The verdict in three sentences
In Cork, an immigration and relocation firm website handed to a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, 5 000 to 22 000 EUR ex VAT, and more with a custom employee area. Kolonell builds the employer programme page, pages by profile, neighbourhood guides and a minimal intake form for a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR, in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. Before signing, compare the 3-year cost and how each quote treats the personal data of transferred employees.
What do Cork agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
Prudent ballparks, drawn from public rate cards of Cork and Dublin agencies, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co, hourly rates published by Irish studios (often 65 to 110 EUR per hour) and rates visible on Upwork. In Ireland, quotes are often shown ex VAT at 23 %: always compare on the same basis.
| Criterion | Cork agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 5 000 to 22 000 EUR | 1 500 to 6 000 EUR | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Hour outside scope | Often 65 to 110 EUR | Often 40 to 70 EUR | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Copywriting | Often left to you | Left to you | Native English or French, included |
| Other languages (Portuguese, Spanish) | Quoted separately | Rare | Supplied by you or quoted separately |
| On-site photos | Sometimes included | Rare | No: your images or a local photographer |
| Ownership | Check | Check | Domain in your name, access handed over |
Your project manager calls you on Google Meet at your hour and sends a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT): the same time as Cork in winter, one hour behind in summer. Payment by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery. We do not hold in-person meetings or shoot in Cork. Everything is set out on our international offer.
How much does the site cost over three years?
Since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request, we apply the same assumption on both sides.
| Item over 36 months | Cork agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 11 000 EUR | 4 500 EUR |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 100 EUR per month over 33 months, 3 300 EUR | 3 300 EUR, quoted on request |
| 5 added guides (neighbourhoods, schools, PPS number) | 7 hours at 85 EUR, 595 EUR | Quoted beforehand, assumption 450 EUR |
| Team and office photos | 700 EUR | Cork photographer booked separately, 700 EUR |
| Third-party secure upload tool | Assumption 15 EUR per month, 540 EUR | 540 EUR |
| Indicative total | 16 135 EUR | 9 490 EUR |
These amounts help compare quotes; they do not predict your invoice.
What should a Cork relocation firm show?
Cork draws well-defined profiles: engineers and specialists at Apple's Hollyhill campus, scientists and managers at the pharma and biotech sites of Ringaskiddy and Little Island, researchers at University College Cork and MTU. Families weigh Douglas, Ballincollig, Carrigaline or the city centre against schools and a rental market known to be tight. Employers' HR leads want one page that says what your programme covers and within what service lead time.
Two trades must appear separately. Immigration advice covers employment permits, including the Critical Skills Employment Permit, issued by the Department of Enterprise, and residence permissions handled by the immigration services of the Department of Justice. Ireland has no specific regulator for immigration advisers; solicitors answer to their own regulator, and their advertising is restricted. Relocation covers housing, schools, the PPS number, bank accounts and spouse support, with no legal advice. Your site says who steps in at each stage.
| Item | Starter 2 700 EUR | Growth 4 500 EUR | Premium 8 200 EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer programme | Overview page | Modules, service lead times, HR reporting | Full HR journey, tender request |
| Pages by profile | Employee and family | Employee, family, researcher, spouse | Profiles and sectors (pharma, tech, university) |
| Neighbourhood guides | 2 guides | Up to 6 guides | Library by area and by topic |
| Permit types presented | Simple list | One explainer page, no promise | Pages by request type, named partner |
| Intake form | Minimal | Sorted by assignment type | HR or private client journey |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Support | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
An employee area with case tracking is a custom application, quoted on request; so is ongoing search work.
Compliance, factually. The GDPR and Ireland's Data Protection Act 2018 apply, overseen by the Data Protection Commission. Identity documents and family details should not travel through a standard form or plain email. The European Accessibility Act, applicable since 28 June 2025, covers certain services and exempts microenterprises providing services; WCAG 2.1 AA remains the sensible reference. No copy on the site should promise a permit or a processing time. This is not legal advice.
Which red flags should you watch in a quote?
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- A price with no VAT line, which skews the comparison.
- Agency-drafted copy guaranteeing a permit or an arrival date.
- A form asking for the passport or employment contract at first contact.
- No page setting out the partner solicitor's role.
- Hosting and domain in the provider's name.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Aoife D. runs a seven-consultant relocation agency in Cork, mostly instructed by pharma groups; permit questions go through a partner solicitor. She wants an English and French site, plus one page in Portuguese for Brazilian staff. A Cork agency quotes 18 000 EUR over 14 weeks. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 EUR, with 900 EUR of Portuguese translation by an independent translator.
Build: 18 000 EUR versus 9 100 EUR, an 8 900 EUR gap. With the same maintenance assumption (3 300 EUR on each side), the 3-year total is 21 300 EUR versus 12 400 EUR. Aoife books a local photographer for portraits.
FAQ
What budget should a Cork relocation firm plan in 2026?
A local agency asks a ballpark of 5 000 to 22 000 EUR ex VAT, a freelancer 1 500 to 6 000 EUR. Kolonell charges 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR, fixed.
Can the site explain the Critical Skills Employment Permit?
Yes, as a type of application you handle, with your partner's role and no promise of outcome. That page is planned from Growth (4 500 EUR).
Can employees send documents through the site?
We advise against a standard form; we link to your secure tool instead. A custom portal is quoted on request.
How quickly is the site live?
3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth, a written schedule at kickoff on Premium, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
How do we pay?
Bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, so 1 350 EUR twice on Starter.
Let's scope your project. Send us your services, your typical employers and the languages you need, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. 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.
