The verdict in three sentences
For a wealth management firm or family office in Bath, a local or Bristol agency will usually quote 6 000 to 22 000+ GBP in 2026, while a freelancer sits around 2 000 to 7 000 GBP, with copywriting and support often extra. Kolonell builds the site for 2 300 GBP (Starter), 3 900 GBP (Growth) or 6 900 GBP (Premium), with native English copy, a project manager in your time zone and 3 months of support included. In a market where clients are older, cautious and loyal, the right site is clear, accessible and calm, and the right quote is the one whose three-year cost you understand before signing.
The Bath market: who reads your site
Bath punches far above its size in private wealth. The Georgian city and its World Heritage streets attract retirees, families relocating from London, and business owners who sold up and moved west. The surrounding villages of Somerset and Wiltshire add landowners and multi-generational families. Many local firms are independent planning practices built on long relationships, and Bristol, a short train ride away, brings larger competitors and agencies into the same market.
Your readers are often over 55, sometimes over 75, frequently researching on behalf of a parent or with an adult child. They want to know who will look after them, how you are paid, how you are regulated and what happens to their family's affairs over time. The city also has a visible international community, including French-speaking retirees and families, who appreciate a page in their own language. A single family office managing one family's affairs, with no external clients, may want only a discreet, accurate page.
Bath and Bristol agencies, freelancers, Kolonell: what you get for the price
Local ranges are a prudent 2026 ballpark based on public rate cards of UK agencies, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co agency profiles and freelance platform rates (Upwork, PeoplePerHour, Malt). They are not official and vary with scope.
| Criterion | Bath or Bristol agency | Freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build price (2026 ballpark) | 6 000 to 22 000+ GBP | 2 000 to 7 000 GBP | 2 300 / 3 900 / 6 900 GBP |
| Delivery | 6 to 12 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks (Premium: 4 to 6, written schedule) |
| Copywriting for financial services | Often a separate line | Usually your job | Native English copy included, drafted for compliance review |
| Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) | Varies by agency | Varies | Built in |
| Support after launch | Monthly retainer | Hourly | 3 months included, then quoted |
| Domain and access | Check the contract | Varies | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
| Payment | Deposit plus milestones | Variable | 50 % to start, 50 % at delivery, bank transfer or Wise |
You can review the full inclusions on Kolonell's offer for international clients.
What each tier covers for a Bath practice or family office
| Tier | Price | Scope for a wealth firm | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 2 300 GBP | 5 to 6 pages: who we are, services, team, how we are regulated, secure contact form, legal notices | A single family office or a newly launched two-planner practice |
| Growth | 3 900 GBP | Starter plus pages on retirement income, inheritance and succession planning, investment management, later-life planning, adviser bios, a clear fees page, articles | An established independent practice of 4 to 12 people |
| Premium | 6 900 GBP | Growth plus bespoke design, pages for families, business owners and international clients, bilingual EN/FR, written schedule | A firm with a broader regional or French-speaking clientele |
| Quoted on request | Sur devis | Client portal, secure document exchange, valuation dashboards, ongoing SEO, maintenance after month 3 | Firms needing a custom application |
Compliance, accessibility and discretion
- Financial promotion rules. FCA financial promotion rules apply depending on your firm's permissions and status. Your compliance officer must validate the content before launch, and the schedule leaves room for that.
- Discretion. No client names, no return figures, no investment advice, and AUM only if you already publish it.
- Older readers. Larger type, strong contrast, plain language and simple forms. WCAG 2.1 AA is the common reference.
- Data protection. Contact forms collect personal data under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018: privacy notice, cookie consent and minimal fields.
- Languages. English and French are written natively by Kolonell; any other language is supplied by you or quoted separately.
This is factual context, not legal or regulatory advice.
On proof, we only cite real work: TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a bilingual EN/FR notary and apostille service in New Jersey with quote requests, a booking calendar and a back office, and Orven Properties (orvenproperties.com), a trilingual FR/EN/AR property advisory in Dubai.
Red flags in a local quote
| Red flag | What it costs you | What to ask instead |
|---|---|---|
| Domain registered by the agency | Leaving means renegotiating your own name | Registration in the firm's name from day one |
| Proprietary CMS, no export | A full rebuild if you change supplier | Standard CMS, admin access, export |
| Copy marked as client supplied | Weeks of partner time | Copy included, you review |
| Retainer starting at launch for 24 months | Often more than the build | Included support period, then a quote |
| Accessibility not mentioned | Older clients struggle, complaints risk | WCAG 2.1 AA in writing |
| No written schedule | Launch slips past your planned date | Dated milestones in the quote |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example, hypothetical practice.* Catherine and Rob are launching an imaginary planning practice in Bath after leaving a larger firm. A local agency quotes 9 500 GBP plus 180 GBP per month for hosting and maintenance from launch. Three-year total: 9 500 + (180 x 36) = 15 980 GBP.
Kolonell Growth costs 3 900 GBP with 3 months of support included. At the same 180 GBP monthly assumption for the remaining 33 months (a calculation hypothesis; Kolonell quotes maintenance separately): 3 900 + (180 x 33) = 9 840 GBP. The difference is 6 140 GBP, roughly the cost of the agency build's design phase. If they later need a client portal, it would be quoted as a separate project.
Want the same comparison on your own figures? Use the free quote request.
FAQ
Is a Bath or Bristol agency better because it is local?
A local agency can meet in person, which some partners value. Kolonell works by Google Meet at a time that suits you, with a written weekly update, for 2 300 to 6 900 GBP instead of 6 000 to 22 000+ GBP locally.
What about time zones?
The team is based in Senegal (GMT): the same time as Bath in winter, one hour behind in summer.
Can our clients log in to see documents?
A portal is a custom application, quoted on request, and never part of the three website tiers.
How long until launch?
Starter and Growth take 3 to 4 weeks after content approval; Premium usually 4 to 6 weeks with a written schedule.
Do we own everything?
Yes. The domain is in your name and all access is handed over; payment is 50 % at the start and 50 % at delivery.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your clients, team and compliance process, and we will propose Starter, Growth or Premium with a dated plan. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
