The verdict in three sentences
For a dental practice in Ottawa, the right provider is the one that handles three things well: online booking, treatment pages that respect your regulator's advertising standards, and a genuinely bilingual English and French site. A fixed-price remote studio covers that scope well if the practice books a local photo shoot itself. A local dental marketing agency makes sense if you also want to hand off ads, reviews and social media, with regular meetings at the clinic.
Ottawa has a specific trait: a large share of patients are francophone (Orléans, Vanier, and patients crossing from Gatineau). An English site with a "Nous parlons français" line no longer captures those searches.
Which criteria should you compare between a local agency and a remote studio?
| Criterion | Local agency in Ottawa | Remote studio (Kolonell type) |
|---|---|---|
| Meetings at the clinic | Easy, between patients | Scheduled 45-minute video call |
| Time zone | Eastern Time, same as you | Project manager reachable in your time zone |
| English and French | Often an extra | Native English or French copywriting included |
| Clinic photo and video | Often bundled | Local photographer booked by the clinic |
| Domain and code ownership | Check it, some agencies rent the site | Domain and hosting in the clinic's name, in the contract |
| Typical timeline | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready |
| Monthly commitment | Common, 12 to 24 months | 3 months of support included, no lock-in |
Watch for the rental model common in dental marketing: a "free" website in exchange for a 24-month subscription, which you do not own at the end. Get domain, code and copy ownership in writing before signing.
What does each option cost over three years?
2026 ballpark, based on public agency rate pages and typical agency quotes for a 1 to 4 dentist practice. Kolonell prices are in USD, roughly CAD 1.35 to 1.40 per USD depending on the day's rate.
| Option | Build | Maintenance over 3 years | 3-year total (ballpark) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa freelancer | CAD 3,000 to 7,000 | CAD 1,500 to 4,500 | CAD 4,500 to 11,500 |
| Local generalist agency | CAD 9,000 to 20,000 | CAD 4,000 to 11,000 | CAD 13,000 to 31,000 |
| Dental marketing agency | CAD 0 to 15,000 | CAD 11,000 to 36,000 (subscription) | CAD 15,000 to 51,000 |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | on quote after 3 included months | from USD 2,900 |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | on quote after 3 included months | from USD 4,900 |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | on quote after 3 included months | from USD 8,900 |
The packages, with native copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support, are on the international offer page. Deep integration with your practice management software (beyond a link or a booking widget supplied by the vendor) is on quote.
When is a local agency the better choice?
An Ottawa agency is clearly better if:
- you want one partner for the website, Google Ads, review management and social media, with an in-person monthly review;
- you are opening a second clinic and must coordinate fit-out, signage, photos and launch on site;
- nobody at the clinic has time to approve copy and you would rather sit down with a writer;
- you want a clinic tour video shot by the same team.
A remote studio is enough when you know what you want: pages per treatment (hygiene, implants, orthodontics, emergencies, pediatric dentistry), online booking, English and French versions, team and insurance pages.
Dental practice needs and the Ontario frame
- Booking: a visible mobile button, a link to your software's booking module and a tap-to-call number for emergencies.
- Insurance and public plans: a clear page on direct billing and, where relevant, your participation in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
- Advertising: the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) publishes standards on dentists' advertising. Check the current version before publishing testimonials, before/after photos or terms like "specialist".
- Health information: in Ontario, dentists are health information custodians under PHIPA. The contact form should not collect medical history; questionnaires go through a secure tool.
- Accessibility: AODA requires WCAG 2.0 AA for public websites of organizations with 50 or more employees in Ontario. Target WCAG 2.1 AA even below that threshold; older patients benefit.
This is not legal advice.
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Questions to ask both types of provider
- Do I own the site if I stop the subscription after 12 months?
- Who writes the French version, a translator or a native copywriter?
- How is the booking module integrated, and who maintains it?
- Who checks the copy against RCDSO advertising standards? (Expected answer: you do, and the provider gives you a checklist.)
- How fast is a blocking bug fixed, such as a broken booking button?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Dr. Sophie Tremblay, owner of a 3-dentist practice in Orléans. A dental marketing agency offers CAD 0 to build and CAD 750 a month for 24 months, then CAD 500 a month: CAD 23,000 over three years, with no site ownership. She chooses Growth at USD 4,900, about CAD 6,700, a local photo shoot at CAD 1,200 and maintenance at CAD 150 a month after the 3 included months (CAD 4,950). Total: about CAD 12,850, nearly CAD 10,000 less, with a bilingual site she owns. She keeps her ad budget separate.
FAQ
Does a bilingual dental website cost more?
At many agencies, the French version adds 20 to 40% to the quote. At Kolonell, native English or French copywriting is included and bilingual scope is priced in the quote.
Can we publish before/after photos?
That depends on the RCDSO advertising standards in force, to be checked before publishing. In practice, plan at least 2 internal approvals before that kind of content goes live.
How much clinic time does it take?
About 6 to 8 hours: a kickoff workshop, the treatment list, copy approval and a final review.
Will the site be accessible?
The target is WCAG 2.1 AA: contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text. Ontario clinics with 50 or more employees must meet at least WCAG 2.0 AA.
Is 3 to 4 weeks realistic?
Yes, once base copy, photos and access to the booking module are available. Without photos, add 1 to 2 weeks to organize a shoot.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your treatments, languages and booking tool, and we will price a site between USD 2,900 and USD 8,900 delivered 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.