The verdict in three sentences
For a Zug notary office whose core work is estate planning and estate settlement, the local agency wins on a weighted decision grid (4.25 against 3.70 out of 5) as soon as the site must be German-first and the partners want on-site meetings. A remote studio becomes competitive if the site primarily serves international clients in English: Growth at CHF 4,500, Premium at CHF 8,200, against the CHF 18,000 to 35,000 commonly quoted locally (2026 ballpark). In every case, the sensitivity of estate data calls for a minimal form and controlled hosting.
How do you score a Zug agency against a remote studio?
Zug has an unusually international client base: executives of commodity trading firms, founders from "Crypto Valley", families who moved for the cantonal tax regime. Many speak English day to day and hold assets in several countries. Choosing a provider for an estate practice here deserves a scored grid rather than gut feeling.
| Criterion | Weight | Zug agency (score out of 5) | Remote studio (score out of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-zone overlap | 15 | 5 | 4 |
| Meetings and visits to the office | 15 | 5 | 3 |
| Copy in the site's main language (German) | 20 | 5 | 3 |
| Build price | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| Domain and code ownership (per contract) | 15 | 4 | 4 |
| On-site photo and video | 15 | 5 | 3 |
| Weighted score out of 5 | 100 | 4.25 | 3.70 |
Calculation: agency 425 points out of 500, studio 370 out of 500. If your site is English-first, the studio's language score rises from 3 to 5: its total climbs to 4.10, nearly level, and price then tips the balance. Kolonell's native copywriting is in English or French; a German version is either set in the Premium quote or reviewed by an independent native German translator (third-party cost).
When the Zug agency is clearly the better choice
- Your main clients are local German speakers and the site must be flawless in German from day one.
- The partners want to approve every page in a meeting, with someone who knows local practice.
- You plan portraits and a presentation video filmed at the office, with several takes.
The way notarial functions are organised in Zug differs from the Latin model of Vaud or Ticino, and a local agency has often already worked for offices in the canton. Still, check every statement about the notary's role with the competent cantonal authority before publishing.
Which pages does an estate practice need?
| Page | Content | Sensitivity | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wills and inheritance agreements | Steps, preparatory meeting, documents to gather | High: no free-text box | Growth |
| Lasting powers of attorney | What the document is, when to raise it | High | Growth |
| Estate settlement | Role of the office, steps, indicative timeframes with no guarantee | High | Growth |
| Estates with assets abroad | Coordination with foreign colleagues, documents requested | Medium | Premium |
| Fees | General explanation, pointer to the applicable tariff to be checked | Low | Starter |
| Online booking | Slots, reminders, confidentiality | Medium | on quote |
| Secure document upload | Encryption, retention period | High | on quote |
No page gives legal advice: each describes a process and invites the reader to a first meeting. The revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, requires you to inform people when collecting their data; the FDPIC is the supervisory authority. GDPR applies on top if you target heirs living in the EU. For accessibility, aim for WCAG 2.1 AA: part of an estate practice's clientele is elderly. This is not legal advice.
What does each option cost over 3 years?
| Option | Year 1 | Years 2 and 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zug agency (build CHF 18,000 to 35,000, maintenance market assumption CHF 200 to 350 a month) | CHF 19,800 to 38,150 | CHF 4,800 to 8,400 | CHF 24,600 to 46,550 |
| Zurich freelancer (build CHF 6,000 to 12,000, maintenance market assumption CHF 100 to 200 a month) | CHF 6,900 to 13,800 | CHF 2,400 to 4,800 | CHF 9,300 to 18,600 |
| Kolonell Growth, English or French (CHF 4,500, 3 months included, then on quote; market assumption CHF 100 to 200 a month) | CHF 5,400 to 6,300 | CHF 2,400 to 4,800 | CHF 7,800 to 11,100 |
| Kolonell Premium + independent German translator (CHF 8,200 + CHF 1,200 to 2,500 third-party cost) | CHF 10,300 to 12,500 | CHF 2,400 to 4,800 | CHF 12,700 to 17,300 |
Maintenance amounts are market assumptions, not Kolonell prices. Tiers are detailed on the international offer page.
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Illustrative example: Andrea Keller manages a six-person notary office in Zug; 30% of first contacts are in English. The front desk handles 30 first-contact calls a month, 20 minutes each, mostly explaining how to prepare a first estate planning meeting.
A "preparing your first meeting" page with a document checklist brings the call down to 12 minutes. Saving: 30 × 8 minutes = 240 minutes a month, or 48 hours a year. At CHF 70 an hour of internal cost: CHF 3,360 a year.
The Zug agency she consulted quoted CHF 28,000. The office picks Premium at CHF 8,200 plus an independent German translator at CHF 1,800 (third-party cost), CHF 10,000 in total. The CHF 18,000 difference funds several years of maintenance.
FAQ
Should the site be German-first or English-first?
Look at your last 50 files: if more than 40% came from international clients, English can be the entry language. Otherwise German stays the priority.
Can we offer a "describe your situation" form?
It is not advisable for an estate practice. Keep the form to 4 or 5 fields (name, contact, language, type of request) and handle substance in the meeting.
How long does launch take with a remote studio?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks once content is approved, plus 1 to 2 weeks for an independent translator to review a German version.
Can the site explain fees?
Yes, in general terms, in 300 to 400 words, pointing to the applicable tariff. Have the wording checked with the cantonal authority.
What happens after the 3 included months of support?
Maintenance is then on quote. Require a written response time, for example 1 working day for a broken form.
Let's scope your project. A 10 to 15 page site for a Zug estate practice, in English, French or multilingual, can be scoped in one video call for CHF 4,500 to 8,200 and 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.