The verdict in three sentences
For a 250-employee industrial company in Berlin with a 7-year-old website, a visual redesign (18,000 to 35,000 EUR, 3 months) only pays off if the technical foundation is still supported. A site on PHP 7.4, which has had no security patches since late 2022, tips the decision towards a full rebuild (45,000 to 100,000 EUR, 6 months). Either way, without a 301 redirect plan you risk losing 20 to 40% of organic traffic.
Both options, priced
A redesign keeps the CMS, database and site structure, and changes the design, templates and part of the content. A rebuild starts from a new architecture: new CMS, new content model, rethought integrations (ERP, CRM, product configurator).
| Criterion | Visual redesign | Full rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront budget | 18,000 - 35,000 EUR | 45,000 - 100,000 EUR |
| Timeline | 3 months | 6 months |
| Technical foundation | Kept (PHP 7.4, existing CMS) | New (Next.js + headless CMS or current CMS) |
| Technical debt | Postponed | Paid off |
| SEO risk without migration plan | 5 - 15% | 20 - 40% |
| Expected lifespan | 2 - 3 years | 5 - 7 years |
| Annual maintenance | 7,000 - 14,000 EUR | 3,500 - 8,000 EUR |
| Internal effort | 15 - 25 person-days | 40 - 70 person-days |
For reference, the same scope in Lyon runs 15,000 to 30,000 EUR for a redesign and 40,000 to 90,000 EUR for a rebuild; Berlin agency day rates sit roughly 10 to 15% higher.
Total cost over 5 years
The entry price is misleading. A redesign on an end-of-life stack often forces a second heavy intervention after 2 to 3 years, when the host drops old PHP versions or a vulnerability forces an upgrade.
| 5-year item | Redesign | Rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Initial project (median) | 26,000 EUR | 72,000 EUR |
| Maintenance (5 years) | 52,000 EUR | 29,000 EUR |
| Forced technical upgrade (year 3) | 35,000 - 55,000 EUR | 0 EUR |
| Emergency security fixes | 6,000 - 12,000 EUR | 1,000 - 3,000 EUR |
| Estimated total cost | 119,000 - 145,000 EUR | 102,000 - 104,000 EUR |
Over 5 years the rebuild is often cheaper once the stack is older than 6 years. These figures are a 2026 order of magnitude, to be refined with a 2 to 3 day technical audit (1,800 to 3,500 EUR).
The 8-criterion decision grid
Score each criterion from 0 to 2. Above 10 points out of 16, rebuild.
- Language version: PHP 7.4 or older = 2 points.
- CMS: unmaintained or heavily customised = 2 points.
- Performance: mobile LCP above 4 seconds = 2 points.
- Integrations: need to connect ERP, CRM or PIM = 2 points.
- Catalogue: over 300 product references to structure = 2 points.
- Languages: adding 2 or more languages = 2 points.
- Accessibility: deep BITV / WCAG 2.1 AA gaps (the EU Accessibility Act applies since June 2025) = 2 points.
- Governance: 4 production sites each publishing their own content = 2 points.
Protecting your SEO during migration
The 20 to 40% traffic loss nearly always comes from URLs removed without redirects. The minimum plan: export every indexed URL, map old to new URLs, test 301 redirects in staging, monitor Search Console daily for 8 weeks. Budget 3,500 to 9,000 EUR depending on page volume.
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Mini case study
Jonas, marketing director of a 250-employee manufacturer near Berlin, scores 11 out of 16: PHP 7.4, customised CMS, 600 product references, 4 plants. He chooses a rebuild at 75,000 EUR plus 7,000 EUR for the SEO migration plan. The site generates 40 quote requests per month; with an average order of 18,000 EUR and a 10% close rate, the site drives 72,000 EUR of monthly revenue, and each 10% slice of traffic is worth about 7,200 EUR. Avoiding a 25% loss therefore protects 18,000 EUR a month, or 216,000 EUR a year, for a 7,000 EUR migration plan.
FAQ
How much does an industrial company website redesign cost in Berlin in 2026?
A visual redesign costs 18,000 to 35,000 EUR. A full rebuild with ERP or PIM integrations runs 45,000 to 100,000 EUR.
Why is PHP 7.4 a problem?
PHP 7.4 has received no security patches since November 2022. Hosts are phasing it out, forcing a costly upgrade within 1 to 2 years.
How much traffic can a migration lose?
Without a redirect plan, losses reach 20 to 40% of organic traffic. With full URL mapping, they usually stay under 5% and recover in 6 to 10 weeks.
How long does a rebuild take?
Plan 6 months for a rebuild with catalogue and integrations. A simple visual redesign takes about 3 months.
Do we need an audit before deciding?
Yes, a 2 to 3 day technical and SEO audit (1,800 to 3,500 EUR) fills the grid with reliable data and avoids a 50,000 EUR mistake.
Let's scope your project. Share your current site URL, product count and production sites, and we will deliver a priced redesign-or-rebuild recommendation with a 3 or 6 month plan. 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.
