The verdict in three sentences
For a 25-person accounting firm whose 2019 website generates 4 enquiries a month, a partial redesign at EUR 4,000 to 9,000 excl. VAT is enough if the technical base is sound and the problem is mostly content. As soon as the goal is 15 monthly enquiries with tax calculators, industry pages and an appointment booking flow, a new build at EUR 12,000 to 25,000 excl. VAT is the right call. Timelines range from 6 weeks for a redesign to 12 weeks for a complete new site.
Partial redesign or new build: what each budget covers
Order of magnitude in 2026 for a 15 to 40 person firm in a major European city such as Berlin:
| Criterion | Partial redesign | New build |
|---|---|---|
| Budget excl. VAT | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 | EUR 12,000 to 25,000 |
| Timeline | 6 to 8 weeks | 9 to 12 weeks |
| Design | refresh of existing branding | new custom web identity |
| Industry pages (doctors, real estate, e-commerce, construction) | 3 to 5 pages added | 8 to 15 structured pages |
| Calculators (corporate tax, director pay, VAT) | 1 simple calculator | 3 to 5 integrated calculators |
| Performance and technical SEO | targeted fixes | full architecture rebuild |
| Booking and qualifying form | module added | complete qualified journey |
| Expected lifespan | 2 to 3 years | 5 to 6 years |
The decision tree in 5 questions
- Does the site run on an up-to-date, secure CMS? If not (outdated version, abandoned plugins), go for a new build.
- Does mobile load time exceed 4 seconds? If so and the theme is the cause, a partial redesign will have limited impact.
- Do you need more than 8 new pages or dynamic calculators? If so, the redesign cost approaches that of a new build.
- Has the firm's positioning changed (new specialisation, merger, new name)? If so, new build.
- Does the current site already attract organic traffic (more than 1,500 visits a month)? If so, a redesign protects that SEO capital.
| Situation | Redesign enough | New build recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Up-to-date CMS, dated design, weak content | yes | no |
| More than 1,500 organic visits a month to protect | yes, with redirect plan | possible, with careful SEO migration |
| Need for 3 to 5 tax calculators | no | yes |
| Merger or firm name change | no | yes |
| Slow mobile site (over 4 s) due to the theme | no | yes |
| Adding only 3 industry pages | yes | no |
| Target of 15 enquiries a month from 4 | rarely | yes |
What each scenario returns
Assumptions: 30 % of enquiries convert into engagement letters, average annual fees of EUR 3,600 excl. VAT per new client (small businesses, independent professionals).
| Indicator | Current situation | Redesign (EUR 7,000) | New build (EUR 18,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enquiries per month | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| New clients per month | 1.2 | 2.4 | 4.5 |
| Additional clients over 12 months | 0 | 14.4 | 39.6 |
| Additional annual fees | 0 | EUR 51,840 | EUR 142,560 |
| Cost per additional enquiry over 12 months | n/a | EUR 146 | EUR 136 |
These are projections: seasonality (peaks around annual filing deadlines) and the quality of follow-up matter as much as the site.
Mini case study
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Frank Weber, partner at a 25-person accounting firm in Berlin-Mitte, is weighing a EUR 7,000 redesign against a EUR 18,000 new build. His 2019 WordPress site runs an outdated version, loads in 5.2 seconds on mobile, and he wants 3 calculators (director pay, corporate tax, choice of legal form). Three answers in the decision tree point to a new build. The EUR 11,000 gap is covered by 3 new clients at EUR 3,600, less than one month of enquiries at the target rate of 15 a month. He chooses the new build, delivered in 10 weeks, with redirects for his 120 indexed pages.
FAQ
Does a redesign lose existing rankings?
No, if a 301 redirect plan covers every existing URL and high-performing content is kept. Without that plan, traffic losses can reach 30 to 60 % for 3 months.
How much does a tax calculator cost on a firm's website?
Allow EUR 800 to 2,500 per calculator depending on complexity (simple VAT or salary vs dividend trade-off). They must be updated with each annual tax law, around EUR 300 a year.
Are industry pages really useful?
Yes: a page such as accountant for doctors in Berlin converts 2 to 3 times better than a generic services page. A firm can create 8 to 15 depending on its specialisations.
What professional rules apply?
In Germany, the Steuerberater professional code allows factual advertising but bans misleading or comparative claims, and the imprint (Impressum) with chamber details is mandatory. Forms must comply with GDPR.
How long does a new build take?
9 to 12 weeks, including 2 to 3 weeks of copywriting and partner approval. Avoid launching during the busiest filing months.
Let's scope your project. For an accounting firm, we assess your current site, recommend a redesign or a new build with an indicative budget of EUR 7,000 to 20,000 excl. VAT and a 6 to 12 week timeline. 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.
