The verdict in three sentences
A collector who finds your Houston gallery usually types an artist's name first, then checks your exhibitions, your art fair presence and how you handle price requests. A local agency charges roughly 15,000 to 60,000 USD in 2026 for a custom gallery site, while Kolonell's fixed grid is 2,900 USD (Starter), 4,900 USD (Growth) and 8,900 USD (Premium). The gap is sometimes justified, for a gallery that wants a full online store or highly unusual development, but for most galleries and advisory firms the fixed price covers what matters.
What does a gallery website really cost in Houston?
Local ranges are 2026 ballpark figures based on typical quotes from agencies and freelancers in the Houston area. Kolonell prices are fixed.
| Option | 2026 range (USD) | Usual timeline | What is often included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-serve platform | 300 to 1,500 per year | A few days | Template, hosting, no copywriting |
| Local freelancer | 4,000 to 12,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | Design and build, copywriting rarely |
| Local agency | 15,000 to 35,000 | 3 to 4 months | Custom design, CMS, training |
| Premium local agency | 40,000 to 60,000 and up | 4 to 6 months | Brand strategy, custom development |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Showcase site, native copywriting, 3 months of support |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | More pages, artists, exhibitions, journal |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in Houston's time zone (Central Time), native English or French copywriting, and three months of support after launch. Collector-only areas, integrations with gallery inventory software or an online store are on quote. Details are on the international offer page.
What a gallery website has to prove
An art advisor or collector judges a gallery's seriousness in a few clicks. The pages that matter:
- Represented artists: bio, exhibition CV, available works, only with the artist's consent and image rights cleared.
- Exhibitions: current, upcoming, archive, with press releases and installation views.
- Art fairs and events: calendar, booths, private appointments.
- Art advisory: scope (collection building, corporate acquisitions, appraisal via partners), approach, confidentiality.
- Price request: many galleries show "price on request"; the form should be simple and privacy-friendly.
- About and team: history, address, appointments, venue accessibility.
On compliance, anti-money-laundering rules target art market participants in the EU and the UK, and the US framework is evolving: a clear page on your verification procedures reassures international collectors. Accessibility matters too, since ADA Title III complaints against websites are frequent in the United States: targeting WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA is a reasonable precaution. For exhibition newsletters, the CAN-SPAM Act requires, among other things, an unsubscribe link. This is not legal advice.
Hidden costs and the three-year total
The site price is only part of the budget. Non-Kolonell amounts below are market assumptions, 2026 ballpark.
| Item | Local agency (3 years, USD) | Kolonell Growth (3 years, USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | 25,000 | 4,900 | Kolonell price is fixed |
| Artwork and installation photography | 3,000 to 8,000 (market assumption) | 3,000 to 8,000 (market assumption) | Third-party provider in both cases |
| Optional Spanish translation | 1,500 to 4,000 (market assumption) | 1,500 to 4,000 (market assumption) | Third-party translator, or Premium tier |
| Hosting and licenses | 900 to 2,500 (market assumption) | 900 to 2,500 (market assumption) | Depends on CMS and traffic |
| Maintenance after 3 months | 4,000 to 9,000 (market assumption) | On quote | Updates, security |
| Accessibility audit | 1,500 to 5,000 (market assumption) | 1,500 to 5,000 (market assumption) | Recommended in the US |
When a local agency is the better choice
To be fair: if you want an online store with checkout, inventory management and artwork shipping, weekly in-person workshops with your team in Montrose or the Museum District, or a visual identity built from scratch, a well-chosen local agency is justified. The fixed price is designed for a strong editorial site, not to replace a product team.
Questions to ask every provider
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- Who writes the artist and exhibition copy, and who signs off with the artists?
- How do we update an exhibition ourselves, without a developer?
- Does the site meet WCAG 2.1 AA, and how do you check it?
- What does maintenance cost after the included period?
- Who owns the domain, the code and the content?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Bayou Contemporary Partners (fictional name), a gallery and advisory firm in Houston, compares two quotes. Local agency: 25,000 USD build, plus 6,000 USD of maintenance over three years (market assumption), so 31,000 USD. Kolonell Growth: 4,900 USD. In both cases the gallery plans 5,000 USD of photography and 2,500 USD of Spanish translation, external costs shown as market assumptions, paid to third parties. Total excluding Kolonell maintenance (on quote): 31,000 + 7,500 = 38,500 USD on the agency side, against 4,900 + 7,500 = 12,400 USD with Kolonell. The 26,100 USD gap could fund a season of art fairs or a catalog.
FAQ
Which Kolonell tier suits a gallery representing 10 to 20 artists?
The Growth tier at 4,900 USD usually covers artist pages, exhibitions and a news journal. The Premium tier at 8,900 USD is the multilingual tier, with languages set in the quote.
Can we show works without prices?
Yes, and it is common: a "price on request" form helps qualify the collector. Aim to answer each request within 24 hours to stay credible.
Is a 3 to 4 week timeline realistic?
Yes for Starter and Growth, once images and bios are supplied, and 4 to 6 weeks for Premium. Delays almost always come from gathering visuals and artist approvals.
Can we sell online?
A store with checkout and artwork logistics is on quote, since needs vary widely with average price and shipping. For works above 10,000 USD, most galleries keep a contact request instead.
Do we need an anti-money-laundering page?
It is not required everywhere, but for European or British collectors, a 300 to 500 word page on your verification procedures builds trust.
Let's scope your project. A gallery site with artists, exhibitions and price requests is built in 3 to 4 weeks on the Growth tier. 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.
