The verdict in three sentences
In Palm Beach, the website of a CPA firm serving wealthy families, family offices and fund managers who moved from New York is judged first on discretion and execution quality, far more than on how close the provider is. A high-end local agency typically charges $18,000 to $55,000 in 2026, and earns it when the firm wants in-person brand work and recurring shoots on Royal Palm Way or in West Palm Beach. For a restrained, fast and precise 15 to 30 page site, a remote studio with a tight contract on ownership and confidentiality does the same job for much less.
Which type of provider suits a Palm Beach accounting firm?
Palm Beach County has changed since 2020. Asset managers, private equity funds and family offices have set up in West Palm Beach, to the point that the press calls it "Wall Street South". Local accounting firms followed: estate planning, trusts, tax for residents leaving New York or Connecticut, defense in the residency audits New York runs against people claiming Florida domicile, and Canadian and European clients who winter on the island.
These clients do not read a website the way a small business owner does. They look for signals of seriousness: partner backgrounds, clear specialties, no flashy promises. No client name can appear without written consent, which rules out most classic case studies. Here are the five provider profiles you will meet.
| Profile | 2026 ballpark | Time zone | Meetings | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative boutique on the island or in West Palm | $25,000 to $55,000 | Eastern | Easy in person | Luxury-oriented portfolio, sometimes few finance references |
| Boca Raton or Fort Lauderdale agency | $15,000 to $40,000 | Eastern | In person possible | Code ownership often kept by the agency |
| New York agency | $30,000 to $80,000 | Eastern | Mixed | Long timelines, rotating teams |
| Local freelancer | $5,000 to $14,000 | Eastern | In person | Continuity if the freelancer stops |
| Remote studio (Kolonell) | $2,900 to $8,900 | Project manager on Eastern Time | Video calls | Ownership and confidentiality clauses to write in |
What does each option really cost over three years?
The amounts below are a 2026 ballpark drawn from typical agency quotes in Southeast Florida. They assume a 15 to 30 page site in English with a French or Spanish section.
| Item | High-end local agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | $18,000 to $55,000 | $5,000 to $14,000 | $8,900 |
| Portraits and office imagery | $2,000 to $5,000 | $900 to $2,000 | $1,200 to $3,000 (local photographer) |
| Bilingual section | $2,500 to $6,000 | $1,000 to $3,000 | Native copywriting, scope set in the quote |
| Care over 3 years (estimate) | $9,000 to $27,000 | $2,700 to $7,200 | On quote after 3 months of support |
| Timeline | 10 to 16 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Indicative 3-year total | $31,500 to $93,000 | $9,600 to $26,200 | $14,000 to $20,000 |
The Kolonell international grid is the same everywhere: Starter $2,900, Growth $4,900, Premium $8,900. It includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Custom applications and search work are on quote.
When is a Palm Beach agency clearly the better choice?
To be frank, for some firms paying $40,000 to a local agency is rational. That is the case if your firm is repositioning entirely, with a new name after a merger, a visual identity, printed material for client dinners and signage. It is also the case if you host talks at The Breakers or the Norton Museum and want professional video at every event, or if your partners want a contact they run into at the club. In those situations, the website is only one part of a brand project.
A remote studio is enough when the brand exists, the need is a restrained, fast and precise site, and one partner can approve content within one to two weeks.
Questions to ask every candidate
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- Will the domain, hosting and code be registered in the firm's name, with admin access for a partner?
- Will the provider sign a confidentiality agreement before seeing your service list or fee structure?
- Do the forms avoid collecting any tax documents, routing clients to the firm's secure portal instead (portal priced on quote if it has to be built)?
- Who checks that copy follows the profession's advertising rules, with no promise of tax outcomes?
- Will the site target WCAG 2.1 AA, with an accessibility statement?
- What is the handover plan if the contract ends?
On regulation, stay careful and general. Florida CPAs answer to the Florida Board of Accountancy and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, which govern advertising and the confidentiality of client information. The FTC Safeguards Rule applies to tax preparers, and the Florida Information Protection Act governs personal data breaches. For accessibility, ADA Title III is the federal reference. This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Catherine Ashford is managing partner of an 11-person firm on Royal Palm Way, focused on trusts and tax for residents who moved from New York. A local creative boutique quotes $42,000 plus $650 per month. Over 3 years: 42,000 + 650 × 36 = $65,400. The remote Premium option: $8,900, two half days of local photography at $1,400 each, and care estimated at $250 per month for 33 months ($8,250), for $19,950. Catherine has no rebrand planned: she goes remote, requires a confidentiality agreement and a project manager available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern, and puts part of the $45,450 gap into a yearly client dinner filmed by a local videographer.
FAQ
Can we publish testimonials from high-net-worth clients?
Rarely: the profession's confidentiality rules require written consent, and these clients often decline. Rely instead on 4 to 6 detailed partner bios and precise specialty pages.
Do we need a page on New York residency audits?
Yes if more than 20% of your clients left New York. A factual 900 to 1,300 word page reviewed by a partner answers a question these clients often ask.
Can a remote studio deliver a high-end enough result?
Yes if you supply professional photography and an established brand. The photo budget, $1,200 to $3,000, often shapes the result more than the studio's location.
How much partner time does it take?
About 10 to 15 hours spread over 3 to 4 weeks, including 2 video workshops and a final acceptance review.
Let's scope your project. A restrained, precise 15 to 30 page CPA firm website from $8,900 on Premium, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks under a confidentiality agreement. 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.