The verdict in three sentences
A European buyer of timber subject to the EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) must prove the legality and geolocation of every batch: your website becomes the first document in their due diligence file. In Vancouver, agencies charge a 2026 ballpark of CAD 15,000 to 45,000 for a corporate exporter website, while the Kolonell Growth plan at 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) covers traceability pages, FSC certificates and a species catalog. Plan 6 to 10 weeks, with a lightweight bilingual website built for slow connections at remote operations and for buyers checking on mobile.
What the European or Asian buyer wants to find
Importers in Rotterdam, Antwerp or Tokyo receive dozens of offers for Douglas fir, western red cedar and hemlock. Those subject to the EUDR, whose application to large operators is scheduled for the end of 2026, immediately drop suppliers unable to document their supply chain.
| Section | Content to publish | Role in the buying decision |
|---|---|---|
| Traceability | Map of tenures and cutblocks, plot geolocation method, log tracking system | Disqualifying for an EUDR buyer |
| Certificates | FSC FM and CoC, PEFC or SFI if applicable, verifiable codes, expiry dates | Decisive |
| Legality | BC Forest Act compliance, Indigenous partnerships, export permits | Decisive |
| Species catalog | Douglas fir, western red cedar, hemlock, spruce: technical sheets, density, uses | Strong |
| Products | Lumber, timbers, plywood, dimensions available, kiln drying | Strong |
| Logistics | Mills, Port of Vancouver, shipping lead times, incoterms | Medium to strong |
| Quote request | Form by species, volume in m³ or board feet, destination | Decisive for conversion |
Each species sheet should be sober and precise: trade name, botanical name, density at 12% moisture, natural durability per EN 350, recommended uses and available dimensions. A downloadable PDF per species avoids long email threads.
Budget in Vancouver and what it includes
Price gaps between providers mostly come from the volume of technical content, the quality of the second language and mobile performance.
| Provider | 2026 ballpark | Typical scope | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local freelancer | CAD 4,000 to 10,000 | 5 to 8 pages, generic theme, usually English only | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Vancouver agency | CAD 15,000 to 45,000 | Corporate site 10 to 20 pages, bilingual | 8 to 16 weeks |
| Large digital agency | CAD 50,000 to 120,000 | Custom site, advanced ESG content | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | 800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA (1,220 to 1,830 EUR) | 5 pages, overview, contact, simple bilingual | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) | Traceability, certificates, species catalog, blog, analytics | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR) | Everything in Growth, interactive tenure map, advanced SEO, animations | 8 to 12 weeks |
Performance matters as much as design: field teams at remote operations update and check the website over weak mobile signal. Pages under 1 MB, WebP images and CDN hosting guarantee display in under 3 seconds, including for the buyer opening the link on a phone.
Mini case study
Mark, export director of a timber harvesting and sawmilling company near Vancouver, sells mostly to Asia today. He wants to open two European importers who require a complete EUDR file.
- Investment: Kolonell Growth website at 1,800,000 FCFA, plus Standard maintenance at 75,000 FCFA per month, i.e. 900,000 FCFA in year one.
- Assumption: a container of kiln-dried Douglas fir lumber of 25 m³ sold for about €11,000, close to 7,200,000 FCFA, with a 15% net margin (1,080,000 FCFA).
- Total year-one cost: 2,700,000 FCFA (about 4,120 EUR).
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Just 3 additional containers in the year cover the investment. This scenario is illustrative: the website opens the door, but the strength of the traceability file closes the sale.
FAQ
Is the website enough to comply with the EUDR?
No, compliance relies on your traceability system and geolocation data. The website presents this evidence clearly and cuts the buyer's qualification time by several days.
Should FSC certificates be published online?
Yes, with the license code verifiable on the public FSC database. An expired certificate left online destroys trust, so plan a review at least every 6 months.
Does the website need a second language?
Buyers in Europe and Asia work in English in over 80% of cases, but a French or Japanese page helps for specific markets. Our plans include a bilingual version with a review of timber terminology.
Can we manage the species catalog ourselves?
Yes, the admin interface lets you add a species or a PDF in 10 minutes. We train 1 to 2 people on your team at delivery.
How much does international SEO cost?
A Kolonell monthly SEO plan ranges from 100,000 to 350,000 FCFA depending on the level (see our SEO plans). For niche queries such as FSC Douglas fir lumber, first results often arrive within 3 to 6 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your species, certificates and target markets: we will price a Growth or Premium scope and the 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.
