The verdict in three sentences
For a solo general dentist in Hamilton, the choice between a Bermudian agency and a remote studio depends mainly on how much time you can give the project, not on distance. A local agency makes sense if you want to hand off everything down to photos, video and weekly updates, with a budget that matches island rates. A remote studio with a tight process is the better fit if you want a clear, fast site delivered within a month, with only a 3 to 4 hour time difference depending on the season.
Does being a solo practitioner change the criteria?
Yes. A one-chair practice, or two chairs with a hygienist, has no marketing team and no coordinator. Every hour spent in meetings is an hour not spent treating patients. Bermuda runs on Atlantic time (UTC-4 in winter, UTC-3 in summer) and your patient base mixes Bermudian families with expat professionals from reinsurance and financial services, often covered by employer health plans. Your site therefore has to state clearly which insurers you accept, how the patient's share is paid and how to book without calling.
Here is a scoring grid (out of 5) suited to a solo practitioner:
| Criterion | Weight for a solo dentist | Hamilton agency | Remote studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting time required from the dentist | High | 3/5 (on-site workshops) | 4/5 (two 45-minute video calls a week) |
| Practice photos and video | Medium | 5/5 | 3/5 (local photographer to hire) |
| Native English copywriting | High | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Booking and patient form integration | High | 3/5 to 5/5 depending on the agency | 4/5 |
| Time to launch | Medium | 2/5 (10 to 16 weeks) | 5/5 (3 to 4 weeks) |
| Entry price | High | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Proximity in an emergency | Low | 5/5 | 3/5 |
If your real weights differ, rerun the math: a dentist who wants video content every month will tip the balance toward the agency.
What budget should you plan over three years?
Bermuda is one of the most expensive markets in the world for professional services. The amounts below are a 2026 ballpark, drawn from typical quotes by local agencies and freelancers for an 8 to 12 page dental practice website.
| 3-year line item | Bermudian agency | Local freelancer | Kolonell Starter | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build | $10,000 to $30,000 | $4,000 to $10,000 | $2,900 | $4,900 |
| Practice photo shoot (1 day) | Often included | $1,200 to $2,500 | $1,200 to $2,500 | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| Maintenance, 36 months | $7,200 to $18,000 | $3,000 to $8,000 | 3 months included, then on quote | 3 months included, then on quote |
| Hosting and .bm or .com domain | $700 to $1,800 | $500 to $1,200 | $400 to $900 | $400 to $900 |
| Timeline | 10 to 16 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
For a solo dentist, Starter at $2,900 often covers the essentials (home, treatments, team, insurance, contact, booking). Growth at $4,900 adds more treatment pages and a blog. Premium at $8,900 is for practices that want advanced animation and deeper content work. Every package includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting and 3 months of support; details are in our international offer.
When does the local agency win?
- You want one contact who comes to the practice for everything: website, appointment cards, signage, local press ads.
- You plan to post short videos every month and do not want to manage a photographer yourself.
- Your peers recommend a specific agency whose work on other island health practices you already know.
- You would rather pay more than ever open a video call.
In other cases, especially if you are replacing a site because the old one is slow on mobile, cannot take bookings or says nothing about fees, a remote studio with a precise brief does the job for a fraction of the cost.
What should you ask before signing?
- Are the domain (.bm or .com) and hosting registered in the practice's name, with your own logins?
- Does the new patient form collect medical history? If so, where is it stored and who can access it?
- Is the booking module the one from your practice management software, or a third-party tool that creates double entry?
- How are patient reviews handled: display, replies, no fake reviews?
- What accessibility level is targeted? Require WCAG 2.1 AA at a minimum.
- Who hands over what at the end: code, accounts, source files, photos?
On data, Bermuda's Personal Information Protection Act 2016 (PIPA) has been fully in force since 1 January 2025 and is overseen by the Privacy Commissioner; health information gets heightened protection. For advertising your treatments and before and after photos, check with Bermuda's dental registration authority before publishing. This is not legal advice.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Dr Marcus Trott practices alone in Hamilton with a hygienist and an assistant. He sees about 6 new patients a month, and a new patient is worth on average $900 of treatment in the first year.
- Local agency quote: $16,000, plus $350 a month for maintenance. Over three years: $28,600.
- Remote studio: Kolonell Starter $2,900, a $1,500 photo day, maintenance estimated at $120 a month after the 3 included months (33 months, $3,960). Total: $8,360.
If the new site, with online booking and clear insurance pages, brings 2 extra new patients a month, that is $1,800 of monthly treatment, so the Kolonell investment pays back in under five months. To run the numbers on your own case, request a free quote.
FAQ
Is the time difference with a remote studio a problem in Bermuda?
Rarely. With a 3 to 4 hour gap depending on the season, there are at least 4 shared working hours a day, and the Kolonell project manager works around your schedule.
Is an 8-page site enough for a solo practice?
Often yes: home, main treatments, dentist profile, insurance and payment, new patients, contact and booking. The Starter package at $2,900 is designed for that format.
Can I show my fees on the site?
A range for routine care (cleaning, exam, whitening) reassures expats who are used to comparing. State that prices are indicative and update them at least once a year.
How do I get my photos back if I change provider?
Write into the contract that source files belong to you and are handed over within 15 days on request. That applies to an agency and a studio alike.
How much of my time will the project take?
With a structured process, count 6 to 8 hours in total over 3 to 4 weeks: a kickoff workshop, copy review and final sign-off.
Let's scope your project. An 8 to 12 page site for your Hamilton practice, booking and insurance pages included, costs $2,900 to $4,900 and ships 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.