The verdict in three sentences
A trilingual FR/EN/ES 8-page B2B site costs in 2026 between 9,000 and 16,500 CAD in Montreal, hreflang configuration included. The costliest mistake is a misconfigured hreflang: it triggers duplicate content, poor geo-targeting and a collapse of rankings in the targeted markets. For an exporting SME, SEO translation at 0.22-0.34 CAD/word and i18n maintenance at 375 CAD/month are the items that separate a credible multilingual site from a facade.
What multilingual costs in 2026
A multilingual B2B site is not a monolingual site translated: each language requires technical configuration, optimized translation and tracking. Here are the key items.
| Item | 2026 range (CAD) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Trilingual 8-page site (base) | 9,000 - 16,500 | design + i18n build |
| Hreflang configuration + per-language sitemaps | 1,200 | one-off |
| SEO translation | 0.22 - 0.34 / word | per language |
| i18n framework (next-intl) | included in base | per-language routing |
| i18n maintenance | 375 CAD/month | content sync |
| Native proofreading per language | 450 - 900 / language | editorial quality |
A B2B page averages 500 to 800 words: translating 8 pages into two additional languages means 1,700 to 4,300 CAD of translation, on top of the technical base.
The cost per additional language
The first instinct is to think adding a language doubles the price. In reality the technical base is shared; only content and config add up. This table shows it.
| Configuration | 2026 price (CAD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Monolingual EN 8-page site | 6,000 - 9,000 | 3 - 5 weeks |
| Bilingual EN/FR | 8,000 - 12,500 | 4 - 6 weeks |
| Trilingual FR/EN/ES | 9,000 - 16,500 | 5 - 8 weeks |
| Additional language (4th) | +2,200 - 3,700 | +1 - 2 weeks |
The timeline for a trilingual site runs 5 to 8 weeks, translation coordination being the main lengthening factor.
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Mini case study
Markus runs a Montreal industrial-equipment SME, 28 employees, exporting to the US and Mexico. His EN-only site draws no southbound traffic. He invests 12,500 CAD in a trilingual FR/EN/ES site plus 1,200 CAD of hreflang config, and 375 CAD/month maintenance. Six months after launch, the site captures 900 organic visits/month from the US and 300 from Mexico, versus zero before. With 4 US quote requests/month and a 33,000 CAD average deal, a single signed deal covers the entire project. Correctly configured hreflang guarantees each market sees the right version.
FAQ
Why is hreflang so critical? Because a misdeclared hreflang serves the wrong language to the wrong country, creates duplicate content and sabotages rankings. Its configuration at 1,200 CAD is an insurance investment.
Is machine translation enough? Not in B2B: an SEO translation at 0.22-0.34 CAD/word with native proofreading is essential for credibility with demanding US or Mexican buyers.
Does adding a language double the price? No: the technical base is shared. An additional language costs 2,200 to 3,700 CAD, mostly translation and configuration.
Country domains or subdirectories? For an SME, per-language subdirectories (site.com/es/) with hreflang are simpler and cheaper than a ccTLD per country, while still targeting correctly.
Is i18n maintenance necessary? Yes: at 375 CAD/month, it keeps all three versions synchronized. EN content updated without its ES equivalent creates penalizing inconsistencies.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target languages and export markets, and we will price a multilingual site with hreflang and SEO translation. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.
