The verdict in three sentences
For a Dutch precision machining subcontractor with 25 to 80 staff targeting German buyers, a premium website costs 12,000 to 25,000 EUR ex VAT in 2026. The budget is justified by three building blocks that aerospace and medical buyers check first: machine capability pages, ISO 9001, EN 9100 or ISO 13485 certifications and an RFQ form with drawing upload. Since a won tender is worth 40,000 to 300,000 EUR in annual revenue, a single new account pays for the site.
What a 12,000 to 25,000 EUR budget covers
A tier 1 aerospace buyer or medical device manufacturer in Germany qualifies a subcontractor within minutes: machine park, tolerances held, materials machined, certifications, capacity. The site must answer these questions without a prior call, in English and ideally German. Here is the typical 2026 breakdown (order of magnitude, Dutch agencies).
| Item | 2026 range (ex VAT) | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and positioning | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | Interviews with management and sales, target sectors, messages |
| Premium design | 2,500 to 5,000 EUR | Custom mockups, product photography, brand guide |
| Machine capability pages | 2,000 to 4,000 EUR | 5-axis centres, multi-axis lathes, EDM, metrology |
| Sector and certification pages | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | Aerospace, medical, energy, ISO 9001, EN 9100, ISO 13485 |
| RFQ form and drawing upload | 1,500 to 4,000 EUR | STEP, IGES, PDF upload, material, quantity, lead time, secure storage |
| German version | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | Technical translation and integration |
| Workshop photo and video | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | 1 to 2 shoot days |
The total runs from 12,000 to 25,000 EUR depending on the depth of machine pages and whether video is added. Maintenance sits between 150 and 300 EUR per month, secure hosting included.
The RFQ form, the most profitable investment
Buyers send requests for quotation to 3 to 6 subcontractors. The one that receives a complete file, drawings included, answers faster and better. The table compares a basic contact form with a real RFQ form.
| Criterion | Contact form | RFQ form with drawing upload |
|---|---|---|
| Information received | Name, email, free message | Material, quantity, tolerances, lead time, 3D drawings |
| Back-and-forth before quoting | 2 to 4 emails | 0 to 1 |
| Average response time to client | 5 to 8 days | 2 to 3 days |
| Drawing confidentiality | Email attachment | Encrypted storage, restricted access |
| Share of usable requests | 30 to 40% | 70 to 85% |
| Development cost | Included | 1,500 to 4,000 EUR |
For defence or medical clients, state the drawing confidentiality policy on the site (EU storage, deletion after 12 months, downloadable NDA). It is a frequent pre-selection criterion.
Realistic timeline: 12 weeks
The typical schedule: 2 weeks of scoping, 3 weeks of design, 1 week of workshop filming, 4 weeks of development and machine sheet writing, 2 weeks of translation, testing and go-live. The bottleneck is almost always technical validation of the machine sheets by the production manager.
Mini case study
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Pieter, managing director of a 45-person machining shop near Amsterdam, invests 19,000 EUR in a premium English/German site with an RFQ form, plus 200 EUR monthly maintenance, for 21,400 EUR ex VAT in the first year. Over twelve months the site receives 38 usable RFQs, 9 from German aerospace buyers. The shop wins 2 tenders: a titanium part series at 85,000 EUR a year and implant components at 60,000 EUR a year, or 145,000 EUR in annual revenue. With a 12% net margin, the annual gain reaches 17,400 EUR, so the site pays back in about 15 months and keeps earning each year the contracts run.
FAQ
What budget should an industrial subcontractor plan for its website?
12,000 to 25,000 EUR ex VAT in 2026 for a premium site with machine pages, certifications and RFQ. An entry-level 5,000 EUR site does not convince aerospace buyers.
Should every machine be listed?
Yes, with travel, tolerances and materials. Buyers often filter on 2 or 3 technical criteria before contacting you.
Is online drawing upload secure?
It has to be: encrypted EU storage, restricted access and automatic deletion after 12 months. This module costs 1,500 to 4,000 EUR.
Do we need a German version?
Yes when targeting Germany, where most mid-sized buyers expect German alongside English. Budget 1,500 to 3,000 EUR.
How long until the site goes live?
About 12 weeks, 1 to 2 of which depend on the production manager's availability to validate the machine sheets.
Let's scope your project. Send us your machine park, certifications and target sectors, and we will price a premium site with RFQ deliverable in 12 weeks, indicative budget 12,000 to 25,000 EUR. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.
