The verdict in three sentences
A Brisbane firm working in property, construction, commercial or family law should redesign its site when its practice pages no longer match its matters and enquiries arrive by phone rather than through the site. Over three years, the 2026 ballpark runs from about USD 18,850 to 31,850 with a local agency, against a fixed Kolonell price of USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. The main risk sits in the migration: each phase has its checkpoint, and the compliance read of marketing copy must come before go-live.
What is the total cost over three years?
Local amounts are a ballpark drawn from typical quotes and public Brisbane agency rate pages, converted approximately (AUD 1 ≈ USD 0.65). Maintenance is a market assumption.
| Option | Build (AUD) | Build (USD, approx.) | 3-year maintenance, market assumption (USD, approx.) | 3-year total (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane agency | 20,000 to 40,000 | 13,000 to 26,000 | 5,850 (AUD 250 a month) | 18,850 to 31,850 |
| Freelancer | 5,000 to 12,000 | 3,250 to 7,800 | 2,800 (AUD 120 a month) | 6,050 to 10,600 |
| Kolonell Starter | Not applicable | 2,900 | 3 months included, then on quote | 2,900 excluding maintenance |
| Kolonell Growth | Not applicable | 4,900 | 3 months included, then on quote | 4,900 excluding maintenance |
| Kolonell Premium, multilingual tier | Not applicable | 8,900 | 3 months included, then on quote | 8,900 excluding maintenance |
Packages include a project manager reachable during Brisbane business hours (AEST), native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. On quote: client portal, secure sharing of construction or contract documents, booking, links to practice management software, SEO work and maintenance beyond the 3 months. See the international website offer.
Which risks, phase by phase?
The schedule starts once content is ready; before that, allow 3 to 5 weeks on the firm's side to gather biographies, headshots and approvals.
| Phase | Weeks | Main risk | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit and inventory | 1 | Forgotten URLs (profiles, old construction pages) | Full export from the CMS, Analytics and Search Console |
| Structure and copy | 1 to 2 | Practice pages merged without redirects | 301 map approved page by page |
| Design and build | 2 to 3 | Form too long or missing notices | 4 to 6 fields, no lawyer-client relationship notice, other-parties field |
| Archive migration | 3 | Outdated insights kept as is | Update, merge or noindex |
| Compliance read | 3 to 4 | Non-compliant claims | Written sign-off by a partner |
| Go-live | 4 | Downtime, misconfigured DNS | TTL lowered 48 hours ahead, switchover outside office hours |
| Monitoring | Months 2 to 4 | Undetected 404 errors | Weekly Search Console report |
On compliance, stay general and careful. Queensland solicitors are bound by professional rules that govern advertising, and the Queensland Law Society publishes guidance. Queensland notably restricts the advertising of personal injury services: if your firm handles such matters, have the relevant copy checked. No unverifiable superlatives, no case outcomes, testimonials only where the rules permit. The Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading claims, including on displayed fees. The Privacy Act 1988 generally covers businesses above AUD 3 million in annual turnover, with exceptions; a clear privacy policy remains good practice. This is not legal advice.
Which questions should you ask the provider?
| Question | Good answer | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes the 301 map? | The provider, from a complete inventory | The firm must handle it alone |
| Who owns the code and the domain? | The firm, admin access handed over | Domain registered in the agency's name |
| How many revision rounds? | A precise number, written in the quote | Unlimited revisions with no definition |
| What does maintenance cost after launch? | An amount written in the quote | No answer before signature |
| Where does compliance fit in acceptance? | A dedicated sign-off step before go-live | Review after launch |
| Who writes the copy? | Native copywriter, reviewed by a partner | All content to be supplied by the firm |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
When is a Brisbane agency the better choice?
If you want regular workshops at your CBD or South Brisbane office, if the site must integrate with a client portal or a complex internal tool, or if your procurement policy requires an Australian supplier, a local agency is justified despite the price gap. For a site of 20 to 80 pages with profiles, insights and forms, the fixed package is enough in most cases.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Tom, partner in an 8-lawyer firm in Fortitude Valley working in construction and property law. Local quote received: AUD 28,000, about USD 18,200, plus assumed maintenance of AUD 250 a month, about USD 5,850 over three years: a total of about USD 24,050. Kolonell Growth option: USD 4,900, then maintenance on quote after 3 months. Gap on the build alone: about USD 13,300. In both cases partners spend about 25 hours on the project; that time does not change, only the overall duration drops from 12 weeks to 4.
FAQ
Can the current site stay live during the redesign? Yes, the new site is built on staging. The switchover usually takes under one hour.
How many pages should we plan? A firm of 5 to 15 lawyers often runs to 25 to 60 pages excluding insights. Growth at USD 4,900 covers that scope in most cases.
Can we publish case studies? With care: no client names or figures on outcomes, and only where professional rules permit. A description of 3 or 4 matter types is often enough.
Why USD prices? Kolonell bills its international grid in USD; local ranges are in AUD, converted approximately at USD 0.65 for comparison.
What if traffic drops after go-live? A 2 to 6 week dip is common. During the 3 months of support, 404 errors and missing redirects are fixed.
Let's scope your project. A redesign of 20 to 80 pages with a 301 map and compliance read, from USD 2,900 to 8,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
