The verdict in three sentences
In Edinburgh, a website for a notary public or legal documents practice built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 6 000 and 22 000 GBP, more if you add a client area or a custom online payment flow. Kolonell builds the service pages, document preparation guidance and appointment request flow at a fixed price: 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth. The useful comparison is the total cost over three years, the clarity of practical information (documents to bring, apostille timelines, fees) and how each quote handles the identity documents your clients send you.
What do Edinburgh agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
These ranges are cautious orders of magnitude. They draw on public price lists from Scottish agencies, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles of Edinburgh and Glasgow agencies, hourly rates published by UK agencies (often 70 to 130 GBP per hour outside London) and rates visible on Upwork and PeoplePerHour. Scope moves prices: number of service pages, languages, calendar and payment integration.
| Criterion | Edinburgh agency | Scottish freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 order of magnitude | 6 000 to 22 000 GBP | 1 500 to 6 000 GBP | 2 300 / 3 900 / 6 900 GBP, fixed price |
| Out-of-scope changes | Often 70 to 130 GBP per hour | Often 35 to 70 GBP per hour | Additions priced before work starts |
| Usual timeline | 6 to 12 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| In-person meetings at your office | Yes | Often | No: Google Meet calls at your hour |
| Copywriting of service pages | Often billed separately | Rarely included | Native English or French included |
| Support after launch | Separate contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 in Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
To be honest: a good Scottish freelancer can deliver a five-page site for a price close to our Starter. What Kolonell adds is a project manager reachable in your time zone, native copywriting included, a written fixed price and full handover of access. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kick-off and 50 % on delivery. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), so on the same clock as Edinburgh in winter and one hour behind in summer. The packages are detailed in our international website offer.
What three-year cost should you compare?
A practice also pays for hosting, maintenance and additions (a new service, a new language, fee updates). The table assumes identical maintenance on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately.
| Item over 36 months | Edinburgh agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 11 000 GBP | 3 900 GBP |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 90 GBP per month over 33 months, i.e. 2 970 GBP | 2 970 GBP, maintenance quoted separately |
| Adding 3 service pages over three years | 6 hours at 100 GBP, i.e. 600 GBP | Priced before work, assumption 450 GBP |
| Portraits and office photos | Sometimes optional, 600 GBP | Local photographer booked separately, 600 GBP |
| Indicative total | 15 170 GBP | 7 920 GBP |
These figures structure the conversation; they do not predict your invoice. Ask every supplier to fill in the same table.
What does each package include for a notary or legal practice?
| Item | Starter 2 300 GBP | Growth 3 900 GBP | Premium 6 900 GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service pages | Main services grouped | One page per service (power of attorney, certification, apostille, overseas property deeds) | Full structure by destination country |
| Practical information | Address, hours, access | Documents to bring per service, indicative timelines | Downloadable guides per country |
| Fees | On request or simple list | Indicative fee list per service | Detailed list, legalisation costs explained |
| Booking | Link to your tool | Integration of your calendar (Calendly or other) | Careful integration; custom flow quoted separately |
| Bilingual FR/EN version | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written plan, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A client area for secure document upload, a custom online payment flow or case tracking is an application, quoted separately, as is ongoing SEO work. Kolonell does not do on-site photo shoots: you supply the photos or book an Edinburgh photographer.
What does a notary website in Edinburgh need?
In Scotland, a notary public is a solicitor admitted as a notary, and the practice follows the rules of the Law Society of Scotland. Clients include foreign residents (universities, finance, asset management, the festivals), Scots buying or inheriting abroad, and companies that need articles certified before the FCDO apostille. These visitors often arrive on mobile, in a hurry, with one precise question: how much, when, which documents?
- One page per service listing the documents to bring and the steps, including the FCDO Legalisation Office stage when an apostille is required.
- Readable fees, or at least an explained pricing method, which avoids unnecessary calls.
- Exact qualifications of each practitioner: solicitor, notary public, languages spoken, with no ambiguous wording.
- Appointment booking linked to your calendar, with the document list repeated in the confirmation email.
- A minimal form: no passport uploads through a standard web form without a suitable solution.
- A Google Business Profile consistent with the site (New Town, West End, Leith).
On compliance, let us stay factual. The site processes personal data under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018: privacy notice, cookie handling, retention period for documents. The Equality Act 2010 requires you not to disadvantage disabled people, and WCAG 2.2 AA is the usual technical reference for accessibility. The Law Society of Scotland's conduct and publicity rules apply to your copy: your compliance lead signs off every page. This is not legal advice.
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Which warning signs should you spot in a quote?
- No page list: demand a written scope, service by service.
- Domain registered in the agency's name: it must be in the practice's name.
- Document upload form with no explanation of hosting and encryption.
- No copywriting: a notary does not have time to write fifteen practical pages.
- A 36-month maintenance contract with no way to take back control.
- Promised timelines you do not control, for example FCDO apostille processing.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Fiona M., notary public and solicitor in a small two-partner practice in Edinburgh, receives many requests for powers of attorney for France and Spain. A local agency quotes 12 500 GBP, delivered in 10 weeks. Kolonell proposes Premium at 6 900 GBP to get the FR/EN version, with a photographer booked separately for 600 GBP.
Build and photos: 13 100 GBP on the agency side (photos as a 600 GBP option) against 7 500 GBP with Kolonell, a 5 600 GBP gap. If the page «Power of attorney for France» saves three 10-minute calls a week, Fiona recovers 30 minutes a week, about 25 hours a year. The trade-off is hers: the agency offers meetings at the office, Kolonell offers a fixed price and video calls at her hour.
FAQ
How much does a notary website cost in Edinburgh in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, 6 000 to 22 000 GBP with a local agency and 1 500 to 6 000 GBP with a freelancer. With Kolonell, 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP at a fixed price.
Should fees be shown on the site?
It is not always mandatory, but an indicative list for 5 to 10 common services cuts qualification calls. Check the applicable Law Society of Scotland rules before publishing.
Can clients send identity documents through the site?
A standard form is not enough for passports. Growth integrates a suitable third-party tool; a custom client area is an application quoted separately.
Can Kolonell come and photograph the office?
No, Kolonell does not do on-site shoots. An Edinburgh photographer often charges 400 to 900 GBP for a half-day of portraits, as an order of magnitude.
What timeline for a bilingual site?
The FR/EN version is included from Premium, with a written plan at kick-off, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your list of services, your languages and your booking tool, and you will receive a fixed-price package in GBP with a 3 to 4 week plan. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
