The verdict in three sentences
For a tech recruitment firm in Dublin, a realistic 2026 budget is 20,000 to 45,000 EUR (excl. VAT) for a website with job listings, a candidate portal, client pages and ATS integration. Because one IT placement earns 15 to 20% of annual salary, often 12,000 to 18,000 EUR on Dublin tech salaries, the site pays for itself after two or three placements it generates. The real challenge is not design but the dual audience: developer candidates on one side, CIOs and CTOs on the other, each with a separate journey.
Two audiences, two journeys: what the site must do
A back-end developer browsing your roles on mobile drops off if asked to create an account before applying. A CTO at a Dublin scale-up wants proof that you know the market: average time to hire, stacks covered, salary benchmarks. The site must split both entry points clearly from the homepage.
For candidates, four building blocks matter: a filterable job search (stack, remote, salary, location), one-click applications with CV upload or LinkedIn profile, a candidate portal to track applications, and email job alerts by keyword. For clients, you need one page per specialism (software engineering, data, cybersecurity, cloud), a hiring brief form and proof content: salary survey, technical interview guides.
| Feature | Purpose | 2026 range in Dublin (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 - 15 page site, dual journey | Foundation, specialism and firm pages | 8,000 - 15,000 EUR |
| Filterable job search + SEO job pages | Google for Jobs indexing | 3,000 - 7,000 EUR |
| Candidate portal (tracking, alerts, profile) | Talent pool retention | 4,000 - 9,000 EUR |
| ATS integration (API or XML feed) | No double data entry | 3,000 - 8,000 EUR |
| Blog and tech salary survey | SEO and credibility with CTOs | 1,500 - 4,000 EUR |
| GDPR compliance (consent, CV purge) | Legal obligation | 1,000 - 2,500 EUR |
These are 2026 order-of-magnitude figures for Dublin agencies; Irish rates run noticeably higher than regional France, where a comparable project costs 7,000 to 15,000 EUR plus 1,500 to 4,000 EUR for the ATS link. A site without a portal or ATS can start near 10,000 EUR in Dublin; a bespoke project with profile matching can exceed 60,000 EUR.
ATS, Google for Jobs and GDPR: the technical points that drive the quote
Most tech recruiters already run an ATS: Recruitee, Teamtailor, Bullhorn, Vincere or JobAdder. The site should plug into it rather than rebuild it. Roles published in the ATS appear automatically on the site, and each application flows back into the ATS with its source tagged. Depending on the ATS, integration uses a documented API (fast) or an XML feed (more fragile).
The second point is schema.org JobPosting markup, which makes your roles eligible for Google for Jobs. On searches like "React developer Dublin", it is often the first visible block, above the job boards. Finally, GDPR requires a defined CV retention period (the French CNIL recommends two years after last contact, and Irish practice is similar) and automated deletion.
| Technical option | Integration time | Indicative 2026 cost (excl. VAT) | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded ATS widget (iframe) | 1 - 2 days | 600 - 1,500 EUR | Weak SEO, fixed design |
| XML job feed | 3 - 5 days | 3,000 - 5,000 EUR | Sync sometimes delayed |
| Full ATS API (jobs + applications) | 5 - 10 days | 5,000 - 8,000 EUR | Depends on API quality |
| Automated JobPosting markup | 1 - 2 days | 800 - 1,800 EUR | Salary and location fields required |
| Automated GDPR CV purge | 1 - 2 days | 1,000 - 2,000 EUR | Retention period must be documented |
| ATS subscription (outside the site) | Immediate | 100 - 500 EUR / month | Recurring cost to plan |
Timeline: a full project takes 8 to 12 weeks, two weeks of scoping and sitemap, three to four of design, four to five of development and ATS integration, one of testing.
Mini case study
Siobhan, founder of a six-consultant IT recruitment firm in Dublin, places about 40 people a year. Her average fee is 18% on a 75,000 EUR salary, so 13,500 EUR per placement. She signs a 32,000 EUR quote: dual-journey site, candidate portal, API link to her ATS and a salary blog.
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Today, 85% of her candidates come from paid job boards (around 15,000 EUR a year in ads). If the site and Google for Jobs capture just 15% more direct applications and lead to 3 extra placements a year, that is 40,500 EUR in fees. The site pays back within ten months, before counting any reduction in job board spend.
FAQ
How much does an IT recruitment website cost in Dublin in 2026?
Expect 20,000 to 45,000 EUR for a site with job listings, candidate portal, client pages and ATS integration. A simple brochure site without dynamic listings starts around 8,000 to 10,000 EUR.
Should candidates have to create an account?
No. Account-free applications with a CV or LinkedIn profile cut mobile drop-off sharply, often by 30 to 50%. The portal is offered after the first application to those who want to track progress.
Can my roles appear in Google for Jobs?
Yes, if each role carries JobPosting markup with title, location, date and ideally salary. Automating it costs 800 to 1,800 EUR and makes your roles visible without paying for ads.
How long can I keep CVs received through the site?
Under GDPR you must set and justify a retention period; two years after last contact is the common benchmark. Automated deletion costs 1,000 to 2,000 EUR to set up and removes a compliance risk.
How long does launch take?
Plan 8 to 12 weeks for a full project with ATS integration. A first version with job listings and specialism pages can go live in 5 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your ATS, number of live roles and specialisms, and we will price the scope, budget and launch 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.
