
| Portraits, video | Often through a partner | Rarely | No: your images or a Basel photographer |
| Follow-up | On-site meetings | On site or video | Google Meet at your hour, weekly written update |
| Ownership | Per contract | Per contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
The Basel agency remains the better choice if your priority is a German-first site written natively, or a video filmed in your offices. Kolonell does no filming and no in-person meetings. The project manager is reachable in your time zone, with the team based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Basel depending on the season. Payment by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery. See the details in our international website offer.
What is the total cost after three years?
A Basel firm serving international employees, cross-border commuters from Alsace and German-speaking HR teams often needs three languages. We compare a mid-range trilingual agency site with the Premium package (English and French included) and a German version you have translated. Kolonell maintenance after support is quoted on request: same assumption on both sides.
| Item over 36 months | Basel agency (mid range) | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Trilingual build | 26 000 CHF | 8 200 CHF (English and French) |
| German version | Included | Translator booked by you, assumption 1 800 CHF |
| Support included | Per contract | 6 months |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 160 CHF per month over 30 months, 4 800 CHF | 4 800 CHF, quoted on request |
| Team portraits | 1 000 CHF | Local photographer booked separately, 1 000 CHF |
| Booking and secure upload (third-party tools) | 30 CHF per month, 1 080 CHF | 1 080 CHF |
| Indicative total | 32 880 CHF | 16 880 CHF |
This table compares like with like; it does not predict your invoice. Have every provider fill in the same lines.
Who are a Basel firm's clients, and what are they looking for?
Basel lives on pharma and chemicals: large groups, biotech companies and suppliers recruit researchers, regulatory specialists and executives from around the world. Add the University of Basel and its institutes, the international institutions based in the city and a trinational job market where thousands of people cross the border every day from France and Germany. Questions cover the right permit (residence, short stay, cross-border), registering in Basel-Stadt or Basel-Landschaft, the health insurance to take out within three months, housing in Gundeldingen, St. Johann, Riehen or Binningen, and international schools.
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profiles | Services page | Pages: transferred employee, researcher, family, cross-border commuter | Profile pages plus pages by employer type (pharma, university, institutions) |
| Employer offer | Paragraph | Mobility page: steps, deliverables, internal lead times | HR journey with proposal request |
| Who does what | Clear statement | Lawyer and relocation coordination page | Detailed page per service, indicative fees if you wish |
| Guides | 2 guides | Up to 6 (permits by profile, health insurance, districts) | Library by canton and by side of the border |
| Languages | English | English; German supplied or quoted | English and French included; German supplied or quoted |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written plan, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
Booking through a third-party tool such as Calendly; a case-tracking client area is quoted on request; ongoing search optimisation is quoted on request.
What legal limits apply to the content?
The site has to separate two jobs. Immigration advice concerns residence and work permits, granted by the cantonal migration offices with approval from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) where required; EU and EFTA nationals benefit from free movement, third-country nationals fall under quotas. To our knowledge, there is no general federal licence for immigration consultants; if a lawyer signs the applications, their advertising must remain objective under the professional rules for lawyers, to be checked with the cantonal bar. Relocation covers housing, registration, schools, banking and family support. No page should promise a permit, an approval or a timeline.
Case files contain passports, contracts and family data: the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, applies. Minimal form, no passports by plain email, a secure upload tool, an up-to-date privacy policy. For clients living in France or Germany, the GDPR may also come into play; have that point checked. WCAG 2.1 AA is the technical accessibility reference. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Which red flags should you watch for before signing?
- Are all three languages costed? A language added later often costs more.
- Is the who-does-what page planned? Lawyer, coordinator and partners should be named by role.
- Does the form ask for a passport number at first contact? Unnecessary.
- Does any page mention a success rate or a timeline? Reject it.
- Will the domain be in your name?
- Can you take back control without buying the site back?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Andreas M. is a lawyer in Basel; his four-person practice handles permit applications and relies on a relocation coordinator for housing and settling families in. A Basel agency offers an English, German and French site for 29 500 CHF over 12 weeks. Kolonell proposes the Premium package for 8 200 CHF, English and French included, with a written 6-week plan; Andreas has the German version translated for 1 800 CHF.
Build: 29 500 CHF against 10 000 CHF, a 19 500 CHF gap. Over three years, with the same maintenance (4 800 CHF), the same portraits (1 000 CHF) and the same third-party tools (1 080 CHF), the totals reach 36 380 CHF against 16 880 CHF. Andreas has a colleague review the pages to check compliance with professional rules.
FAQ
How much does a relocation firm website cost in Basel in 2026?
As a ballpark, 9 000 to 35 000 CHF with an agency and 3 500 to 10 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell offers 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF at a fixed price.
Can Kolonell deliver the site in English and French?
Yes, bilingual English and French is included in the Premium package at 8 200 CHF. German is supplied by you or quoted separately.
Can the site present cross-border commuter permits?
Yes, as a type of application you support, with a pointer to the competent authority. No page promises an authorisation or a timeline.
How do we receive case documents?
Through a secure third-party upload tool embedded in the site, often 15 to 30 CHF per month. A custom tracking portal is quoted on request.
How long until launch?
3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth; on Premium, a written plan, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your client profiles, how roles are split with your partners and your languages, and you will receive a fixed-price proposal in CHF with a 3 to 6 week timeline depending on the package. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
