The verdict in three sentences
For a private or international school in Copenhagen, the choice between a local agency and a remote studio depends less on price than on how much of the work must happen on campus: photo days, workshops with the leadership team and Danish-language content. A remote studio that shares your time zone, writes native English and hands over domain, code and content in the school's name is enough for most admissions-driven sites. A local agency is the better call when the board wants regular in-person sessions, the site must be largely in Danish, or it has to connect deeply with Danish school platforms.
Which criteria actually separate the two options?
International schools around Copenhagen recruit families on a calendar: open days in autumn and winter, applications through spring, relocation enquiries all year from companies moving staff to the Øresund region. The website has to carry an enquiry, a visit booking and an application, plus a fees page that does not force parents to email for a number.
| Criterion | Local Copenhagen agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Time zone | Same, CET | Project manager reachable in CET working hours |
| Meetings | On campus when needed | Video calls, on-site visits not included |
| English copy | Often written in Danish first, then translated | Native English copywriting included |
| Danish copy | Native Danish | To be written or reviewed by a native speaker on your side |
| Photo and video | Often bundled with a partner photographer | Local photographer booked by the school, brief prepared remotely |
| Domain, code, content | Ownership to confirm in the contract | Registered in the school's name, written in the contract |
| Price | Hourly or project rate in DKK | Fixed grid: EUR 2,700 / 4,500 / 8,200 |
What does a school site need, and what are the local rules?
Admissions are the core: enquiry form, visit booking, application link (admissions software such as OpenApply or a similar tool: integration on quote), curriculum pages for IB, Cambridge, French or Danish programmes, and a news and events CMS that staff can update without help. Parents of expat families often read in English first, so a bilingual English and Danish site is common; only the Premium tier is multilingual, and the number of languages is set in the quote.
Pupil and parent data fall under the GDPR and the Danish Data Protection Act, supervised by Datatilsynet. Ask for short enquiry forms, a clear retention period, EU hosting and an Article 28 processor agreement. For photos and video of pupils, the safe rule is written parental consent, recorded and easy to withdraw, and no names next to faces. Accreditation logos (CIS, NEASC, IB World School status) should only appear if the school actually holds them, with the wording the accrediting body allows.
On accessibility, Danish public bodies are bound by web accessibility rules; whether they apply to your school depends on its status, so check with your adviser. Targeting WCAG 2.1 AA, ideally 2.2 AA, is sensible either way. This is not legal advice.
What does each option cost over three years?
Local figures are a 2026 ballpark from typical agency quotes and public rate pages in Copenhagen, converted approximately from Danish kroner (about 7.5 DKK per euro). Maintenance figures are market assumptions, not Kolonell prices.
| Cost line (3 years) | Local agency | Remote studio (Kolonell Premium) |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual build | EUR 18,000 (range EUR 10,000 to 33,000) | EUR 8,200 |
| Support and updates | EUR 250 x 36 months = EUR 9,000 (market assumption) | 3 months included, then on quote; assumed EUR 150 x 33 = EUR 4,950 (market assumption) |
| Danish copy review | Included | EUR 2,000 (assumption, translator or staff time) |
| Photo days on campus | 3 x EUR 1,200 = EUR 3,600 | 3 x EUR 1,200 = EUR 3,600 |
| Admissions software link | On quote | On quote |
| Total, excluding integrations | EUR 30,600 | EUR 18,750 |
A freelance developer in Copenhagen typically quotes EUR 3,500 to 9,500 for a smaller school site, a good option for a simple brochure but rarely for a full admissions funnel with governance and handover.
When is the local agency clearly the better choice?
Be honest about it: a local agency wins if the board expects monthly workshops on campus, if most pages must be written in Danish from scratch, or if the site must integrate tightly with a Danish school platform such as Aula or with municipal systems. It also wins when a single partner should handle the website, printed prospectus and open-day signage together.
A remote studio is enough when English is the main recruiting language, decisions sit with a small admissions and marketing team, and the school mostly needs speed: 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. Compare both on our international websites page.
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Questions to ask both providers:
- Who registers the domain, and in whose name?
- Who owns the code, design files and copy at the end?
- How are pupil photos, consents and form data stored, and where?
- Which accessibility level is tested, and how?
- What happens to the site if we stop working together?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Mette Lund leads admissions at a 450-pupil IB school north of Copenhagen. The school receives about 400 enquiries a year, and 30 percent turn into a visit. A clearer visit booking flow raises that to 33 percent: 400 x 3 percent = 12 extra visits. If 25 percent of visits lead to enrolment, that means 3 more families. At an assumed annual fee of EUR 10,000, the first year alone represents EUR 30,000 in fees, more than the EUR 18,750 three-year remote cost. The figures are hypothetical; the method is the point.
FAQ
Can a remote studio run a photo shoot on campus?
It prepares the shot list and consent checklist remotely, then a local photographer shoots on site, typically EUR 900 to 1,500 for a half day. The school keeps the consent records.
Do we need the Premium tier for English and Danish?
Yes, Premium (EUR 8,200) is the multilingual tier, and the languages are fixed in the quote. Starter (EUR 2,700) and Growth (EUR 4,500) cover one language.
How long does a school site take?
3 to 4 weeks at Kolonell once texts, photos and fees are ready. Avoid launching in the 4 to 6 weeks before your main open day.
Should the fees page show actual figures?
Parents expect it, and a fees table with 3 to 5 lines (tuition, enrolment fee, deposit, extras) cuts repeat emails. Note any public subsidy or sibling discount clearly.
Who owns the site at the end?
Ask for the domain, hosting account and code in the school's name in the contract. A handover document of 2 to 3 pages listing accesses should be part of delivery.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual admissions-ready school site with visit booking and a fees page, EUR 8,200 on Premium, 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.