The verdict in three sentences
For a cosmetic doctor practising solo in Gatineau, the site has to serve both sides of the river: French-speaking clients from the Outaouais and patients from Ottawa who cross the bridge, many of them English speakers. A Gatineau or Ottawa agency is justified if you want to build a personal brand face to face and shoot regularly on site; a remote studio on Eastern Time with native French and English copywriting is enough for a bilingual site that complies with Quebec's Law 25 and connects to your calendar. Budget USD 2,900 for a compact site and USD 4,900 for a full bilingual version with Kolonell, against roughly CAD 8,000 to 45,000 locally.
Which providers should a Gatineau practice compare?
In practice, a Gatineau practitioner gets three kinds of quotes: an Outaouais freelancer, a Gatineau agency and an Ottawa agency, usually pricier and more English-first. The remote studio is a fourth option. If you are an English-speaking doctor practising in Gatineau, note that the French version is the mandatory one, so native French copywriting is not optional for you. Here is how the options compare on the criteria that matter for a solo practice.
| Criterion | Outaouais freelancer | Gatineau agency | Ottawa agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, video on Eastern Time |
| Native French and English copywriting | Rarely both | Strong French | Strong English | Both included |
| Law 25 knowledge | Variable | Usually good | Variable | Built into the brief |
| Directed photo shoot | Sometimes | Often | Often | You book a local photographer |
| Domain and code ownership | Depends on agreement | Depends on contract | Depends on contract | In your name, written into the contract |
| Build price, 8 to 15 pages | CAD 3,000 to 8,000 | CAD 8,000 to 25,000 | CAD 15,000 to 45,000 | USD 2,900 to 4,900 |
| Delivery | 4 to 10 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 8 to 14 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
These ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on typical quotes in the National Capital Region. One US dollar is about 1.37 to 1.40 Canadian dollars in 2026.
What does a solo practice site cost over three years?
A solo practice does not need a 40-page site. It needs 6 to 15 solid pages: home, the doctor's profile, treatments by concern, the consultation, indicative fees, aftercare, contact and booking.
| Cost line over 36 months (2026 ballpark) | Gatineau agency, bilingual | Ottawa agency, bilingual | Kolonell Starter, one language | Kolonell Growth, bilingual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build | CAD 12,000 to 28,000 | CAD 20,000 to 50,000 | USD 2,900 (about CAD 4,000) | USD 4,900 (about CAD 6,700 to 6,900) |
| Photo half day | Often bundled | CAD 1,200 to 2,500 | CAD 600 to 1,500 | CAD 600 to 1,500 |
| Hosting and maintenance | CAD 5,400 to 14,400 | CAD 7,200 to 18,000 | Assumed CAD 3,600 to 5,400 | Assumed CAD 3,600 to 5,400 |
| 3-year total | CAD 17,400 to 42,400 | CAD 28,400 to 70,500 | CAD 8,200 to 10,900 | CAD 10,900 to 13,800 |
For a solo doctor, Starter is enough if most clients speak French; once Ottawa patients carry real weight in the calendar, bilingual Growth is the right choice. Each tier is detailed on the international websites page.
When is a Gatineau or Ottawa agency the better choice?
To be honest, the local agency wins if your practice rests on your personal image and you want a series of portraits and videos shot by a team that knows you, if you will soon open a second location in Ottawa and want a partner present on both sides of the river, or if you would rather hand over your social media and ads to a team you meet every month. If what you want is a clear, compliant, bilingual site delivered quickly, the remote studio does the job.
Five questions to ask every provider:
- Who writes the English version, and is it adapted for Ottawa clients rather than translated word for word?
- How does the cookie consent banner meet Law 25?
- Does the consultation form send health data by unencrypted email?
- Can I edit my hours and indicative fees myself?
- What happens if I change provider in two years?
Which rules apply to a cosmetic doctor in Gatineau?
Language. Because your practice is established in Quebec, the Charter of the French Language applies: the site must be available in French, with English added as a complement for your Ontario patients.
Personal information. Law 25 applies to your practice: a designated person in charge (often you), a published privacy policy, consent for non-essential cookies and forms limited to what is strictly needed. Keep medical history in your clinical record, never in an email sent from the site.
Advertising. Advertising prescription drugs to the public is restricted in Canada, which covers botulinum toxin: present the consultation, the concern and your training rather than a brand-name product or a discount. The Code of ethics of physicians in Quebec also regulates advertising, including testimonials and before-and-after photos, so have pages reviewed before launch.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Accessibility. No general web accessibility standard applies to private clinics in Quebec, but aiming for WCAG 2.1 AA improves readability for all your patients. This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Dr. Lavoie practises alone in the Hull sector; about 40% of her patients come from Ottawa. An Ottawa agency quotes CAD 24,000 for a bilingual site plus CAD 250 a month. Kolonell Growth, bilingual, costs USD 4,900 (about CAD 6,800), with a CAD 1,000 photo half day and CAD 150 a month for hosting and updates.
- Ottawa agency over 36 months: 24,000 + (250 x 36) = CAD 33,000
- Remote studio over 36 months: 6,800 + 1,000 + (150 x 36) = CAD 13,200
- Difference: CAD 19,800
With an average spend of CAD 450 per visit, the difference equals 44 visits. For a solo practice, that is several weeks of appointments.
FAQ
Is a bilingual site really useful in Gatineau?
Yes, as soon as a meaningful share of your clients come from Ottawa, often 20 to 50% depending on where the practice is. French remains mandatory; English is a commercial lever.
Is Starter enough for a solo doctor?
Yes for a compact single-language site at USD 2,900. For a bilingual site with detailed treatment pages, Growth at USD 4,900 is a better fit.
Can we display patient reviews?
Be careful: Quebec codes of ethics strictly regulate testimonials. Check the applicable rule before adding a review widget, and plan at least 1 hour of ethics review per sensitive page.
Who owns the site at the end of the project?
You do, if the contract says so: domain, hosting and code in your name, with a handover within 5 business days if you leave.
What timeline and follow-up should we expect?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks, with a project manager reachable on Eastern Time and 3 months of support included. A local agency typically plans 6 to 14 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your treatments, the share of English-speaking patients and your online booking tool and we will return a fixed scope, a budget from USD 2,900 and a 3 to 4 week plan. 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.