The verdict in three sentences
For a private security company with 450 guards in Johannesburg, a professional website costs between USD 2,800 and USD 7,000 (roughly ZAR 50,000 to 125,000), delivered in 6 weeks, with maintenance around USD 90 a month. Buyers at embassies, banks and multinationals check the website before shortlisting you: they look for proof (registrations, certifications, references, procedures), not slogans. The free site audit form is the commercial lever that turns that visit into a meeting.
The budget, line by line
| Item | Essential version (USD) | Corporate version (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, sitemap, copywriting | 470 | 1,000 |
| Design and build | 930 | 2,050 |
| Registration and certification pages | 280 | 650 |
| References and sectors pages | 370 | 840 |
| Free site audit form | 280 | 750 |
| Professional photos of teams and control room | 280 | 930 |
| Guard recruitment area | 190 | 780 |
| Total | 2,800 | 7,000 |
Secure hosting and maintenance cost about USD 90 a month, backups and updates included. A second language (French or Portuguese) is worth it if you target embassies and regional organisations.
What reassures a corporate buyer
An embassy security officer or a bank facilities director must justify the choice to management and auditors. Your website should give them the material for that file.
| Proof item | What the buyer checks | How to present it |
|---|---|---|
| PSIRA registration | Legal right to operate | Registration number and grade, copy on request |
| ISO 9001 or ISO 18788 certification | Process maturity | Logo, scope, validity date |
| References by sector | Comparable experience | Banks, NGOs, industry, with client consent |
| Headcount and supervision | Capacity to deliver a contract | 450 guards, 1 supervisor per 15 guards |
| Control room and monitored patrols | Responsiveness | Photos, average response time, 24/7 |
| Guard training | Staff quality | Initial and refresher training hours |
| Public liability insurance | Risk cover | Insurer and cover limit |
| Tax clearance and B-BBEE certificate | Procurement compliance | Status shown, sent on request |
Each row in this table often matches a document required in tender files. Making them visible on the website shortens the pre-selection phase.
The free site audit form
Instead of a plain "contact us", offer a free security audit of the prospect's site: site type (bank branch, residential estate, warehouse), area, number of access points, sensitive hours, current setup. The form qualifies the request and lets your sales director arrive with a first priced proposal. Allow USD 280 to 750 depending on whether requests go only by email or into a sales pipeline with follow-ups.
Mini case study
Thabo, sales director of a guarding company in Johannesburg, bids on 12 tenders a year and wins 2. With a USD 6,000 website showing registrations, references and procedures, he targets 3 contracts a year and 4 qualified audit requests a month through the form. A typical 8-guard contract billed at USD 330 per guard per month is worth USD 31,680 a year. A single extra contract covers the website and 12 months of maintenance (about USD 7,100 in total) more than 4 times, according to this estimate.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Should we publish our clients' names?
Only with written consent: many embassies and banks refuse for security reasons. A sector-based presentation ("3 commercial banks, 2 diplomatic missions") remains effective.
Can the website support guard recruitment?
Yes, a recruitment area with application and document upload costs USD 190 to 780. It reduces queues at head office during hiring campaigns.
How long until the website is live?
Six weeks if registration documents, certifications and photos are available by week 2. The team photo shoot takes half a day.
How do we secure the website itself?
SSL certificate, web application firewall, daily backups and monthly updates are included in the USD 90 maintenance. For a security company, a hacked website would be an image disaster.
Can the website be paid in instalments?
Yes, usually 40% on order, 40% on mockup approval and 20% at launch. Payment by bank transfer or card, and Wave or Orange Money for West African clients.
Let's scope your project. Send us your registrations, client sectors and the number of tenders you target: we price your website with an indicative budget and a 6-week schedule. 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.
