The verdict in three sentences
For a concrete and timber structural engineering firm with 18 engineers in Berlin, a premium showcase website costs EUR 7,000 to 12,000 excl. VAT in 2026, before business modules. The filterable project portfolio (+EUR 2,500 to 4,000) and the careers page with online application (+EUR 1,200) are the two items that win tenders and hires. A freelancer or a WordPress theme is cheaper upfront, but rarely cheaper over three years once maintenance and rework are counted.
What a structural engineering firm actually pays for
A public client or developer who checks your site before shortlisting you looks for three things: comparable references (multi-family housing, public buildings, timber structures), certified skills (Eurocodes, BIM, low-carbon labels) and a stable team. A structural engineer choosing between two employers looks at the projects, the tools and the culture. The budget is therefore split around these two audiences.
| Item | 2026 range (excl. VAT) | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Premium showcase site (8 to 15 pages) | EUR 7,000 - 12,000 | Custom design, SEO copywriting, concrete and timber expertise pages |
| Filterable project portfolio | EUR 2,500 - 4,000 | Filters by structure type, material, client, year |
| Careers page + online application | EUR 1,200 | Job listings, CV form, HR notification, GDPR compliance |
| Site photo shoot (2 days) | EUR 1,500 - 2,500 | 60 to 80 edited images, usage rights |
| Hosting and maintenance | EUR 150 - 300/month | Updates, backups, security, small changes |
| Downloadable reference sheets (PDF) | EUR 600 - 1,000 | Reusable template for tender submissions |
For a complete project, the median budget is around EUR 13,500 excl. VAT in year one, maintenance included. This is a 2026 order of magnitude observed for firms of 10 to 30 engineers.
Agency, freelancer or WordPress theme: the comparison
| Criterion | Specialist agency | Freelancer | WordPress theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | EUR 10,000 - 16,000 | EUR 3,500 - 6,000 | EUR 1,000 - 2,500 |
| Delivery time | 8 to 12 weeks | 6 to 14 weeks | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Custom filterable portfolio | Yes, structured database | Often partial | Generic plugin |
| Copywriting and local SEO | Included | Optional | No |
| Maintenance over 3 years | EUR 5,400 - 10,800 | Variable, depends on one person | EUR 2,000 + unplanned rework |
| Total 3-year cost (estimate) | EUR 15,400 - 26,800 | EUR 8,000 - 14,000 | EUR 6,000 - 12,000 |
The WordPress theme looks unbeatable, but a firm answering 40 tenders a year quickly loses more than it saves when its references are poorly presented. A freelancer works if the scope stays simple and you accept a continuity risk. An agency makes sense as soon as the site becomes a measured sales and HR tool.
Recruitment: the metric that pays back the site
The market for structural engineers remains tight in 2026. Hiring through a recruitment firm costs 15 to 20% of gross annual salary, i.e. EUR 7,500 to 10,000 for an experienced engineer at EUR 50,000. A well-built careers page, with real projects, internal testimonials and a two-minute application, targets +40% unsolicited applications within six months.
| Careers lever | Expected effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs indexed in Google for Jobs | +20 to 30% views | Included in the careers page |
| Short team video (60 s) | Time on page x2 | EUR 800 - 1,500 |
| 3-field form + CV | Abandonment halved | Included |
| Portfolio link on each job | Better candidate quality | Included |
| Source tracking in analytics | Cost per application measured | Included |
Mini case study
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Jonas, managing director of an 18-engineer structural engineering firm in Berlin, invests EUR 13,700 excl. VAT: premium site EUR 9,000, filterable portfolio EUR 3,500, careers page EUR 1,200. He goes from 5 to 7 unsolicited applications per month (+40%) and avoids two agency hires in the year, i.e. EUR 17,000 saved. On the sales side, the portfolio lets him attach targeted references to his bids: a single extra structural design contract worth EUR 45,000 in fees covers the investment three times over.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget for a serious engineering firm website?
Count at least EUR 7,000 excl. VAT for a custom site with copywriting and local SEO. Below that, you usually get an adapted theme without a structured portfolio.
How long does delivery take?
The usual timeline is 8 to 12 weeks, of which 2 to 3 weeks go into collecting references and photos. The portfolio often takes longer on the client side than on the development side.
Can we show projects under confidentiality?
Yes, with an anonymised sheet: structure type, floor area, material, technical challenge, no client name. Around 30% of an engineering firm's references are presented this way.
Is maintenance at EUR 150-300 per month essential?
It covers security updates, backups and 1 to 2 hours of monthly changes. Without it, an unmaintained WordPress site typically exposes an exploitable vulnerability in under 12 months.
Does the website really help win tenders?
It does not replace the technical proposal, but buyers check the website in most cases before an interview. Filterable references and consistent PDF sheets improve how solid your bid looks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your reference list and hiring needs, and we will price a premium showcase site with portfolio and careers page, indicative budget EUR 10,000 to 16,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 8 to 12 weeks. 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.
