The verdict in three sentences
For an M&A boutique in New York, the website has one job: a founder, a family business or a private equity fund should leave the visit convinced of your sector expertise, the seniority of your partners and your discretion. A premium Manhattan agency commonly charges 75,000 to 200,000 USD (2026 ballpark), while Kolonell's fixed grid sits at 2,900, 4,900 and 8,900 USD depending on the tier. The gap is only justified if you are buying a full brand strategy or heavy integrations, not for a well-written advisory site.
What an M&A boutique website costs in New York in 2026
The local ranges below are a 2026 ballpark drawn from typical agency quotes and public rate pages. Kolonell prices are those of the international grid, in USD.
| Option | Build budget (USD) | Usual timeline | What you actually get |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York freelancer | 5,000 to 15,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | An adapted theme, copy often on you |
| Local agency | 25,000 to 60,000 | 10 to 16 weeks | Custom design, project manager, copy as an option |
| Premium Manhattan agency | 75,000 to 200,000 | 4 to 6 months | Brand platform, workshops, design system |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Essential custom site, native English copywriting |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Fuller site, sector and insights pages |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. Gated areas, data rooms, portals and CRM integrations are priced on quote. Details are on the international offer.
What an M&A boutique website has to prove
Owners selling their company choose on a handful of signals, and the site must make them visible in under a minute.
- Sectors covered: one page per sector with the type of mandates (sell-side, buy-side, capital raising, restructuring), with no invented figures.
- Tombstones: only real, publicly announceable transactions, with client consent. Never a non-public deal value.
- Partners: full biographies, banking or industry background, sectors covered, direct contact details.
- Process: the stages of a sell-side mandate, confidentiality, a typical timeline.
- Insights: dated market notes signed by a partner.
- Regulatory disclosures: depending on your status (a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, or reliance on an exemption available to certain M&A intermediaries), some public communications fall under specific rules. Stay general and have it reviewed. This is not legal advice.
In the United States there is no single federal privacy law: your privacy policy must reflect your trackers and the laws of the states where you prospect. ADA Title III suits over inaccessible websites are frequent, hence a WCAG 2.2 AA target. Your deal newsletters fall under the CAN-SPAM Act.
Hidden costs and the total cost over 3 years
The build price is only part of the bill. The table compares a local agency and the Growth tier over 36 months, with market assumptions clearly labeled.
| 3-year item (USD) | Local agency | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 40,000 | 4,900 |
| Page copywriting | Often 5,000 to 12,000 as an option | Included (native English) |
| Partner photography (third party) | 1,500 to 4,000 | 1,500 to 4,000 |
| Compliance review by your counsel (third party) | 1,500 to 3,000 | 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Hosting, 36 months | Market assumption: 1,200 to 2,500 | Market assumption: 600 to 1,800 |
| Maintenance after the included period | Market assumption: 300 to 800 a month | On quote after the 3 included months |
| CRM or data room integration | 5,000 to 20,000 | On quote |
The most underestimated item is partner time: allow 6 to 10 hours to sign off biographies, sectors and tombstones. Any translations (for European or Asian buyers) are a third-party cost, unless you choose the Premium tier, where languages are defined in the quote.
When a local agency is still the better choice
To be honest: a New York agency is worth its fee if you need in-person positioning workshops with the whole partnership, a full rebrand (name, logo, brochures, pitch books) or an investor portal wired to your CRM and a data room. It also makes sense if your committee requires a vendor under New York law with specific liability insurance. For a clear, well-written, fast advisory site, the premium is rarely justified.
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Questions to ask before you sign
- Who writes the sector pages, and who approves the tombstones?
- Do we own the code and the content on delivery?
- What accessibility level is targeted, and how is it tested?
- What does maintenance cost after the included period?
- How many review rounds are planned?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Hudson Ridge Advisory, a four-partner sell-side boutique in Midtown, receives a local agency quote of 48,000 USD. Going with the Growth tier at 4,900 USD, it adds a 2,500 USD photo shoot and 6 hours of review by its counsel at 300 USD, so 1,800 USD. Total: 4,900 + 2,500 + 1,800 = 9,200 USD, against 48,000 USD, a 38,800 USD difference. The partners set aside part of that sum for quarterly sector notes.
FAQ
Can a 4,900 USD website convince a private equity fund?
Yes, if the sector pages, biographies and tombstones are precise and well written. A fund judges seniority and sector fit in a few minutes, not the website budget.
Can we show the value of our deals?
Only if it is public and the client has agreed. When in doubt, show the sector, the type of mandate and the year, with no amount.
How much time should we plan?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for Starter or Growth and 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, plus 1 to 2 weeks for compliance review. A local agency often quotes 10 to 16 weeks.
Do we need the Premium tier?
Only if you want a multilingual site for foreign buyers, at 8,900 USD, with languages set in the quote. For an English-only site, Growth is usually enough.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Maintenance is offered on quote, based on how often you publish. As a market assumption, New York agencies often charge 300 to 800 USD a month.
Let's scope your project. A Growth site at 4,900 USD with approved sector pages, partner bios and tombstones is delivered in 3 to 4 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.
