The verdict in three sentences
For a single or multi family office in Sydney, the website is rarely a sales tool: it is a credibility check used by prospective families, their advisers, co-investors and deal partners before a first meeting. Local agency quotes for this kind of discreet site usually sit between AUD 20,000 and 45,000 (about USD 13,000 to 29,000) in 2026, while Kolonell's fixed grid is USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) and USD 8,900 (Premium). The real gap narrows once you add photography, compliance review and maintenance, so compare total cost over three years, not the build line alone.
What local providers quote in Sydney, and what Kolonell charges
The figures below are prudent 2026 ballparks drawn from typical agency quotes and public rate pages in Sydney, converted approximately from AUD to USD at around 0.65.
| Provider type | Typical 2026 quote (AUD) | Approx. USD | Usual delay | What you often get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance designer or developer | 5,000 to 12,000 | 3,300 to 7,800 | 4 to 8 weeks | Template-based site, copy supplied by you |
| Mid-size Sydney agency | 20,000 to 45,000 | 13,000 to 29,000 | 8 to 14 weeks | Custom design, workshops, limited copywriting |
| Premium brand agency (CBD, North Sydney) | 60,000 to 150,000 | 39,000 to 98,000 | 3 to 6 months | Brand strategy, photography direction, full copy |
| Kolonell Starter | Fixed grid | 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Focused site, native English copywriting |
| Kolonell Growth | Fixed grid | 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Fuller structure, insights section, stronger SEO base |
| Kolonell Premium | Fixed grid | 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in the Sydney time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) and 3 months of support. A secure client portal, a document vault or a link to your reporting platform is scoped separately, on quote. See the international offer for the full tier contents.
What a family office site must prove
Discretion is the design brief. Many single family offices keep a one-page presence or none at all; multi family offices need enough substance to reassure a family that is choosing who will look after its affairs for decades.
| Page | What it proves | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and governance | How decisions are made, investment committee, independence | No performance claims |
| Services | Consolidated reporting, governance, philanthropy, succession, as actually offered | Describe, do not advise |
| Team | Named principals with real backgrounds | Only with each person's consent |
| Confidentiality and data | How family information is protected | Consistent with your privacy policy |
| For partners | What deals or co-investments you consider | Very general, no named counterparties |
| Contact | Discreet enquiry form, office location | No public client list |
| Legal pages | Licence details if you hold one, privacy policy | Exact wording, reviewed internally |
In Australia, firms that provide financial product advice generally do so under an Australian financial services licence, and marketing claims are subject to the Australian Consumer Law on misleading conduct. The Privacy Act 1988 applies to many organisations, with a small business exemption below AUD 3 million turnover that has several exceptions, so do not assume you are outside it. This is not legal advice: have your compliance adviser review every page before launch.
Total cost over three years
The build price is the visible line. The third-party items below are the ones boards forget.
| Item over 36 months | Kolonell Growth (USD) | Mid-size Sydney agency (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Build | 4,900 | 22,750 (AUD 35,000) |
| Professional photography of the office and team | 1,500 (market assumption) | 1,500 (market assumption) |
| External compliance review of copy | 2,000 (market assumption) | 2,000 (market assumption) |
| Maintenance after included support | 4,950, i.e. 33 months at 150 (market assumption; Kolonell maintenance on quote) | 7,000, i.e. 36 months at about AUD 300 (market assumption) |
| Hosting and domain | 900 (market assumption) | 900 (market assumption) |
| Three-year total | 14,250 | 34,150 |
The difference here is about USD 19,900 over three years, mainly from the build line. Your own figures will differ with the agency, the scope and whether a portal is added.
When a local Sydney agency is the better choice
Be honest about it. A local agency makes more sense if your principals want several in-person workshops in the office, if the site is part of a wider rebrand with print, events and signage, if your existing reporting or CRM vendor is local and needs tight on-site coordination, or if the board requires an Australian supplier for procurement reasons. In those cases, ask the agency to separate brand work from the site build in the quote so you can compare like for like.
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Questions to ask any provider: who writes the copy and who signs it off for compliance, what happens to the site after launch, who owns the domain and hosting accounts, how enquiry form data is stored and where, and what exactly is excluded from the quote.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Kirribilli Partners, a fictional multi family office with 14 staff, receives three Sydney quotes: AUD 28,000, 42,000 and 65,000, about USD 18,200, 27,300 and 42,250. It compares them with Kolonell Growth at USD 4,900, plus USD 1,500 of photography (market assumption) and USD 2,000 of external compliance review (market assumption), USD 8,400 in total. Against the middle quote alone, the saving at launch is about USD 18,900. The partners keep a secure document area for families as a separate line on quote, to be decided after six months of use.
FAQ
Does a family office in Sydney need a public website at all?
Many single family offices keep only a one-page presence, which is a legitimate choice. A multi family office that wants new families or co-investors usually needs 6 to 10 pages that prove governance, team and confidentiality.
What can Kolonell deliver for USD 2,900?
Starter covers a focused site with native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Growth, at USD 4,900, adds a fuller structure and an insights section.
Can we have English and Chinese versions?
Yes, through Premium, the multilingual tier, at USD 8,900, with languages set in the quote. Translation review by a qualified financial translator can be added as a third-party cost.
How is a client portal priced?
A secure portal, document vault or reporting integration is always on quote, because scope varies widely. Local agencies often quote AUD 30,000 or more (about USD 19,500) for this alone, as a market assumption.
What happens after the 3 months of included support?
Maintenance is priced on quote according to update frequency and hosting choice. Plan a monthly budget in your three-year model from day one.
Let's scope your project. Tell us whether you need a discreet one-page presence or a full multi family office site, and we will confirm the tier, scope and a 3 to 6 week timeline. 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.
