The verdict in three sentences
In Fribourg, a bilingual city on the Saane/Sarine, the first criterion for a law firm website is the German version: if a significant share of your clients comes from the Sense district, the Lake district or Bern, a Fribourg agency able to write native French and German starts with a clear advantage. A remote studio such as Kolonell remains relevant for a mainly French-speaking or internationally oriented firm: 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF, native French or English copy, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. With the German translation handled by a specialist, the total often stays around half of a local agency quote, provided you are comfortable working by video call.
Why does bilingualism change the decision in Fribourg?
The University of Fribourg's law faculty teaches in French and German, the canton's courts work in both languages, and part of the clientele moves naturally between them. A practice in Pérolles or the Bourg may therefore need an FR/DE site, where a Lausanne firm would make do with French. The table below puts this point at the centre.
| Criterion | Fribourg agency | Fribourg or Bern freelancer | Kolonell (remote studio) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native French copy | Yes | Yes | Included |
| Native German copy | Often included | Depends on the person | Not included: quoted on request or via your translator |
| Native English copy | Sometimes | Rarely | Included (or bilingual FR/EN in Premium) |
| Meetings at the office | Yes | Yes | No, video calls |
| Time difference | None | None | 1 to 2 h, team on GMT, PM on your hours |
| Build budget, 2026 ballpark | 8 000 to 28 000 CHF | 3 000 to 10 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF |
| On-site photo and video | Often | Rarely | Not offered |
| Indicative timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
These benchmarks come from public price pages of French-speaking Swiss and Bernese agencies, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles and hourly rates published on Malt (around 100 to 170 CHF/h for agencies). A native FR/DE site naturally pushes an agency budget towards the top of the range.
Which scenario costs least over three years?
Five realistic scenarios for a Fribourg firm, with the same hypothesis throughout: 1 000 CHF a year for hosting and maintenance after the support period, and a German translation estimated at 1 800 CHF where it is not included.
| Scenario (CHF) | Build | German translation | 3-year maintenance (hypothesis) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Fribourg agency, FR/DE site | 15 000 | Included | 3 000 | 18 000 |
| B. Freelancer, FR/DE site | 7 000 | 1 800 | 3 000 | 11 800 |
| C. Kolonell Starter + translator | 2 700 | 1 800 | 3 000 | 7 500 |
| D. Kolonell Growth + translator | 4 500 | 1 800 | 3 000 | 9 300 |
| E. Kolonell Premium FR/EN + DE translator | 8 200 | 1 800 | 3 000 | 13 000 |
Scenario E targets firms that also have English-speaking clients, such as researchers and expatriate families. At Kolonell every tier includes a project manager reachable during your hours, native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support; payment is by bank transfer, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. See the international website offer.
When should you prefer a Fribourg agency?
To be frank: Kolonell does not come to your office, does not do photos or video and does not write in German. The local agency is preferable if:
- more than a third of your clients are German speakers and you want flawless Swiss legal German from day one;
- your partners want a single contact accountable for both languages;
- you want portraits taken at your premises;
- your schedule allows a 10 to 14 week project with on-site workshops.
Which rules apply to a Fribourg lawyer's website?
The Federal Act on the Free Movement of Lawyers (BGFA/LLCA) allows advertising limited to objective facts and serving the public interest; the Fribourg Bar and the Swiss Bar Association's code of conduct add rules, notably on specialist titles and the absence of any promise of outcome. The revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, requires a privacy notice in the site's languages and appropriate security for contact forms. For accessibility, target WCAG 2.1 AA in every language version. This is not legal advice.
Which questions should you ask each provider?
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- Who reviews the German legal terminology, and against which Swiss vocabulary?
- Are the two language versions properly linked for search engines (hreflang tags)?
- Do the .ch domain and the code belong to the firm?
- Is the price fixed, and what does an extra page cost?
- Who handles updates after launch, and on what terms?
If you already hold a local quote, request a free quote and we will reply with a precise scope and tier.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Nadia F., partner in a two-lawyer Fribourg firm in family and criminal law, has around 30 % German-speaking clients from the Sense and Lake districts. An agency FR/DE quote comes to 12 500 CHF. She chooses Starter at 2 700 CHF, written in French, and gives the German pages to a legal translator for 1 500 CHF. Total: 4 200 CHF, a gap of 8 300 CHF. If a divorce matter averages 4 000 CHF in fees, two new mandates cover the gap, and the site is live in 4 weeks instead of 11.
FAQ
Can we launch in French first and add German later?
Yes. The structure is built for a second language, and the German translation can follow a few weeks later, a ballpark of 1 500 to 3 000 CHF depending on page count.
Which tier suits a two to four lawyer firm in Fribourg?
Growth at 4 500 CHF fits when each practice area deserves its own page and forms. Starter at 2 700 CHF is enough for a compact presentation over a few pages.
Is the time difference with Dakar a problem?
No: the team is on GMT, one hour behind Fribourg in winter and two in summer. The project manager schedules check-ins within your office hours.
Is online appointment booking included?
A simple qualified form, yes. Booking with payment or a client portal is a custom application, quoted on request.
What does ongoing care cost after the 3 included months?
Maintenance is quoted on request, with no commitment. Since domain and code are in the firm's name, you can also hand it to a Fribourg provider.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the split between French- and German-speaking clients at your Fribourg firm 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.
