The verdict in three sentences
In Zurich, a private or international school website built by a local agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 15 000 and 60 000 CHF, and more when it includes a custom admissions portal or a parent intranet. Kolonell builds the curriculum pages, the admissions journey, the fees and open day pages for a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth. What really separates the offers is the 3-year total cost, the German version (native at a Zurich agency, supplied by the school or quoted separately with Kolonell) and campus photography, which Kolonell does not shoot.
What do Zurich agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge for a school site?
The figures below are prudent ballparks, not official prices. They are based on public rate cards of agencies in the Zurich region, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates commonly published by Swiss German agencies (often 140 to 220 CHF per hour) and freelance rates visible on Malt and Upwork. Zurich is one of the most expensive web markets in Europe, and school projects grow quickly with sections, languages and integrations.
| Criterion | Zurich agency | Zurich freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 15 000 to 60 000 CHF and up | 4 000 to 15 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed |
| Hourly rate for changes | Often 140 to 220 CHF | Often 90 to 140 CHF | Extras quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 10 to 16 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| German copy | Native, often billed separately | Usually native | Supplied by the school or quoted separately |
| English copy for expat families | Variable quality | Variable | Native English or French included |
| Campus photo and video shoot | Often available as an option | Sometimes | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
A Zurich agency earns its price when the school wants on-campus filming, workshops with the board and a German-first site. Kolonell suits schools whose admissions audience reads English first: a project manager in your time zone, Google Meet calls at an hour that fits the school day and a written update every week. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Zurich depending on the season. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. Each tier is detailed on our international website offer.
What will the school really spend over three years?
A school website changes every year: fees, term dates, staff, extracurricular programmes, open days. The table keeps the same maintenance assumption on both sides, since Kolonell maintenance after the support period is quoted on request.
| Item over 36 months | Zurich agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 30 000 CHF | 4 500 CHF |
| Support included after launch | Depends on contract | 3 months included |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 180 CHF per month over 33 months, 5 940 CHF | 5 940 CHF, maintenance quoted on request |
| Yearly updates (fees, calendar, staff) | 12 hours at 170 CHF, 2 040 CHF | Quoted beforehand, assumption 1 200 CHF |
| Campus photo shoot | 2 500 CHF option | Local photographer booked separately, 2 500 CHF |
| German version of the copy | Included in the build | Translator booked by the school, 2 200 CHF |
| Indicative total | 40 480 CHF | 16 340 CHF |
The point of the grid is to compare like with like. Ask each supplier for the same lines, especially the cost of the yearly updates.
What does each Kolonell tier include for a school?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum pages | One page per school section | Pages per age group and programme (IB, bilingual, national) | Detailed programmes, pathways and results pages |
| Admissions | Process page and enquiry form | Step-by-step journey, fees page, link to your admissions platform | Polished integration with your platform; custom portal quoted on request |
| Open days and visits | Contact form | Event page with registration form | Events calendar with registrations per campus |
| Staff and leadership | Leadership page | Head of school and section leaders | Full staff directory if the school wants it |
| 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, a timetable app or an online enrolment system with payment is a custom application, quoted on request, as is ongoing search work.
What does a Zurich private or international school need online?
Zurich schools recruit families moving for jobs in finance, insurance, technology and international organisations, often from abroad and months before arrival. Parents compare several schools around the lake and in neighbouring cantons from their phone, in English, and the shortlist is made online. The site must answer:
- Curriculum and language model in plain words: IB, bilingual German and English, national curriculum, entry points by age.
- Admissions steps, documents and deadlines, with honest information on waiting lists.
- Fees, or at least a clear fee structure, since families relocating with an employer package need numbers.
- Transport, location and campus life, with real photographs taken with consent.
- German for local families and authorities, English for most international applicants.
Compliance, the facts only. Private schools in the canton of Zurich operate under cantonal authorisation and oversight; mention accreditations and memberships only if actually held. Pupil and parent data fall under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, which affects enquiry forms, cookies and hosting choices. Photos of pupils require consent from parents, in line with the school's own image policy. WCAG 2.1 AA is a sensible accessibility reference. This is not legal advice.
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Which red flags should a school spot in quotes?
- No line for yearly updates: fees and term dates change every year.
- An admissions form that collects medical or family details with no word on where data is stored.
- A CMS only the agency can use, while the admissions team needs to edit pages.
- Stock photos of children presented as the school's pupils.
- A domain or hosting account registered in the supplier's name.
- German and English treated as one line without stating who writes each.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Sarah M., head of admissions and marketing at a 380-pupil bilingual school near Zurich, receives two proposals. A Zurich agency quotes 32 000 CHF with German copy plus a 2 500 CHF campus shoot, in 14 weeks. Kolonell proposes Premium at 8 200 CHF; the school books a translator for German at 2 400 CHF and a Zurich photographer at 2 500 CHF.
Build, language and photos: 34 500 CHF with the agency against 13 100 CHF with Kolonell, a 21 400 CHF gap. With the same maintenance assumption of 200 CHF a month over 30 months after Premium's 6 months of support (6 000 CHF each side), the 3-year totals become 40 500 CHF and 19 100 CHF. Sarah plans the project in spring so the site is live before the autumn admissions season.
FAQ
How much does a private school website cost in Zurich in 2026?
With a local agency, expect 15 000 to 60 000 CHF depending on sections and integrations, and 4 000 to 15 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF.
Can Kolonell write the German version?
No. Kolonell writes native English and French; German copy is supplied by the school or quoted separately. A professional translator for a 20 to 30 page school site often costs 1 800 to 3 000 CHF.
Can you connect our admissions software?
Yes, Growth links or embeds the platform the school already uses, and Premium polishes the integration. A custom admissions portal is quoted on request.
Who photographs the campus?
The school supplies its images or books a local photographer, often 1 500 to 3 000 CHF per day based on published rates. Kolonell does not shoot on site, and pupil photos need parental consent.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery. On Premium, that means two payments of 4 100 CHF.
Let's scope your project. Send us your sections, your admissions process and the languages you need, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. 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.
