The verdict in three sentences
In Geneva, local agencies typically quote CHF 20,000 to 60,000 to redesign a private or international school website, while Kolonell's fixed grid offers CHF 4,500 (Growth) or CHF 8,200 (Premium, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), with the admissions portal, fee payment and school management system kept on quote. The main risk is not technical: it is an admissions form that collects too much data about children, or a go-live in the middle of the admissions peak. A successful redesign is therefore planned around the school calendar, not the agency's.
Which signals, and what budget in Geneva?
Families visiting the site of a school in Champel, Cologny, Grand-Saconnex or Chêne-Bougeries are often parents linked to international organisations or multinationals, alongside Geneva families. They compare several schools, often from abroad, in French and English. Signs that a redesign is due:
- curricula and accreditations described vaguely, or mentioning a programme the school no longer offers;
- a partial English version, although some families do not read French;
- an admissions enquiry form asking for school reports, a medical certificate or a passport at first contact;
- dozens of outdated news items and past open day pages;
- photos of pupils published with no record of parental consent;
- a slow mobile site, with fees impossible to find.
2026 ballpark figures, based on public rate pages of Geneva agencies and typical agency quotes:
| Option | 2026 budget | Usually included | Admissions portal and fee payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva freelancer | CHF 6,000 to 18,000 | Adapted theme, two rough languages | Link to the existing tool |
| Geneva agency, focused redesign | CHF 20,000 to 35,000 | Design, French and English, migration | On quote |
| Geneva agency, redesign with identity | CHF 35,000 to 60,000 | Brand workshop, photography, video | On quote |
| Kolonell Starter | CHF 2,700 | Short site, one language | On quote |
| Kolonell Growth | CHF 4,500 | Curriculum, admissions and school life pages | On quote |
| Kolonell Premium | CHF 8,200 | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | On quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, and 3 months of support. A school photographer or videographer are third-party costs. Ongoing search work and custom applications are on quote. For tier details, see the international offer.
What timeline, given the school year?
The admissions enquiry peak often runs from autumn to spring, depending on the school. A switchover between late April and June, or in July if the team stays reachable, avoids touching the site while families are comparing.
| Step | When | Owner | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| URL inventory and 301 map | March | Kolonell | Spreadsheet of every page, decision per URL |
| Content and photo consent collection | March to April | School | Approved copy, parental permissions |
| Design and build | Weeks 1 and 2 | Kolonell | French and English mock-ups |
| Existing admissions portal integration | Week 3 | Kolonell and vendor | Tested link or embed, on quote |
| Compliance read-through | Week 4 | Leadership and outside counsel | Curriculum and accreditation claims verified |
| Go-live and Search Console monitoring | Late April to June, then 6 weeks | Kolonell | Redirects live, errors fixed |
Which risks, and how do you control them?
| Risk | Concrete example | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of visibility for admissions pages | "/admissions" renamed without a redirect | Full 301 map, Search Console monitoring for 6 weeks |
| Excessive data about children | "Allergies and medication" field in the open form | First contact: name, age, year group sought, parent contact |
| Unverifiable claims | "Outstanding results", university destination lists | No invented results, rankings or pupil numbers |
| Curriculum not held | IB mentioned although the school is not authorised | IB, Swiss Maturité or British curriculum cited only if actually held |
| Photos without consent | School trip gallery | Written parental permission, removal on request |
| Portal broken at switchover | Admissions link pointing to an old URL | Full test in week 3, rollback plan |
The revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP, in force since 1 September 2023) applies, supervised by the FDPIC; health data count as sensitive data under it. The GDPR may also apply when you target families living in the EU, for instance in neighbouring France. Full files (reports, health, ID documents) belong in the secure admissions portal, not in a website form. This is not legal advice.
What stays on quote, what to ask, and when a Geneva agency is the better choice
On quote: admissions portal, fee payment, school management system integration, parent area, synchronised calendar, after-school activity sign-up. We embed existing tools without rebuilding them.
Questions to ask: who writes the 301 map and who tests it? Where does children's data travel, and who can access it? Who signs off each curriculum or accreditation claim? What does maintenance cost after the 3 months of support (at Kolonell, on quote)?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
A Geneva agency is preferable if you want a photo and video campaign shot on campus every new school year, in-person workshops with the board, or ongoing communications support. For a scoped, fixed-price redesign delivered in 4 weeks, request a free quote.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: École des Tilleuls, a bilingual school from nursery to secondary in Chêne-Bougeries. Its site has 120 pages, including 40 outdated news items; its form asks for a medical certificate at first contact.
- 301 map: 80 pages kept or redirected, 40 news items grouped onto a "School life" page.
- Kolonell Premium, the multilingual tier (French and English set in the quote): CHF 8,200.
- Local school photographer, third-party cost: about CHF 2,000, with the shoot organised around parental consent.
- Existing admissions portal integration: on quote.
Known budget: 8,200 + 2,000 = CHF 10,200, against a Geneva agency quote of about CHF 35,000 for a comparable scope. Switchover planned for mid-May, after the admissions peak.
FAQ
How much does a private school website redesign cost in Geneva?
As a 2026 ballpark, CHF 20,000 to 60,000 with a local agency. Kolonell offers CHF 2,700, 4,500 or 8,200 depending on the tier, admissions portal on quote.
What data should an admissions form ask for?
At first contact, 4 to 5 fields are enough: child's name, age, year group sought, parent contact details. Health data, reports and passports go through the secure portal.
When should the new site go live?
Outside the admissions peak, often between late April and June. Then plan 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring.
Can we publish photos of pupils?
Yes, with written parental permission and a removal procedure. A third-party photographer, about CHF 2,000 per shoot, organises the session accordingly.
Do we need a full English version?
In Geneva, in most cases yes: the Premium tier at CHF 8,200 covers the languages set in the quote, with native copywriting.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual redesign for a Geneva school with a 301 map and a minimal admissions form, Premium at CHF 8,200, delivered in 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
