The verdict in three sentences
Redesigning the institutional site of a Berlin multi-brand industrial group sits between 35,000 and 90,000 EUR over 12 to 20 weeks, including a headless CMS and multi-level editorial governance. The most underestimated line is not design but migrating 400+ pages with a 301 redirect plan, without which a decade of SEO collapses. Choosing a headless CMS costs more to install but halves the cost of future multi-site evolutions.
The scopes of a group website
A group institutional site is not a page: it is an ecosystem. Each scope has its stakeholders, approval workflows and its own budget.
| Scope | Key content | Range EUR | Stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate | Vision, governance, ESG | 10,000 - 22,000 | Brand / reputation |
| Subsidiaries / brands | Dedicated sites or sections | 8,000 - 25,000 | Group coherence |
| HR / careers | Jobs, culture, applications | 6,000 - 16,000 | Employer brand |
| Investor relations (IR) | Reports, releases, share price | 7,000 - 20,000 | Regulatory compliance |
| Governance & CMS | Approval workflow, roles | 4,000 - 12,000 | Editorial autonomy |
| Total | Group redesign | 35,000 - 90,000 | 12-20 wks |
The investor section imposes compliance requirements (regulated information, financial calendar) that add to development but reassure the legal department.
Headless CMS vs monolith: the real calculation
For a multi-brand group, the technical architecture drives the 5-year cost, not just delivery. A headless CMS (Sanity, Strapi) feeds several sites from one back office.
| Criterion | Monolith (WordPress multisite) | Headless (Next.js + Sanity) |
|---|---|---|
| Install cost | 25,000 - 45,000 EUR | 40,000 - 90,000 EUR |
| Perf (avg LCP) | 2.8 s | 1.2 s |
| Cost of a new brand | 8,000 - 15,000 EUR | 3,000 - 7,000 EUR |
| Security / attack surface | high (plugins) | reduced (static) |
| Native multi-site | limited | native |
| Evolution cost / year | 15-20% of build | 10-12% of build |
Beyond 3 brands or 3 languages, headless is almost always more cost-effective over 5 years despite its higher entry cost.
Migrating 400+ pages: the critical line
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A 15-year-old group has accumulated hundreds of pages, often well ranked. The redesign must include a URL audit, an old -> new mapping and an exhaustive 301 redirect plan. Without it, you lose 30 to 60% of organic traffic for months. This package runs 4,000-9,000 EUR but protects an SEO asset often worth far more.
Mini case study
Meet Helena, communications director of an industrial group in Berlin, 4 subsidiaries, 850 employees. She leads a 62,000 EUR headless redesign. The old site (WordPress multisite, 7 years) cost 11,000 EUR/year in evolutions and security, with a 3 s LCP hurting SEO. After redesign: evolutions at 6,500 EUR/year, adding the 5th brand at 5,000 EUR instead of 12,000. Recurring annual saving: about 4,500 EUR on maintenance, plus 7,000 EUR saved on each new brand. Over 5 years, the total cost of ownership gap narrows to under 15,000 EUR despite the higher upfront spend, while gaining performance and employer brand.
FAQ
Why does a group site cost as much as an e-commerce build? Because complexity lies elsewhere: multi-level editorial governance, IR compliance, multilingual content, migration and IS integrations (intranet, HR ATS). Design is only a fraction of the budget.
How many languages should we plan? EN + DE at minimum for a German industrial group, sometimes a third depending on markets. Each extra language adds 10 to 20% to the content package and complicates governance.
How do we manage approval before publishing? A headless CMS enables multi-level workflows (author -> approver -> publish) with roles and rights. Essential where communication carries legal liability.
What happens to existing SEO? It is protected by a rigorous 301 redirect plan. Done well, you keep 90%+ of traffic; neglected, you lose half for months.
Must we redesign everything at once? No. A sprint-based approach (corporate first, then subsidiaries, then IR) spreads budget and risk over 4 to 6 months while delivering value early.
Let's scope your project. Describe your scope (brands, languages, IR section, page volume) and governance constraints; we will frame a sprint roadmap and budget. 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.
