The verdict in three sentences
In Vancouver, an immigration and relocation firm website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 15 000 and 60 000 CAD, roughly 11 000 to 44 000 USD, and more with a custom client portal. Kolonell builds the program pages, consultant profiles and assessment request journey for a fixed price of 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. The real comparison is the 3-year total cost, how each quote handles regulatory credibility (licence shown, no promised outcome) and how safely the site treats the data your clients hand over.
What do Vancouver agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
The ranges below are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of Metro Vancouver agencies, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by Canadian agencies (often 120 to 200 CAD per hour, about 90 to 145 USD) and rates visible on Upwork. Local prices are in Canadian dollars, with the approximate US dollar equivalent.
| Criterion | Vancouver agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 15 000 to 60 000 CAD (about 11 000 to 44 000 USD) | 4 000 to 15 000 CAD (about 2 900 to 11 000 USD) | 2 900 / 4 900 / 8 900 USD, fixed |
| Changes outside scope | Often 120 to 200 CAD per hour | Often 70 to 120 CAD per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Program page copy | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Meetings at your office | Possible | Possible | No: Google Meet calls |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
To be honest: a good Vancouver freelancer can deliver a simple site at a price close to Kolonell Starter. What Kolonell adds is a project manager, native copywriting, a written fixed price and a full handover of access. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise: 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), 7 to 8 hours ahead of Vancouver depending on the season: our afternoons are your mornings, and calls are booked at your time. Full details are on our international website offer.
Which 3-year total cost should you compare?
The build price is only part of the bill. A firm also pays for hosting, maintenance and frequent updates, because federal and provincial programs change often. The table assumes the same maintenance budget on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | Vancouver agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 28 000 CAD, about 20 400 USD | 4 900 USD |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 200 CAD per month over 33 months, about 4 800 USD | 4 800 USD, maintenance quoted on request |
| 6 program updates over 3 years | 12 hours at 160 CAD, about 1 400 USD | Quoted beforehand, assumption 1 100 USD |
| Professional team portraits | 900 CAD, about 650 USD | Local photographer booked separately, 650 USD |
| Indicative total | about 27 250 USD | 11 450 USD |
These figures structure the comparison; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each Kolonell tier include for an immigration firm?
| Item | Starter 2 900 USD | Growth 4 900 USD | Premium 8 900 USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program pages | Main families (work, study, family, permanent residence) | One page per program you handle | Full structure, corporate relocation included |
| Consultant profiles | Team page | One profile per consultant with licence number | Detailed profiles, languages spoken |
| Assessment request | Short form | Form sorted by program | Journey by profile (individual, employer, student) |
| Appointment booking | Link to your tool | Embed of your tool | Polished integration, consultation fee paid through your tool |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A client portal with document upload and file tracking is a custom application, quoted on request. So is ongoing search work. Mandarin, Punjabi or Tagalog versions are supplied by the firm or quoted separately.
What does a Vancouver immigration firm website need?
Vancouver draws international students, skilled workers in tech and film, families seeking reunification and employers relocating managers to downtown, Burnaby or Richmond. Clients compare several firms on their phone, often from abroad and in other time zones. The site has to build trust fast:
- A visible licence: the RCIC number of each regulated consultant, checkable on the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), or law society membership for lawyers.
- Factual program pages: who the program is for, documents expected, steps, and a pointer to official IRCC or BC Provincial Nominee Program sources for current criteria.
- No promised outcome: no guaranteed visa, no unverifiable success rate.
- A clear relocation offer for employers: temporary housing, schools, arrival formalities, if the firm genuinely provides them.
- Languages that match your clients, with an English reference version.
- A minimal form: no passport copies by email; documents go through a secure tool.
On compliance, the facts only. PIPEDA governs personal information in the Canadian private sector, and British Columbia applies its own Personal Information Protection Act to private organisations in the province. The CICC regulates the conduct and advertising of licensed consultants: the firm validates every claim. WCAG 2.1 AA is the technical reference for accessibility. This is not legal advice.
How do you compare quotes, and which red flags matter?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- A price without a written scope: ask for the list of program pages, languages and integrations.
- A domain registered in the supplier's name: it must be in yours.
- Copy that promises outcomes or mimics an official government site.
- A form that collects identity documents with no thought given to storage.
- No copywriting in the quote: a firm without texts stays stuck for weeks.
- Mandatory long-term maintenance with no way to take back control.
Kolonell built for TR Signing Group, a notary and apostille firm in New Jersey, a bilingual FR/EN site with quote requests verified file by file and an appointment calendar: a journey close to what an immigration firm needs.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Nadia B., a regulated consultant running a three-person firm in Vancouver, receives two proposals. A local agency quotes 32 000 CAD (about 23 300 USD) with a 14-week timeline. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 900 USD for a bilingual FR/EN site, delivered on a written 5-week schedule, with a Vancouver photographer booked separately for 900 CAD (about 650 USD).
Build and photos: about 23 950 USD with the agency versus 9 550 USD with Kolonell, a gap of about 14 400 USD. With the same 3-year maintenance assumption on both sides, the gap stays the same. Nadia picks the second option and keeps the local agency in mind if she launches a client portal with file tracking.
FAQ
How much does an immigration firm website cost in Vancouver in 2026?
With a local agency, expect a ballpark of 15 000 to 60 000 CAD, about 11 000 to 44 000 USD. A freelancer often charges 4 000 to 15 000 CAD. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD.
Can Kolonell build a file tracking portal?
Yes, but it is a custom application, quoted on request. The 2 900 to 8 900 USD tiers embed or link the case management tool you already use.
Can my site be in English and French?
Yes, the bilingual FR/EN site is included in Premium at 8 900 USD. A Mandarin or Punjabi version is supplied by the firm or quoted separately.
Who checks the copy against CICC rules?
The firm and its licensed consultants, who know their obligations. Kolonell writes factually and applies corrections within the 3 to 4 week project.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Growth, that means two payments of 2 450 USD.
Let's scope your project. Send us your programs, your consultants and your booking tool, 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.
