The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a professional brochure website for an SME in Berlin ranges from 4 000 EUR (5 pages, adapted premium template) to 14 000 EUR (bespoke, animations, multilingual). The key to comparing is not the headline total but the line-item breakdown: design, development, content, SEO and maintenance. A clear line-by-line quote protects you from nasty surprises and hidden extras.
Price ranges by site type
Before comparing three quotes, you need to know what each range buys. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude in the Berlin market.
| Site type | Pages | 2026 price (EUR) | Timeline | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential brochure | 5 | 4 000 - 5 500 | 2-3 wks | Sole trader, micro |
| Pro brochure | 6-10 | 5 500 - 9 000 | 3-5 wks | Established SME |
| Premium brochure | 10-15 | 9 000 - 14 000 | 5-6 wks | Growing SME |
| Brochure + light e-commerce | 8-12 | 10 000 - 17 000 | 6-8 wks | Online selling |
A 10-to-30-employee SME usually targets the pro or premium brochure. Below 4 000 EUR you mostly find locked-down subscription builders or junior freelancers with no aftercare guarantee.
Breaking down a quote line by line
This is where grey areas hide. A good quote details each item with an estimated time, not an opaque lump sum. Here is a typical breakdown for a 8 000 EUR pro brochure.
| Line item | Share | Amount (EUR) | Grey area to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design / mockups | 25 % | 2 000 | Revisions included |
| Development / build | 35 % | 2 800 | Responsive & browsers tested |
| Content / copywriting | 15 % | 1 200 | Who writes: client or agency? |
| Basic SEO | 10 % | 800 | Tags, sitemap, speed |
| Training / go-live | 8 % | 640 | CMS onboarding |
| Project management | 7 % | 560 | Dedicated contact |
| Total | 100 % | 8 000 | — |
The two most common traps: the number of mockup revisions (often capped at 2) and content writing, billed as an extra if you don't provide the copy.
The recurring costs to anticipate
A quote doesn't stop at the build. Recurring costs decide the real budget over time.
| Recurring item | 2026 cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 70 - 200 EUR/month | Monthly |
| German/EU hosting | 30 - 80 EUR/month | Monthly |
| Domain name | 12 - 25 EUR/year | Yearly |
| SSL certificate | 0 - 90 EUR/year | Yearly |
| Managed SEO | 350 - 1 000 EUR/month | Optional |
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Sophie, managing director of an industrial joinery SME on the outskirts of Berlin, receives three quotes: 3 600 EUR, 8 000 EUR and 13 500 EUR. The cheapest includes neither copywriting nor SEO and caps custom pages at 2. The 8 000 EUR quote details 8 line items, allows 3 revisions and training. She picks it. The result: her pro site generates 6 qualified enquiries a month; at a 30 % close rate and an average project of 9 000 EUR, that is roughly 16 200 EUR of attributable monthly revenue. The site pays for itself in the first full month of activity.
FAQ
Why do quotes vary so much?
Because they don't cover the same scope. A 4 000 EUR quote and a 12 000 EUR one can both say "brochure site" without matching on page count, revisions or SEO work. Compare line items, not totals.
Who should write the content?
If the agency writes, budget 120-240 EUR per page of optimised copy. If you supply the text, you save money but must meet the schedule, or the project slips.
What deposit is reasonable?
A 30-40 % deposit at signing is the 2026 norm, followed by a payment at design sign-off and the balance at delivery. A 50 % deposit is acceptable for a small project.
Is maintenance essential?
Yes, for security and updates. Budget 70-200 EUR/month depending on hours included. Without maintenance, a brochure site degrades and becomes vulnerable within a year.
Can you negotiate an agency quote?
Yes, but on scope rather than hourly rate. Cutting page count, deferring the blog or supplying your own content lowers the total without sacrificing the core site's quality.
Let's scope your project. Send us your three quotes or your brief, and we'll help you compare line items and scope a fair-priced package. 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.
