The verdict in three sentences
In Zug, a private or international school website built by an agency in the Zug and Zurich area costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between 15 000 and 55 000 CHF, because hourly rates in central Switzerland are among the highest in the country. Kolonell delivers an admissions site in native English, designed for mid-year arrivals and waiting lists, at a fixed price: 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF. German, on-site photos and in-person meetings are not included: factor them into the three-year total cost before comparing.
What do Zug agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
These ranges are cautious orders of magnitude. They draw on public price grids from agencies in Zug, Lucerne and Zurich, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by Swiss German agencies (often 140 to 210 CHF per hour) and freelance rates visible on Malt and Upwork.
| Criterion | Zug or Zurich agency | Central Switzerland freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build, 2026 order of magnitude | 15 000 to 55 000 CHF and up | 4 000 to 14 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed price |
| Hourly rate for changes | Often 140 to 210 CHF | Often 90 to 140 CHF | Additions quoted before work starts |
| Usual timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| German copy | Native | Usually native | Supplied by the school or quoted separately |
| English copy for expat families | Often translated from German | Variable | Native copywriting included |
| Classroom photo and video | Often optional | Sometimes | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Site ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
A Zug agency remains the better option if leadership wants in-person workshops, classroom filming and a site designed first for German-speaking families. Kolonell fits when most enquiries arrive in English, often from abroad. Your project manager works to your time zone: the team is based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Zug depending on the season, with Google Meet calls at your hour and a written update every week. Payment by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % on delivery. Plan details are in our international website offer.
What is the real cost over three years?
The table applies the same maintenance assumption on both sides, as Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted separately. German is shown as a separate line on the Kolonell side.
| Item over 36 months | Zug agency (mid-range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English site build | 28 000 CHF, German included | 4 500 CHF |
| German translation | Included | Translator booked by the school, 2 000 CHF |
| Integrating the German pages | Included | Quoted separately, assumption 800 CHF |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 170 CHF per month over 33 months, 5 610 CHF | 5 610 CHF, maintenance quoted separately |
| Annual updates (places, fees, staff) | 10 hours at 180 CHF, 1 800 CHF | Quoted in advance, assumption 1 000 CHF |
| Classroom and garden photos | Option at 2 300 CHF | Local photographer booked separately, 2 300 CHF |
| Indicative total | 37 710 CHF | 16 210 CHF |
Ask each supplier to price the same lines, especially updating available places, which changes several times a year in a school with rolling admissions.
What does each plan include for a Zug school?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early years and primary | One page per age range | Pages per age group, typical day, extended hours | Detailed pages, teaching approach, transition to secondary |
| Rolling admissions | Enquiry form | Step-by-step journey, available places page, link to your admissions software | Careful integration of your software; custom parent portal quoted separately |
| Visits | Contact form | Visit booking through your calendar tool | Individual tours and discovery mornings, virtual tour embedded if supplied |
| Teacher recruitment | No | Simple careers page | Careers page with vacancies and applications |
| 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 parent portal with messaging, an attendance app or online invoicing counts as an application quoted separately, as does ongoing SEO.
What does a Zug international school need online?
Zug is home to commodity trading headquarters, pharmaceutical and technology companies and a blockchain ecosystem known as Crypto Valley. Families arrive all year round, often with a few weeks' notice, from the UK, the US, India or the rest of Europe. For an early years and primary school, the deciding question is simple: is there a place, and from when?
- Available places by age group, updated regularly, with honest information on waiting lists.
- Hours and extended care, since both parents often work full time.
- The language model: English, German, support for children who speak neither.
- What comes next: where pupils go after primary, without attributing a programme to another school.
- Well-crafted careers pages, because recruiting qualified English-speaking teachers is hard in the region.
Compliance, without extrapolating. Private schools and early childhood settings require cantonal or municipal authorisations; display only accreditations the school actually holds. Children's and parents' data fall under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), in force since 1 September 2023: keep the first-contact form to the strict minimum. Photos of children require written parental 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?
- An available places page only the agency can edit, billed by the hour at every change.
- A form asking for passports or medical records at first contact.
- An English version machine-translated from German.
- No pricing for updates beyond year one.
- A domain or hosting account in the supplier's name.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Hannah K., business manager of a 180-child school for ages 2 to 11 in Zug, receives a 21 000 CHF quote from a Zug agency, German included, plus 1 600 CHF for photos. She chooses Kolonell Growth at 4 500 CHF: a German-speaking teacher drafts the German pages, a translator proofreads them for 800 CHF, and a local photographer shoots for half a day at 1 600 CHF.
Kolonell total: 4 500 + 800 + 1 600 = 6 900 CHF. Agency total: 21 000 + 1 600 = 22 600 CHF. Gap: 15 700 CHF. Hannah also notes the internal time spent on German, about two working days for the teacher, and builds it into her decision.
FAQ
How much does an international school website cost in Zug in 2026?
As an order of magnitude, 15 000 to 55 000 CHF with a regional agency and 4 000 to 14 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF at a fixed price.
Can we update available places ourselves?
Yes, the site comes with a simple back office and a short remote training session. The first 3 months of support (6 in Premium) cover onboarding questions.
Does Kolonell write in German?
No, native copywriting is in English or French. German is supplied by the school or quoted separately; professional translation often costs 1 500 to 2 500 CHF for a mid-sized site.
Can you connect our admissions software?
Yes, from Growth at 4 500 CHF, Kolonell integrates or links the tool the school has chosen. A custom parent portal is an application quoted separately.
How quickly can the site go live?
In 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, usually 4 to 6 weeks for Premium. A school that starts in early September can be live before the October arrivals.
Let's scope your project. Send us your age groups, your admissions tool and your 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.
