The verdict in three sentences
For a London wealth management firm or family office, a City or West End agency makes sense if you need in-person workshops, a complete brand identity and a client portal from day one. For a discreet, well-written institutional site, a remote studio delivers the same output at 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, against a ballpark of 10 000 to 30 000+ GBP at a London agency. The right choice depends less on distance than on three criteria: how available the project manager really is, how the provider handles confidentiality, and how sign-off by your compliance officer fits into the schedule.
This article is for partners, COOs and heads of marketing in Mayfair, St James's or Canary Wharf who are weighing a local agency against a remote studio. It is not another price list: it helps you decide.
What each option costs in London in 2026
The ranges below are prudent ballpark figures drawn from public rate cards of UK agencies, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch profiles and freelance platform rates (Upwork, Malt). London sits at the top of UK ranges, and every quote varies with scope.
| Option | 2026 ballpark price | Typical timeline | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London agency specialised in finance | 15 000 to 30 000+ GBP | 10 to 16 weeks | in-person workshops, branding, photography | cost, waiting lists, maintenance often mandatory |
| UK generalist agency | 8 000 to 18 000 GBP | 8 to 12 weeks | full team, proven process | less familiar with wealth-sector discretion |
| London freelancer | 2 000 to 8 000 GBP | 4 to 10 weeks | flexibility, direct contact | reliance on one person, copywriting rarely included |
| London agency hourly rate | commonly 90 to 175 GBP per hour | time spent | one-off adjustments | hard to cap the budget |
| Kolonell Starter (remote studio) | 2 300 GBP | 3 to 4 weeks | complete discreet site, native copywriting | no in-person workshop |
| Kolonell Growth | 3 900 GBP | 3 to 4 weeks | team, governance and detailed service pages | client portal outside the grid |
| Kolonell Premium | 6 900 GBP | usually 4 to 6 weeks, written schedule at kickoff | bilingual EN/FR site, more advanced design | languages beyond EN/FR extra |
Local agency or remote studio: the decision grid
| Criterion | Lean towards a local agency | Lean towards a remote studio |
|---|---|---|
| In-person brand workshops with the partners | essential | not needed, video calls are enough |
| Time zone | same city | our team is in Senegal (GMT): same time as London in winter, one hour apart in summer |
| Budget for a discreet institutional site | 10 000+ GBP available | ceiling around 2 300 to 6 900 GBP |
| Client portal linked to the custodian | required at launch, large project | phase 2, quoted on request |
| Copywriting | often English only | native English and French |
| Domain and access ownership | check the contract | domain in your name, access handed over at delivery |
| Compliance supplier review | existing local relationship | supplier questionnaire answered in writing |
Geography matters less than people assume. What counts is a single point of contact reachable during your hours, Google Meet calls booked when it suits you, a written update every week and a schedule that holds. The details of our international website offer are public, with no price on request for the site itself.
What a wealth management website must respect in London
Discretion. No client names, no performance figures, no assets under management unless the firm already publishes them. Trust comes from governance, partner biographies and a sober description of services: wealth planning, investment advisory, succession, philanthropy. The site must never read like an investment offer.
The regulatory frame. Depending on your permissions, FCA financial promotion rules apply. Your compliance officer signs off every page before launch. On data, UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 govern the contact form and cookies. This is not legal advice.
The single family office. A family office that takes no outside clients may still want a discreet site: an overview, governance, a secure contact route for partners and banks. Starter is often enough.
Languages. London is home to French, Arabic, Italian and German-speaking families. Kolonell writes natively in English and French; other languages are supplied by you or quoted separately. A secure client or investor login is a custom application, always quoted on request.
The references we cite are real and limited to these: TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), notary and apostille services in New Jersey, a bilingual EN/FR site with a back office; Orven Properties (orvenproperties.com), off-plan real-estate advisory in Dubai, a trilingual FR/EN/AR site with investor guides.
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Illustrative example: James, COO of a six-person wealth management firm in Mayfair, receives a London agency proposal at 18 000 GBP, with 400 GBP per month for maintenance.
- Local agency over 3 years: 18 000 + (400 × 36) = 32 400 GBP.
- Kolonell Premium, EN/FR site: 6 900 GBP, 3 months of support included (6 on Premium per the /websites page), then maintenance quoted on request. If James assumes the same 400 GBP per month for 30 months: 6 900 + 12 000 = 18 900 GBP.
The estimated gap is 13 500 GBP over 3 years. If the partners insist on in-person brand workshops, the local agency keeps a real advantage; otherwise the remote studio covers the need. To compare with your own proposal, request a free quote.
FAQ
Can a remote studio work for an FCA-regulated firm?
Yes, provided your compliance officer signs off the content and the provider answers your supplier questionnaire. A Kolonell site costs 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP depending on the tier.
What does a local London agency charge for this type of site?
The 2026 ballpark is 10 000 to 30 000+ GBP, based on public rate cards and Clutch profiles. Freelancers sit more around 2 000 to 8 000 GBP.
How do meetings work without meeting in person?
The project manager books Google Meet calls at a time that suits you, with at most one hour of difference from London. A written update arrives every week during the 3 to 4 weeks of the project.
Is a client portal included?
No. A client or investor area is a custom application, quoted on request. The site itself is delivered in 3 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 on Premium.
How is payment handled?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start and 50 % at delivery. The domain is registered in your firm's name.
Let's scope your project. For a discreet London wealth management or family office website on Growth or Premium, delivered in 3 to 6 weeks, we send you a written scope and a firm price. 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.
