The verdict in three sentences
An Amsterdam law firm that sends agencies a one-line brief receives quotes from EUR 6,000 to 40,000 that nobody can compare. A two-page requirements checklist (pages, languages, intake form fields, integrations, accessibility, ownership, migration) usually narrows the spread to a few thousand euros and shows what each agency left out. Kolonell's fixed grid (Starter EUR 2,700, Growth EUR 4,500, Premium EUR 8,200) can be read line by line against that document, and anything outside it is quoted separately.
What should the checklist contain?
This is written for partners of Amsterdam firms on the Zuidas or along the Grachtengordel practising corporate, employment, immigration or tech law for international clients. Write a document a partner can sign off in an afternoon. Every item calls for an answer from the agency: yes, a price, or on quote.
- Goals and audiences: two or three measurable goals (consultation requests, recruitment, international referrals) and the audiences: Dutch SMEs, expats, foreign in-house counsel.
- Pages and templates: home, practice areas (for example 6), lawyer profiles (for example 12), insights, careers, contact. The number of templates drives effort more than the page count.
- Content ownership: who writes, who approves, who checks compliance with the Netherlands Bar (NOvA) conduct rules on advertising.
- Languages: Dutch and English, which pages exist in both, who reviews the legal terminology.
- Integrations, each on its own line: CRM, newsletter, booking link, client portal link, document exchange. Complex ones stay on quote.
- Accessibility: a WCAG 2.2 AA target, tested on templates and forms.
- Forms and data: field list, retention period, recipients, processor agreement. The firm is the controller under the GDPR (AVG), supervised by the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.
- Hosting and domain: domain, DNS, hosting and analytics accounts in the firm's name.
- SEO migration if a site exists: export of current URLs, 301 redirect map, Search Console access.
- Acceptance, timeline and budget: acceptance criteria, target go-live date, budget range.
Two points are specific to law firms. The intake form should state that it does not create a lawyer-client relationship, and conflict check fields stay minimal: name, company, opposing party if any, type of matter. No case results, rankings or client names go on the site without a verifiable basis and written consent.
How does a vague brief change the quotes?
| Checklist item | Vague brief | Precise brief | Effect on quotes (2026 ballpark) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages | a modern website | 6 practice areas, 12 profiles, 5 templates | Spread narrows from EUR 6,000 to 40,000 towards EUR 9,000 to 18,000 |
| Languages | bilingual if possible | NL and EN on every page, firm reviews | Avoids a change order of EUR 1,500 to 4,000 |
| Integrations | connected to our tools | CRM and newsletter listed, portal as a plain link | The portal leaves the fixed scope and becomes comparable |
| Forms | a contact form | 6 fields, no lawyer-client relationship notice | Fewer compliance back-and-forths |
| Migration | not mentioned | 140 URLs exported, 301 map required | Protects practice pages that bring enquiries |
| Accessibility | not mentioned | WCAG 2.2 AA on templates and forms | Avoids a post-launch fix of EUR 2,000 to 5,000 |
Indicative ranges based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages of local agencies, rounded.
How do you score three quotes side by side?
Weight five criteria out of 100, score each quote out of 5, then multiply. Example with three fictional quotes:
| Criterion | Weight | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage of the checklist | 30% | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Clarity of price and on-quote items | 20% | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Realistic timeline | 15% | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Languages and accessibility | 20% | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Ownership and exit terms | 15% | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Weighted score out of 5 | 100% | 3.50 | 3.70 | 4.65 |
Quote C: 0.30 x 5 + 0.20 x 4 + 0.15 x 4 + 0.20 x 5 + 0.15 x 5 = 4.65. The cheapest quote is not necessarily the best scored: B beats A on price clarity, but C covers the whole checklist.
How does the Kolonell grid map to the checklist?
| Checklist item | Starter EUR 2,700 | Growth EUR 4,500 | Premium EUR 8,200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages and templates | Core pages | Extended practice areas and profiles | Full site structure |
| Languages | One language | One language, richer content | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
| Copywriting | Native English or French | Same, plus insights | Same, all planned languages |
| WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility | Included | Included | Included |
| Migration and 301 redirects | If a site exists | Full 301 map | Full 301 map |
| Client portal, document exchange, advanced CRM | On quote | On quote | On quote |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer page. In professional services, Kolonell built the site of TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a signing services company based in New Jersey.
An Amsterdam agency remains the better choice if you want weekly workshops in your offices, a partner photo shoot organised on site, or a custom client portal built together with the website. This is not legal advice: have your wording checked by the firm and, if needed, by the Bar.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example. Sanne de Wit is managing partner of Kade & Lindeboom Advocaten, a fictional 9-lawyer employment and immigration firm on the Zuidas. The current site has 140 URLs, 18 of which bring visits.
- Local agency quote on a precise brief: EUR 16,000, 12 weeks.
- Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote: Dutch and English): EUR 8,200.
- Dutch legal proofreading by an independent translator (third-party cost): about EUR 700.
- Total: EUR 8,900, a gap of EUR 7,100.
- Hosting and care over the following 33 months at EUR 90 a month, market assumption; Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote: 33 x 90 = EUR 2,970.
The existing document portal stays a plain link, and any deeper integration is quoted separately.
FAQ
How long does it take to write the checklist?
Plan 1 to 2 working days spread over a week, including partner sign-off. It is the best-paid time in the project, because it can narrow the gap between quotes by several thousand euros.
Should we give agencies a budget?
Yes, a range is enough, for example EUR 5,000 to 12,000. Without one, agencies propose scopes ranging from a 5-page site to a full platform.
Should the client portal be in the checklist?
Yes, on a separate line, stating plain link or integration. At Kolonell it stays on quote on every tier, from EUR 2,700 to 8,200.
What should the intake form say?
That it does not create a lawyer-client relationship and that confidential information should not be sent through it. Keep it to 5 or 6 fields useful for a first conflict check.
How many quotes should we request?
Three quotes scored on the same grid are enough. Beyond 4, the analysis time often outweighs the gain.
Let's scope your project. Send us your checklist, even as a draft: we match it against the EUR 2,700 to 8,200 grid and price anything outside it separately, for a go-live in 3 to 4 weeks. 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.
