The verdict in three sentences
For a consulting firm of 10 to 40 consultants in Zurich, a light redesign (8,000 to 15,000 CHF, about 8,500 to 16,000 EUR) is enough if the site is under 4 years old, runs an up-to-date CMS and already generates inbound requests. A new website (25,000 to 55,000 CHF, about 26,500 to 58,500 EUR) becomes the rational choice when technical debt exceeds 5 years, the firm's positioning has changed or the site produces almost no leads. The decision rests on 8 measurable criteria, not on wanting a fresh design.
What the two options really cover
| Option | What changes | Price excl. VAT 2026 | Timeline | Expected lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual refresh | colours, fonts, photos, homepage | 4,500 to 8,000 CHF | 2 to 3 weeks | 1 to 2 years |
| Light redesign | design + rewrite of 5 to 10 key pages, CMS updates | 8,000 to 15,000 CHF | 4 to 6 weeks | 2 to 3 years |
| Heavy redesign on existing CMS | new structure, new templates | 15,000 to 25,000 CHF | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 years |
| New website | strategy, content, modern stack, SEO | 25,000 to 40,000 CHF | 8 to 12 weeks | 4 to 6 years |
| Premium new website | + case studies, resources, booking, CRM | 40,000 to 55,000 CHF | 12 to 16 weeks | 5 to 6 years |
The classic trap: paying 22,000 CHF for a heavy redesign on a 2018 WordPress full of abandoned plugins, then discovering mid-project that everything must be migrated. The final cost then exceeds that of a new site.
The 8-criteria decision grid
Score each criterion from 0 to 2. A total of 10 or more points to a new site, 5 or less to a light redesign.
| Criterion | 0 points | 1 point | 2 points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site age | under 3 years | 3 to 5 years | over 5 years |
| CMS and plugin versions | up to date | 1 major version behind | 2+ versions, abandoned plugins |
| Mobile performance (PageSpeed) | above 80 | 50 to 80 | below 50 |
| Inbound leads per month | more than 10 | 3 to 10 | fewer than 3 |
| Firm positioning | unchanged | adjusted | new offers or merger |
| Editorial autonomy | consultants publish alone | with help | impossible without vendor |
| Organic traffic | rising | stable | falling for 12 months |
| Accessibility and data protection (nFADP/GDPR) | compliant | minor gaps | non-compliant |
Expected gains on inbound leads
A consulting firm sells expertise, so its site must prove that expertise: quantified case studies, thought leadership, partner profiles. Sites rebuilt around this content typically generate 2 to 4 times more qualified requests than a brochure site, within 9 to 12 months.
In the Zurich market, where firms target Swiss mid-caps, cantonal administrations, financial services and pharma, a query such as "transformation consulting Zurich" or "ESG advisory Switzerland" costs 6 to 15 CHF per click in paid search. Ranking organically on 20 to 40 such queries saves 3,000 to 8,000 CHF a month in advertising.
Mini case study
Sophie, partner at a 22-consultant organisational consulting firm in Zurich, has a 2019 WordPress site: 2 major versions behind, 34 plugins of which 9 are abandoned, mobile PageSpeed of 38 and 2 leads a month. Score on the grid: 13 out of 16.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
The heavy redesign quoted at 21,000 CHF carried an estimated migration risk of 6,000 to 9,000 CHF more. She chooses a new site at 38,000 CHF with 8 case studies. With an average engagement of 30,000 CHF and a 15% conversion rate, moving from 2 to 6 leads a month represents 4 × 12 × 0.15 × 30,000 = 216,000 CHF of potential additional annual revenue, an order of magnitude for 2026. The investment is covered by the first engagement won through the site.
FAQ
Can a new site keep the same CMS?
Yes, a new site can stay on WordPress, provided it starts from a clean install. The price stays within 25,000 to 40,000 CHF.
Does a redesign lose search rankings?
Not if 301 redirects are planned page by page. Without a redirect plan, traffic loss can reach 30 to 60% for 3 to 6 months.
Who writes the content?
Partners provide expertise in 1 to 2 hour interviews, a writer produces the copy. Allow 700 to 1,500 CHF per case study.
How much partner time does the project take?
About 15 to 25 partner hours spread over 8 to 12 weeks, mostly for positioning workshops and approvals.
Should we integrate a CRM?
If the firm receives more than 5 leads a month, yes. Free HubSpot or Pipedrive at about 15 EUR per user per month is enough, with integration at 1,200 to 3,000 CHF.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current site address and monthly lead count: we will apply the 8-criteria grid and price a redesign or a new site, between 8,000 and 55,000 CHF. 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.
