The verdict in three sentences
In Neuchâtel, a private or international school website built by a Jura Arc agency costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 9 000 and 35 000 CHF, a more affordable market than the Lake Geneva region, where local freelancers can match Kolonell on price. Kolonell stands out with a bilingual French and English site written natively from Premium, a project manager and a fixed price: 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF. For a school recruiting secondary pupils or intensive French students from abroad, the deciding criterion remains the three-year total cost, English included.
This version is written for the English-speaking heads, admissions officers and international recruitment managers of private schools in Neuchâtel.
What do Neuchâtel agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
These figures are cautious orders of magnitude. They draw on public price grids from agencies in Neuchâtel, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Biel, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by French-speaking Swiss agencies outside the Lake Geneva area (often 100 to 160 CHF per hour) and freelance rates visible on Malt and Upwork. To be frank: a good Neuchâtel freelancer can deliver a French-only site for a price close to Kolonell's Growth plan.
| Criterion | Neuchâtel agency | Jura Arc freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 order of magnitude | 9 000 to 35 000 CHF and up | 3 000 to 10 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed price |
| Hourly rate for changes | Often 100 to 160 CHF | Often 70 to 110 CHF | Additions quoted before work starts |
| Usual timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 5 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| English version for overseas students | Often translated and billed separately | Rarely native | Native copywriting, bilingual FR/EN from Premium |
| Photos of the school and host families | Often optional | Sometimes | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| In-person meetings | Yes | Yes | No, Google Meet calls and a weekly written update |
| Site ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
A Neuchâtel agency remains the right choice if the school recruits mainly within the canton and wants a partner who comes to film lessons. Kolonell makes sense when half the enquiries arrive from abroad, in English. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Neuchâtel depending on the season; your project manager sets calls at your hour and sends a written update every week. Payment by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % on delivery. The plans are detailed in our international website offer.
How much will the school pay over three years?
The table applies the same maintenance assumption on both sides, as Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately.
| Item over 36 months | Neuchâtel agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Site build | 22 000 CHF | 8 200 CHF |
| English version | Translation billed separately, 2 800 CHF | Included (bilingual FR/EN) |
| Support after launch | Per contract | 6 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 140 CHF per month over 33 months, 4 620 CHF | 4 620 CHF, maintenance quoted separately |
| Annual updates (course dates, fees, accommodation) | 10 hours at 130 CHF, 1 300 CHF | Quoted in advance, assumption 900 CHF |
| Photos of the school and the city | Option at 1 900 CHF | Local photographer booked separately, 1 900 CHF |
| Indicative total | 32 620 CHF | 15 620 CHF |
Against a freelancer, the gap narrows considerably: compare the quality of the English, project follow-up and access handover terms rather than price alone.
What does each plan include for a Neuchâtel school?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary and Swiss maturité or baccalaureate | One programme page | Pages per track and year | Detailed tracks, guidance, exam results if published |
| Intensive French courses | One course page | Pages per level and duration | Pages per level, session calendar, online placement test via your tool |
| Accommodation | One page | Host families and residence, supervision | Detailed pages, rules for minors, emergency contacts |
| Admissions | Enquiry form | Step-by-step journey, fees page, link to your admissions software | Careful integration of your software; custom student area quoted separately |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A student area with course timetables, custom accommodation booking or online payment for sessions counts as an application quoted separately, as does ongoing SEO. Other languages, such as Spanish or Chinese for your recruitment markets, are supplied by the school or quoted separately.
What does a Neuchâtel private school need online?
Neuchâtel has a long tradition of welcoming students who come to learn French, and the canton lives from watchmaking, microtechnology and research centres that attract foreign engineers and researchers. A private school there serves two audiences: families settled in the region, often French-speaking or in the process of settling in, and overseas students who come for a term, a year or a summer session. The school year starts in August, but intensive courses start all year round.
- Pages per audience: resident families, international students, adults taking French courses.
- Session calendar and fees, which education agents and overseas parents want to see before any contact.
- Accommodation and supervision of minors: host families, curfews, a reachable contact person.
- The qualifications actually prepared, without implying recognition the school does not hold.
- A short form in English, since many enquiries come from Asia, the Middle East or Latin America.
Compliance, sticking to facts. Private schools in Neuchâtel operate under the cantonal framework for private education; display only accreditations and labels the school actually holds. Pupil, parent and host family data fall under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), in force since 1 September 2023, and the GDPR may apply to families living in the European Union. Pupil photos require written parental consent, and photos taken in host families also require those families' consent. WCAG 2.1 AA is the accessibility reference. This is not legal advice.
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Which red flags should you spot in a quote?
- A fixed fees page the school cannot edit between sessions.
- An enrolment form collecting passports and medical data with no detail on storage or retention.
- An English version handed to an automatic tool, when it is the shop window for overseas education agents.
- No pricing for updating session dates.
- A domain registered in the supplier's name.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Sophie L., head of a 220-student school in Neuchâtel (secondary and intensive French courses, host family accommodation), compares three offers. A local agency quotes 25 000 CHF, English extra. A Neuchâtel freelancer offers 7 500 CHF for a French site, plus 2 500 CHF for English translation. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 CHF, bilingual FR/EN included. In all three cases the school books a photographer at 1 500 CHF.
Freelancer: 7 500 + 2 500 + 1 500 = 11 500 CHF. Kolonell: 8 200 + 1 500 = 9 700 CHF. Agency: 25 000 + 2 800 + 1 500 = 29 300 CHF. The gap with the freelancer is only 1 800 CHF: Sophie decides on native English, the project manager and the written schedule.
FAQ
How much does a private school website cost in Neuchâtel in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, 9 000 to 35 000 CHF with an agency and 3 000 to 10 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF at a fixed price.
Isn't a local freelancer just as good value?
For a French-only site, often yes, with projects from 3 000 CHF. Kolonell becomes worthwhile when you need native English, a project manager and a fixed price including 3 to 6 months of support.
Can you integrate an online placement test?
Yes, Kolonell links the testing tool chosen by the school from Growth at 4 500 CHF. A custom-built test is an application quoted separately.
Who photographs the school and host families?
Kolonell does no on-site shoots. Budget 1 200 to 2 000 CHF for a local photographer, with written consent from the parents and families concerned.
When should we start for the summer season?
Enquiries for summer sessions often arrive from February. With 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, starting in December allows a January launch.
Let's scope your project. Send us your tracks, French sessions, accommodation offer and languages: we reply with a fixed-price plan and a launch in 3 to 6 weeks. 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.
