The verdict in three sentences
For a private client relocation firm in Port Louis that supports international families and executives (residence planning with lawyers, villa search, schools, banking introductions), the price gap between a local agency and a remote studio is often smaller than expected once rupee quotes are converted. The choice therefore comes down to timeline, native English and French copywriting, on-site filming and ownership of the site. A Port Louis or Ebène agency wins if you want to film every quarter and meet often; a remote studio on a fixed grid (USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900) wins if you want a site live in 3 to 4 weeks on a fixed budget.
Which option fits your firm's situation?
Your clients are not alike: a family leaving Johannesburg for Moka, a French executive transferred to a group in Ebène, an entrepreneur from Mumbai settling in Grand Baie, a retiree comparing several countries. They read English or French, often on mobile from another time zone, and your team also speaks Mauritian Creole with them once they arrive. If you are an English-speaking founder in Port Louis, your site will probably lead in English while keeping a solid French version for the island's business community. Either way, it must state clearly what you do yourselves and what your partner lawyers do.
| Your firm's situation | Best-suited option | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You film villas and schools every quarter | Local agency | The crew is on the island, no travel costs |
| Partners want to sign off in physical meetings | Local agency | Office workshops within days |
| You aim to launch before the August international school intake | Remote studio | Delivery in 3 to 4 weeks against 8 to 14 weeks |
| Your copy must read as native in English and French | Both, to be checked | Ask who writes, not only who translates |
| Your budget must be fixed before signing | Remote studio | Fixed grid, written scope |
| A corporate client requires a Mauritian supplier | Local agency | A procurement rule, not a quality issue |
On time zones, Mauritius is on UTC+4 all year. With a GMT-based team you share about 4 working hours, in the Port Louis afternoon: enough for a daily check-in, less comfortable for all-day back-and-forth.
What do the two options cost in 2026?
The ranges below are a 2026 ballpark based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages of agencies in Port Louis, Ebène and Quatre Bornes. They are converted at an indicative rate of about 46 rupees to USD 1; conversions are approximate. Kolonell prices are those of the international grid, in USD, with a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support (see the international offer page).
| Provider | Local quote in MUR | Approximate USD equivalent | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer, one-language brochure site | MUR 80,000 to 200,000 | about USD 1,700 to 4,300 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Port Louis or Ebène agency, EN and FR | MUR 250,000 to 700,000 | about USD 5,400 to 15,200 | 8 to 14 weeks |
| High-end agency, video included | MUR 700,000 to 1,200,000 | about USD 15,200 to 26,100 | 12 to 16 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | not applicable | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | not applicable | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) | not applicable | USD 8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
When is the local agency the better choice?
To be clear: if your brand lives on video shot in Tamarin villas or Moka schools, and you want one team to film, edit and publish every three months, a Mauritian agency is more practical. The same applies if your partners insist on face-to-face workshops, or if an Ebène group that entrusts you with its expatriates requires a local supplier. A remote studio works when the site must go live quickly, video calls are enough and a local photographer booked for one day covers your image needs.
Questions to ask both providers before signing:
- Will the domain and hosting be in our name, with admin access?
- Who writes the English version and who writes the French version, and are they native?
- Where are our form submissions stored, and for how long?
- What does leaving cost if we change provider in two years?
- What is included after the first 3 months, and at what price?
What the site of a private client relocation firm must include
- Service pages: residence planning coordinated with lawyers, housing search, schooling, banking introductions (no financial advice), settling-in. Residence and work permits for investors, professionals and entrepreneurs (Occupation Permit) and the Premium Visa go through the Economic Development Board: describe them generally, with the line "routes described generally, eligibility confirmed by a regulated adviser or lawyer". No thresholds, no timelines, no promise of approval.
- A corporate page for HR directors sending executives: process, single point of contact, reporting.
- A lean qualification form: country of departure, family composition, target date. Passport copies and civil records do not go through a standard form: secure upload area on quote, with a written retention period.
- Data protection: Mauritius applies the Data Protection Act 2017, supervised by the Data Protection Office; your privacy notice must explain what data you collect, why and for how long. Check your exact obligations with the Data Protection Office or a lawyer.
- Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA as the target, useful for older clients planning their move.
- A footer with your registration details and a mention of the lawyers you work with.
This is not legal advice: have your partner lawyers review the residence pages.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Priya runs a five-person private client relocation firm in Port Louis. She receives a quote from an Ebène agency at MUR 520,000 (about USD 11,300) for an English and French site, and looks at Kolonell Premium at USD 8,900.
| Cost line over 3 years | Ebène agency (converted quote) | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Build, EN and FR, 12 pages | about USD 11,300 | USD 8,900 |
| Photos of villas and schools | included | about USD 540 (MUR 25,000, local photographer, third-party cost) |
| Support, first 3 months | included | included |
| Maintenance months 4 to 36 (market assumption, about USD 130 a month) | about USD 4,290 | on quote |
| Secure upload area | about USD 2,610 (MUR 120,000) | on quote |
| Known total (items on quote not counted) | about USD 18,200 | USD 9,440 |
On build plus photos alone, the gap is only about USD 1,860 (11,300 minus 9,440). If one family mandate brings her about USD 4,000 in fees (a hypothetical figure), the gap is less than half a mandate. What decides it for Priya is timing: 4 weeks instead of 12, to be live before the August intake. If she wanted quarterly video, she would choose the agency.
FAQ
Can the site state the chances of obtaining an Occupation Permit?
No. Decisions belong to the Mauritian authorities and eligibility must be confirmed by a lawyer; the site can describe your 4 or 5 support steps, not an outcome.
Which tier for an English and French site?
Premium at USD 8,900, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote. A firm starting in one language can launch on Growth at USD 4,900.
Is the time difference a problem?
Mauritius is on UTC+4 and a GMT-based team shares about 4 working hours with you. For a 3 to 4 week project, a 30-minute daily check-in is usually enough.
Do we need a Mauritian Creole version?
Rarely for an international clientele, who read English or French. A Creole homepage or FAQ can still reassure local partners; it is priced in the quote.
How do we protect passports sent by families?
Never receive them by email or a standard form: use a secure upload area (on quote) and set a retention period, for example 12 months after the mandate ends. Explain it in your privacy notice.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your services, languages and target date, and we will propose a fixed scope on the USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 grid, 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.