The verdict in three sentences
For a law firm in Basel, often focused on pharma, intellectual property and cross-border matters with Alsace and Baden-Württemberg, a fixed-price remote studio (2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF) delivers a clear site in 3 to 4 weeks. A Basel agency, at a ballpark of 12 000 to 45 000 CHF, is justified when you want on-site workshops, photo production, or German copy written entirely by the provider. Before choosing, clarify your clients' language, the need for meetings, and ownership of the .ch domain and the code.
Why is a Basel law firm website different from a Zurich one?
Basel is a border city. The same firm may advise a life sciences group on a licence agreement in the morning and a French cross-border commuter on an employment dispute in the afternoon. The site should reflect that reality:
- pages by practice area (intellectual property, contracts, employment, tax, estates), with each lawyer's working languages;
- a German and English version, and often a French page for commuters from Alsace;
- an accurate mention of registration in the cantonal register of lawyers and membership of the Basel Bar Association or the Swiss Bar Association;
- a sober contact form that asks for opposing parties for conflict checks without collecting documents.
How do the three options compare, criterion by criterion?
| Criterion | Local Basel agency | Freelancer (Malt, Upwork, regional network) | Kolonell (remote studio) | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time zone | CET | Variable | GMT (team based in Dakar), 1 to 2 h difference | Agency, narrowly |
| On-site workshops | Yes | Sometimes | No | Agency |
| Copywriting | Native German, English | Depends on profile | Native English or French included; German supplied by the firm | Depends on your main language |
| Price | 12 000 to 45 000 CHF | 4 000 to 14 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed | Kolonell |
| Lead time | 8 to 14 weeks | 4 to 12 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Kolonell |
| .ch domain and code | Per contract | Often informal | In the firm's name | Check everywhere |
| Photo and video | Offered | Rare | Not offered | Agency |
These ranges are a 2026 ballpark, based on public price pages of German-speaking Swiss agencies, minimum budgets shown on Clutch.co, and freelance hourly rates published on Malt and Upwork (about 100 to 150 CHF per hour in Switzerland). Always compare written quotes on the same scope.
What does a small firm pay over three years, on equal assumptions?
Case of a 3 to 5 lawyer firm, 6 to 8 page site. Same maintenance hypothesis on both sides: 120 CHF per month after any included period. At Kolonell, maintenance after the 3 months of support is quoted on request; the figure is a hypothesis.
| Item | Basel agency | Kolonell Starter | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 15 000 CHF | 2 700 CHF | 4 500 CHF |
| German copywriting | Included | In-house, about 8 h | In-house, about 12 h |
| Post-launch support | Per contract | 3 months included | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (hypothesis 120 CHF/month) | 4 320 CHF over 36 months | 3 960 CHF over 33 months | 3 960 CHF over 33 months |
| Portraits by a local photographer | Often included | 500 to 1 000 CHF | 500 to 1 000 CHF |
| Indicative 3-year total | about 19 320 CHF | about 7 160 to 7 660 CHF | about 8 960 to 9 460 CHF |
The exact content of each tier is set out on the international website offer.
When is it better to stay with a Basel agency?
- You want a video shoot or photos produced by the provider: Kolonell does no photography, no video and no on-site meetings.
- Your clients are almost exclusively German-speaking and nobody at the firm can write the German pages.
- You are preparing a firm merger with a new brand, stationery and signage.
- You want to connect the site to your matter-management software: at Kolonell that is a custom application quoted on request, and a local agency already familiar with the tool may move faster.
Which rules apply to a lawyer's website in Basel?
The Federal Act on the Free Movement of Lawyers (BGFA) allows lawyers to advertise as long as the advertising is objective and meets the public's need for information; the cantonal supervisory authority and the Swiss Bar Association's rules complete that framework. Professional secrecy forbids naming clients without consent. On data, the revised Federal Act on Data Protection has been in force since 1 September 2023; if the site actively targets residents of France or Germany, the GDPR may also apply. For accessibility, aim for WCAG 2.1 AA. This is not legal advice.
What should you ask each provider before signing?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Is the quote fixed in CHF, and for how many pages and languages?
- Who writes the German and French, and who checks the copy against professional conduct rules?
- Are the .ch domain, hosting and code registered in the firm's name?
- What is the real timeline, week by week?
- What happens after the support period, and at what rate?
To receive a priced proposal, go through the free quote request.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Lukas B., partner at a 4-lawyer firm near Aeschenplatz specialising in intellectual property for life sciences SMEs, weighs an agency quote of 18 000 CHF against the Growth tier at 4 500 CHF. He writes the German pages himself in 12 hours and orders portraits for 800 CHF. Total cost: 5 300 CHF, a gap of 12 700 CHF. With an average fee of 4 000 CHF per licensing mandate, two new matters cover the site.
FAQ
Does a Basel law firm need a trilingual site?
Not necessarily: German and English cover most needs, and a single French page is often enough for cross-border commuters. With Kolonell, English or French is written natively; plan 8 to 15 in-house hours for the German.
How much does a law firm website cost in Basel in 2026?
As a ballpark, 12 000 to 45 000 CHF with a local agency and 4 000 to 14 000 CHF with a freelancer. The Kolonell grid is fixed: 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF.
Can a lawyer advertise on their website in Switzerland?
Yes, within the limits of the BGFA: objective information that meets the public's need. Disparaging comparisons and client names without consent should be avoided.
Can the project run without physical meetings?
Yes, entirely by video call with a project manager reachable in your time zone, with a 1 to 2 hour difference. Delivery takes 3 to 4 weeks.
How is the work paid?
By bank transfer, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. The 3 months of support follow the launch.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practice areas, your languages and how many lawyers to present, and we will propose a fixed CHF tier delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.