The verdict in three sentences
A commercial real estate advisory in Zurich sells market knowledge: rents by submarket, availability, occupier trends, and the website has to prove it before the first meeting. As a 2026 ballpark, a Zurich agency charges 25,000 to 60,000 CHF for this kind of site, and a premium agency up to 120,000 CHF, against 2,700, 4,500 or 8,200 CHF on the fixed Kolonell grid. The real gap lies in hidden costs (photography, German translation, a listings feed integration) and in three years of maintenance.
What the site must prove to occupiers, landlords and investors
Commercial real estate advisory clients are corporate occupiers' heads of real estate, institutional landlords, pension funds and foreign investors. They search for things like "office space Zurich West", "Büroflächen Zürich mieten", "tenant representation Zurich" or "commercial property valuation Switzerland". The site should show:
- one page per service: tenant representation, landlord leasing, investment transactions, valuation, real estate strategy advisory;
- submarket pages: city centre and Paradeplatz, Zürich West, Oerlikon, airport and Glattal;
- a research section with market reports the firm has actually published, downloadable against an email address;
- listings, real and current only, with landlord consent;
- a team page with languages spoken and specialisms;
- reference transactions only where public or approved by the parties.
Brokerage rules vary by country, and in Switzerland some activities may fall under cantonal or contractual requirements: stay general and check with your counsel. This is not legal advice.
Real cost: Zurich agencies vs a fixed grid
| Provider | 2026 range (CHF) | Timeline | Usually included | Usually excluded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | 6,000 to 15,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | Design and development | Copywriting, translation, project management |
| Zurich agency | 25,000 to 60,000 | 10 to 16 weeks | Design, CMS, project management | Photography, German translation |
| Premium agency | 60,000 to 120,000+ | 14 to 24 weeks | Brand strategy, content | Integrations, maintenance |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,700 | 3 to 4 weeks | Compact site, native copywriting | Dynamic listings |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,500 | 3 to 4 weeks | Services, submarkets, research, team | Listings feed on quote |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,200 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | Integrations on quote |
Local ranges are a 2026 ballpark from typical agency quotes and public rate pages of Swiss agencies. Kolonell prices are fixed and include a project manager reachable on Central European time, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) once content is ready, and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer. Kolonell built, for example, the website of Orven Properties (orvenproperties.com), a real estate company in Dubai.
Hidden costs and total cost over three years
The initial quote is only part of the bill. For a Zurich firm, budget for these third-party items:
- Photography of buildings and team: 2,000 to 6,000 CHF depending on the number of sites;
- German translation and proofreading by an independent translator: 0.20 to 0.35 CHF per word, or 3,000 to 7,000 CHF for a 15,000 to 20,000 word site;
- Legal review of the privacy policy: the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, applies, and the GDPR may also apply if you target investors resident in the EU;
- Listings feed integration from your software or a listings platform: on quote.
| Three-year item (CHF) | Zurich agency | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 40,000 | 4,500 |
| Photography | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| German translation | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Maintenance years 1 to 3 (market assumption: 300 CHF / month) | 10,800 | 9,900 (market assumption, 33 months after the 3 included; Kolonell: on quote) |
| Hosting (market assumption: 40 CHF / month) | 1,440 | 1,440 |
| Indicative total | 61,240 | 24,840 |
Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote; the figure above applies the same market assumption so the comparison reads clearly. Most of the gap comes from the build price.
When a Zurich agency is the better choice
If you need German-language workshops in your offices, a full brand overhaul, an investor portal connected to your asset management data, or if your board requires a Swiss vendor for procurement reasons, a local agency is justified. A remote studio fits when you need a clear site written by native speakers, delivered fast at a fixed price.
Need a professional website?
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Questions to ask before signing:
- Who writes the submarket pages, and from which data?
- How are listings updated, and by whom?
- Where is the site hosted, and what data does the report download form collect?
- Who proofreads the German version?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Limmat Workspace Partners, a 12-adviser firm in Zurich, is weighing a local agency at 42,000 CHF against the 8,200 CHF Premium tier with German and English set in the quote, plus 5,000 CHF of third-party translation. The build gap is 42,000 − 13,200 = 28,800 CHF. If the firm reinvests 10,000 CHF of that in two half-yearly market reports, it gets content its clients actually search for and keeps 18,800 CHF in reserve.
FAQ
How much does a commercial real estate advisory website cost in Zurich?
As a 2026 ballpark, expect 25,000 to 60,000 CHF with a Zurich agency and up to 120,000 CHF with a premium agency. The Kolonell grid is fixed: 2,700 CHF for Starter, 4,500 CHF for Growth and 8,200 CHF for Premium.
Do we need a German version in Zurich?
For Swiss heads of real estate and local landlords, a German version is strongly recommended, with English serving international investors. That is the role of the Premium tier, with languages set in the quote.
Can our listings display automatically?
Yes, through an integration with your software or a listings platform, built on quote. Allow an extra scoping phase of one to two weeks.
Which data protection laws apply?
The revFADP, in force since 1 September 2023 and supervised by the FDPIC, plus the GDPR if you target EU residents. A privacy policy reviewed by a lawyer often costs 1,000 to 3,000 CHF.
How long does it take?
With Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, once content is ready. A Zurich agency typically quotes 10 to 16 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Service, submarket and research pages on the Growth or Premium tier, delivered in 3 to 6 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.
