The verdict in three sentences
For a bilingual French and English school in Basel, the website has to speak to three audiences at once: expat families from pharma and chemicals, cross-border families from Alsace or Baden-Württemberg, and German-speaking Basel families. A Basel agency is the better pick if your priority is a flawless German version, a film and in-person workshops. A remote studio works very well when the core of the site is in French and English, two languages Kolonell writes natively, for CHF 4,500 (Growth) or CHF 8,200 (Premium, the multilingual tier).
What should the site do at each admissions stage?
In Basel, many families arrive on a relocation package with a few weeks to find a school. Others plan a start in the bilingual system from kindergarten. The site has to support every stage.
| Stage | What the site must do | Priority languages | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | explain the bilingual model (split of hours, French, English or Swiss curriculum) | French, English | no teaching jargon |
| Enquiry | short form, 5 to 7 fields | all three | data minimisation |
| Visit or open day | online slot booking | French, English | booking tool on quote |
| Application | document list, calendar, criteria | all three | document upload on quote |
| Fees | ballpark and what is included | French, English | annual update |
| Re-enrolment | reminder, deadlines, link to the parent portal | family's language | parent portal on quote |
Curriculum pages must be precise: if you follow the French programme, say at which level and with what recognition, sticking to facts. Only cite an accreditation or official recognition if it is actually in place.
Basel agency or remote studio: the decision checklist
Answer yes or no to each line. The more yes answers you have in the left column, the more a local agency makes sense.
| Question | If yes, lean Basel agency | If yes, lean remote studio |
|---|---|---|
| Is the German version the most read? | yes | |
| Is the site mainly in French and English? | yes | |
| Do you need a full film and photo shoot? | yes | |
| Do you already have recent photos with consent? | yes | |
| Does the board require in-person workshops? | yes | |
| Is the budget capped under CHF 10,000? | yes | |
| Must the site be live in under 5 weeks? | yes |
On time zones the difference is small: Kolonell provides a project manager reachable in your time zone. On ownership, require in both cases that the domain, code and content are in the school's name.
What does each option cost over 3 years?
Agency figures are a 2026 ballpark from typical quotes and public rate pages of Swiss German agencies.
| Item | Local Basel agency | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Trilingual design and development | about CHF 18,000 to 45,000 | CHF 8,200, languages set in the quote |
| Native review of the German version | included | CHF 600 to 1,200 (market assumption) |
| Photo shoot with pupils | included or CHF 2,000 to 4,000 | Basel photographer CHF 1,500 to 3,000 (market assumption) |
| Support, first 3 months | depends on contract | included |
| Maintenance, months 4 to 36 | CHF 200 to 500 per month (market assumption) | on quote |
| Parent portal, visit booking | on quote | on quote |
| Total excluding maintenance and integrations | CHF 18,000 to 49,000 | CHF 10,300 to 12,400 |
Kolonell also includes native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. A small school without a German version can start on Growth at CHF 4,500. See the international offer.
When the local agency wins, and the rules to respect
The Basel agency is clearly preferable if most of your new families speak German, if you are launching a new visual identity, or if you want a regional campaign on both sides of the border run by one team. A remote studio makes sense when your identity already exists, your audiences mostly read French and English, and the calendar is tight.
Rules to respect:
- Data protection: the nFADP applies to pupil and parent data. GDPR may also apply to families living in France or Germany: have this checked.
- Pupil photos: written parental consent, renewed every year, fast removal on request, no full names under photos.
- Safeguarding: publish your child protection policy and a dedicated contact.
- Authorisation: private schools fall under the cantonal education authorities; state your status accurately.
- Accessibility: aim for WCAG 2.1 AA, ideally 2.2 AA.
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This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask both providers: who reviews the German? Where is form data hosted? Is the domain in our name? What does it cost after the support period?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Sophie Keller heads École bilingue du Rhin (fictional), 180 pupils aged 3 to 11, about 140 families. A Basel agency quotes CHF 34,000. Kolonell Premium comes to CHF 8,200, plus CHF 900 of German review and CHF 1,800 of photos, or CHF 10,900.
Spread over 140 families, the agency costs about CHF 243 per family, the remote option about CHF 78. The CHF 23,100 gap easily funds a visit booking tool (on quote) and a filmed open day. Sophie starts the project in October to be live before the January visits.
FAQ
Does a bilingual French and English school need a German version?
Often yes, at least for key pages, because some Basel families read German first. At Kolonell that is the Premium plan at CHF 8,200, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote.
Can we publish our tuition fees?
Yes, as an annual ballpark with what is included (meals, activities, transport). Update the page every year, ideally 6 months before the school year starts.
Is online visit booking included?
No, booking tools and the parent portal are on quote. Plan a separate line whatever the provider.
How fast can the site go live?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks after content approval. A local agency often quotes 8 to 14 weeks with a photo shoot.
How should we handle photos of children?
With written parental consent renewed every year and removal within 48 hours on request. Avoid full names linked to faces.
To compare precisely, request a free quote.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual school site of 12 to 25 pages, CHF 4,500 to 8,200 depending on languages, 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.