The verdict in three sentences
An executive search firm website in San Francisco has to convince two audiences at once: boards and CEOs who judge partner seniority and confidentiality, and candidates who want to know how they will be approached. A local agency commonly charges $25,000 to $60,000 for this kind of site, while Kolonell's fixed grid runs from 2,900 USD (Starter) to 8,900 USD (Premium), with native English copywriting and a project manager reachable in Pacific time. The gap is less about design than about hidden costs: content, photography, accessibility and ATS integration.
What does an executive search website really cost?
| Option | 2026 range (ballpark, typical Bay Area quotes) | What is usually included | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | $8,000 to $20,000 | Design and build, copywriting rarely included | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Local agency | $25,000 to $60,000 | Strategy, design, development, partial copywriting | 10 to 16 weeks |
| High-end brand studio | $70,000 to $150,000 and up | Full identity, copywriting, art-directed photography | 4 to 6 months |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,900 USD | Polished brochure site, native English copywriting, project manager, 3 months of support | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,900 USD | Richer practice and partner pages, open searches section, 3 months of support | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,900 USD | Multilingual tier (languages set in the quote), advanced design | 4 to 6 weeks |
Gated areas, client portals, ATS integrations and custom applications are priced on quote. Tier details are on the international offer.
What an executive search website has to prove
A tech CEO or a foundation chair handing you a search for a role paying $300,000 a year does not read your site the way a candidate does. Each page answers a different question.
| Page | Main audience | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Practice areas | Boards, CEOs, CHROs | Sectors and functions covered (CEO, CFO, CTO, board directors) |
| Partner profiles | Boards, CEOs | Seniority, background, sectors, no invented results |
| Process and confidentiality | Boards | Steps, discretion safeguards, conflict-of-interest handling |
| Insights and publications | Boards, press | Knowledge of the Bay Area market, dated content |
| Candidate section | Candidates | How to be approached, CV submission, retention policy |
| Open searches (if public) | Candidates | Roles genuinely open, no confidential client names |
| Contact and offices | Everyone | Real address, phone, minimal form |
Never invent placements or client names. Candidate data should be minimized: in California, the CCPA as amended by the CPRA requires, among other things, notice at collection and a retention policy. ADA Title III website accessibility suits are frequent in the US, hence a WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA target, and newsletters fall under CAN-SPAM. This is not legal advice: have your counsel review.
Hidden costs and 3-year total cost
The build quote is only part of the bill. Here is a 3-year comparison between a local agency at $40,000 and Kolonell Growth at 4,900 USD, with the same assumptions for third-party items.
| Item | Local agency | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | $40,000 | 4,900 USD |
| Partner photography (third party) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| External accessibility audit (third party) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Maintenance, market assumption $500 per month | 36 months: $18,000 | 33 months after the 3 included: $16,500 (Kolonell maintenance on quote) |
| ATS integration | $5,000 to $15,000 (excluded from total) | On quote (excluded from total) |
| 3-year total excluding ATS | $64,000 | $27,400 |
The $36,600 gap easily funds an ATS integration or a year of published insights. Any translations remain a third-party cost unless you choose the Premium tier.
When a local agency is the better choice
To be fair: a Bay Area agency is preferable if you want in-person workshops with every partner, a full brand identity overhaul, or a heavy ATS integration run by an in-house team on site. Above a $60,000 overall brand budget, a local studio often makes more sense.
Questions to ask any provider:
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- Who writes the partner profiles, and in how many rounds?
- How does the candidate form minimize data and apply a retention period?
- Which WCAG level is targeted, and how is it checked?
- What does maintenance cost after the included period?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Bayview Talent Partners, 8 partners in San Francisco, leadership searches in digital health. A local agency quotes $48,000; the firm compares it with Kolonell Premium at 8,900 USD, because it wants a Japanese version for clients in Tokyo, languages set in the quote.
Gap: 48,000 − 8,900 = $39,100. Under the market convention of fees around one third of first-year compensation, a single $300,000 search represents about $100,000 in fees: the site mainly must not cost you a mandate, and the money saved pays for photography and an accessibility audit.
FAQ
How much does an executive search website cost in San Francisco in 2026?
As a ballpark, $8,000 to $20,000 with a freelancer and $25,000 to $60,000 with a local agency. At Kolonell the grid is fixed: 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 USD depending on the tier.
How long does delivery take?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium. A local agency often quotes 10 to 16 weeks.
Should we publish open searches?
Only the ones the client authorizes, with no confidential names. Many firms publish 3 to 10 anonymized searches and keep the rest offline.
What happens after the 3 included months of support?
Maintenance is priced on quote based on your real needs. In the market, contracts often run $300 to $1,500 per month (market assumption).
Can the site be in several languages?
Yes, with the Premium tier at 8,900 USD, languages being set in the quote. The other tiers are delivered in one language.
Let's scope your project. A Growth or Premium site for your firm, partner pages and candidate section included, 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.