The verdict in three sentences
In Geneva, an immigration and relocation firm speaks to staff of international organisations, multinational employees transferred to Switzerland, cross-border workers and their families, often before they have set foot in the canton. Since these clients find you online from London, Bangalore or Boston, a remote studio able to write natively in English and French (Growth CHF 4,500, Premium CHF 8,200) covers the need very well. A Geneva agency keeps the edge if your growth depends on local partnerships it already knows, in-person events and regular video production in the canton.
Who are your clients and what must your site do?
A relocation firm's website is not a brochure: it is the first interview. Each client segment arrives with a different question, and each question calls for a page.
| Segment in Geneva | Typical question | Useful page or feature | Main language |
|---|---|---|---|
| International organisation staff | What steps for my family? | Family journey, schooling, housing | English |
| Employee transferred by a multinational | Who handles my file with HR? | Corporate offer, dedicated contact | English |
| Cross-border worker (G permit) | Which formalities on the Swiss side? | Cross-border page, described in general terms | French |
| Company HR department | What cost per employee? | Indicative package list, if you wish | French and English |
| Family with children | Which school, which neighbourhood? | Guides to Champel, Eaux-Vives, Cologny, Nyon | English |
| Individual without an employer | Do I stand a chance of a permit? | How we work page, with no promise | French and English |
Two rules apply to the copy. First, never promise a permit: residence and work authorisations are issued by the Cantonal Population and Migration Office (OCPM) and the competent authorities, under rules to be checked with them. Second, separate administrative support clearly from legal advice: legal analysis of a case belongs to authorised professionals, and if your firm does not employ a lawyer, the copy presents support, not an opinion. First-contact forms ask only for what is necessary (name, country, arrival date, family situation), with no passport copy; secure document upload is priced on quote.
Geneva agency or remote studio: what should you compare?
2026 ballpark, based on typical quotes and public rate pages of agencies in the Geneva area, for a 10 to 15 page site in French and English.
| Criterion | Geneva freelancer | Small Geneva agency | Established agency | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build price | CHF 5,000 to 14,000 | CHF 14,000 to 35,000 | CHF 35,000 to 90,000 | CHF 4,500 (Growth) or CHF 8,200 (Premium) |
| Timeline | 5 to 9 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks | 10 to 16 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Native English copy | Variable | Often subcontracted | Included | Included |
| In-person meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Video calls, project manager in your time zone |
| Photo and video in Geneva | To organise | Often coordinated | Included | Local photographer, third-party cost |
| Post-launch maintenance | CHF 80 to 200 a month (market assumption) | CHF 200 to 450 a month (market assumption) | CHF 500 to 1,000 a month (market assumption) | 3 months included, then on quote |
| Domain and code ownership | To be written | To be written | To be written | The client's, written into the contract |
Premium is the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote; Starter at CHF 2,700 suits a simple 5-page presence. Details are on our international offer.
When is a Geneva agency the better choice?
When your clients come mainly from local word of mouth and the city's business clubs, and the site only relays your network. When you want to shoot videos every year in apartments and schools across the canton, with a crew that knows the places. When your site must connect to a case-management tool used by your corporate clients and the agency has already integrated it elsewhere. In those cases, the extra cost buys real proximity.
Otherwise, a remote studio is enough: your clients are international, your meetings already run on video, and your priority is a clear two-language site, fast on mobile, live before the summer transfer season.
Questions to ask both providers: where is form data hosted (Switzerland or the EU) and which processors are involved? Who writes the English? Which accessibility target (WCAG 2.1 AA recommended)? What happens if you switch providers? On the legal frame, the nLPD/revFADP (in force since 1 September 2023) applies, and the GDPR comes into play for clients residing in the EU, who are numerous among cross-border workers and future arrivals. This is not legal advice.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Sophie Mercier runs a 6-consultant relocation firm in Eaux-Vives. A small local agency quotes her CHF 28,000. Remote option: Premium at CHF 8,200 for a French and English site, plus half a day with a local photographer at CHF 1,200 (third-party cost), CHF 9,400 in total. The difference is CHF 18,600. Her family settling-in packages yield about CHF 3,000 in margin. If the new site brings 2 extra files a quarter, 8 a year, the margin gain reaches CHF 24,000 in the first year. She keeps CHF 4,000 of the savings for a video shot in Geneva the following spring.
FAQ
Can I display a permit approval rate?
It is best avoided: the decision belongs to the authorities, and a figure such as 95% approval reads like a promise. Describe your method in 4 or 5 steps instead.
Should I publish my fees?
It is not mandatory, but an indicative range, for example a home search package from a stated amount, filters enquiries. Many HR teams appreciate a list of 3 packages.
Which languages should I plan for?
French and English at minimum, via Premium at CHF 8,200 (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote). A third language is priced in the quote according to your clients.
Is document upload included?
No, secure upload is priced on quote, since it involves encryption, retention periods and suitable hosting. It keeps passports out of email.
How quickly can the site go live?
Within 3 to 4 weeks once content is approved, against 8 to 16 weeks in the local agency ranges above.
Let's scope your project. Describe your services, languages and budget, and we will come back with a priced scope and go-live 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.