The verdict in three sentences
For a multi-chair dental practice in Lausanne, choosing between a local agency and a remote studio comes down to photo logistics, online booking integration and ownership of the domain and code, far more than to the headline price. A Lausanne agency earns its premium when the partners want in-person workshops, regular video shoots at the practice and a contact within walking distance. A well-scoped remote studio is enough when the brief is clear: budget CHF 2,700 to 8,200 instead of CHF 12,000 to 30,000, provided you book a day with a Vaud photographer yourself.
Which criteria really matter for a dental practice in Lausanne?
If you are an English-speaking dentist or practice manager in Lausanne, your patient base is likely a mix of expatriate families, staff from the sports federations and international organisations, EPFL and UNIL researchers, and French-speaking locals. The site has to introduce every clinician, explain each treatment (hygiene, implants, clear aligners, emergencies), show extended opening hours and send patients to online booking in English and French. The right provider is the one who delivers those pages without making you run the coordination.
| Criterion | Local Lausanne agency | Remote studio | Weight for a multi-chair practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-zone overlap | Full | 6 to 8 working hours a day (1 to 2 hour offset) | Medium |
| In-person meetings | 2 to 4 workshops at the practice | One-hour video call per week | High if 3 or more partners |
| French and English copy | Native French, English often outsourced | Native English and French included at Kolonell | High |
| On-site photo and video | Included or subcontracted locally | To arrange with a local photographer | High |
| Online booking integration | Familiar with Swiss tools | Feasible, confirm in writing (widget, deep link) | High |
| Ownership of the .ch domain and code | Depends on the contract | Depends on the contract | Critical |
| Build price (2026 ballpark) | CHF 12,000 to 30,000 | CHF 2,700 to 8,200 | Medium |
The most underrated criterion is ownership. Whether you hire an agency in the Flon district or a remote studio, require the domain to be registered in the practice's name, hosting to be in your name or transferable, and the code and copy to be assigned to you on final payment.
What does each option cost over three years?
The figures below are 2026 ballpark ranges based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages of agencies in French-speaking Switzerland. They are meant to compare scenarios, not to replace a quote.
| Item (CHF) | Local agency | Local freelancer | Remote studio (Kolonell Growth) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | 12,000 to 30,000 | 5,000 to 12,000 | 4,500 |
| Photo day at the practice | 1,500 to 3,000 | 1,200 to 2,500 | 1,200 to 2,500 (local photographer) |
| Maintenance and hosting over 36 months | 5,400 to 10,800 | 2,900 to 5,400 | 2,000 to 4,000 (assumes CHF 60 to 120 a month after the 3 months of included support) |
| Changes (new treatment or clinician page) | 1,500 to 4,000 | 800 to 2,000 | On quote |
| Indicative 3-year total | 20,400 to 47,800 | 9,900 to 21,900 | 7,700 to 11,000, excluding changes |
Kolonell's international grid is fixed: Starter CHF 2,700, Growth CHF 4,500, Premium CHF 8,200. 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. For a bilingual multi-clinician practice with integrated booking, Premium is usually the realistic tier. The tiers are detailed on the international website offer.
When is the local agency clearly the better choice?
To be fair, in several situations a Lausanne agency is worth the extra cost.
- You plan monthly on-site content: clinician videos, a virtual tour, features on new equipment.
- Your group runs several sites and needs a brand built from scratch, with signage, stationery and website in one project.
- The partners insist on physical workshops and a sign-off committee in the room.
- Your practice management software needs a custom integration that only a local provider already knows.
A remote studio is enough when the brand exists, content is in English and French, the booking tool offers a standard widget and one photo day covers the year.
What should you ask both types of provider?
- Will the .ch domain and hosting be in the practice's name from day one?
- Where are the site and form data hosted: Switzerland, the EU or elsewhere?
- Does the new patient form collect health data, and if so, how is it encrypted and deleted?
- Who tests the booking integration on mobile before launch?
- Which accessibility level is targeted (WCAG 2.1 AA at minimum) and how is it checked?
- What happens at the end of the contract: full export, transfer of access, timeline?
On the legal side, the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, treats health data as sensitive personal data, so an online medical history form must be designed accordingly. Professional secrecy (Article 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code) applies to dentists. The Medical Professions Act (MedPA) requires advertising to be objective, in the public interest, and neither misleading nor intrusive; the SSO code of ethics and Vaud health rules complete the frame. Before and after photos need written patient consent and no promise of results. This is not legal advice.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Dr Leah Morgan, managing partner of a 6-chair dental practice in Lausanne with many English-speaking patients, compares two offers.
- Option A, local agency: CHF 22,000 build plus CHF 220 a month. Over 3 years: 22,000 + 36 × 220 = CHF 29,920.
- Option B, remote studio: Kolonell Premium at CHF 8,200, a Lausanne photographer for one day at CHF 1,800, external maintenance estimated at CHF 100 a month for 33 months, so CHF 3,300. Total: CHF 13,300.
The gap is CHF 16,620. If a new patient is worth CHF 600 on average in the first year, that gap equals about 28 new patients. Dr Morgan picks option B and keeps the local agency in mind for a one-off video shoot next year. To price your own scenario, request a free quote.
FAQ
Can a remote studio integrate our online booking tool?
In most cases, yes, through a widget or deep link provided by the booking vendor. Allow 1 to 2 days for integration and mobile testing. Ask for a demo on a staging site before launch.
Does the website have to be hosted in Switzerland?
The nFADP does not require Swiss hosting for a brochure site, but it regulates transfers of personal data abroad. For a form that collects health data, a Swiss-hosted tool or your practice software's own module is the safer route. Hosting alone often costs CHF 20 to 60 a month.
How long does the project take?
Local agencies often quote 6 to 12 weeks depending on their schedule. At Kolonell, delivery takes 3 to 4 weeks once copy is approved and photos are in.
Can we publish before and after photos?
Yes, with written patient consent, no misleading retouching and no promise of results. Stick to 2 or 3 representative cases per treatment, with a note that results vary.
Who will own the website?
That is a contract clause with any provider. Ask in writing for the domain to be in the practice's name and for 100% of the code and copy to be assigned to you on final payment.
Let's scope your project. A multi-chair practice, a bilingual site with integrated booking, a budget of CHF 4,500 to 8,200 and launch 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.