The verdict in three sentences
For a Sandton fee-only adviser, the redesign that pays off is the one that older clients can actually read and use: strong contrast, larger type, full keyboard navigation and forms that do not time out, built to WCAG 2.2 AA from the first wireframe. In 2026, Sandton and Rosebank agencies typically quote ZAR 120,000 to 450,000 (about USD 6,700 to 25,000) for a wealth firm redesign, against Kolonell's fixed USD 4,900 Growth or USD 8,900 Premium, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. Plan for two things that agencies rarely price upfront: an independent accessibility check and a compliance sign-off of every page.
Why do Sandton wealth firms redesign in 2026?
Firms around the Sandton CBD, Rosebank and Hyde Park advise executives, entrepreneurs and families who invest offshore. Many of those clients are in their sixties and seventies, and many of their adult children now handle the first contact. A site built in 2017 often fails both groups.
Typical triggers we see in briefs:
- Grey text on white backgrounds and 14-pixel body copy that clients zoom to 200 percent, which breaks the layout.
- Menus that only open on hover, so keyboard and screen reader users cannot reach the fee disclosure.
- A "book a review" form that asks for ID number and portfolio value, then times out after 5 minutes.
- A fee-only positioning that is buried, while it is the main reason prospects call you.
- Insights and market commentary that sit in a blog nobody updated since 2022.
- Hosting on a single server with no failover, which made the site unreliable during load-shedding stages.
What should the budget look like?
A redesign budget is easier to compare line by line. The figures below are a 2026 ballpark from typical Johannesburg agency quotes and public rate pages, converted at roughly ZAR 18 per USD.
| Budget line | Freelancer | Mid-size Johannesburg agency | Large Sandton or Rosebank agency | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and URL inventory | ZAR 5,000 to 10,000 | ZAR 15,000 to 30,000 | ZAR 30,000 to 60,000 | Included |
| Design to WCAG 2.2 AA | Rarely offered | ZAR 30,000 to 70,000 | ZAR 70,000 to 140,000 | Included as design target |
| Build and CMS | ZAR 25,000 to 70,000 | ZAR 60,000 to 120,000 | ZAR 120,000 to 200,000 | Included |
| Insights migration and 301 map | ZAR 5,000 to 20,000 | ZAR 15,000 to 30,000 | ZAR 30,000 to 50,000 | Volume set in the quote |
| Copywriting | Client supplies | Often extra | Included | Native English included |
| Typical total | ZAR 35,000 to 100,000 | ZAR 120,000 to 250,000 | ZAR 250,000 to 450,000 | USD 2,900 / 4,900 / 8,900 |
An independent accessibility audit (a third-party cost, often ZAR 20,000 to 60,000, about USD 1,100 to 3,300) is worth adding whatever provider you choose. Client portals, custodian integrations and financial planning tools stay on quote and are never rebuilt inside a fixed-grid site. Compare tiers on the international website offer.
What does WCAG 2.2 AA mean for an older client base?
WCAG 2.2 AA is the reference most auditors use. For a wealth site read by clients over 65, these criteria matter most:
| Criterion | What clients notice | What to require in the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast (1.4.3) | Body text readable without zoom | Ratio of at least 4.5:1 on all body text |
| Resize and reflow (1.4.4, 1.4.10) | Page still works at 200 percent zoom | No horizontal scrolling at 320 pixels width |
| Keyboard access (2.1.1) | Every menu and form reachable with Tab | No hover-only menus |
| Focus visible and not obscured (2.4.7, 2.4.11) | They can see where they are | Clear focus ring, sticky header never hides it |
| Target size (2.5.8) | Buttons easy to tap | Targets of at least 24 by 24 pixels |
| Timing (2.2.1) | Form does not expire mid-entry | No timeout, or a warning and extension |
| Redundant entry (3.3.7) | No retyping details already given | Multi-step forms remember entries |
Timeline and risks, week by week
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks once content and disclosures are ready.
- Week 0 (your side): freeze bios, fee disclosure, complaints procedure, conflicts of interest policy and regulatory status text.
- Week 1: URL inventory, accessibility baseline of the current site, wireframes tested with keyboard only.
- Week 2: design and build, contrast and type scale checked on every template.
- Week 3: insights migration, 301 redirect map, staging review by your compliance officer.
- Week 4: go-live at a quiet hour, Search Console and analytics checks for the following four weeks.
The risks worth naming in the contract:
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Who owns it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking loss from missing redirects | Medium | High | Provider, with your sign-off on the map |
| Disclosure pages unreachable after launch | Low | High | Both, tested on staging |
| Accessibility regressions in later edits | High | Medium | Your editors, with a short style guide |
| Portal and custodian links broken | Low | High | Provider tests, portal vendor confirms |
| Marketing copy not cleared by compliance | Medium | High | Your compliance officer before go-live |
| Hosting outage during power cuts | Low with cloud hosting | Medium | Hosting provider with redundant power |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Adviser marketing in South Africa sits under the FAIS Act and FSCA expectations, and personal data under POPIA, overseen by the Information Regulator. Keep claims factual, publish no performance figures or testimonials unless your compliance officer confirms they are permitted, and keep public forms minimal: name, email, phone and preferred time. This is not legal advice.
When is a local Sandton agency the better choice?
If you want weekly workshops in your Sandton boardroom, user testing with real clients in person, or a redesign bundled with a new client portal and CRM, a Johannesburg agency is easier to manage. The same applies if your board insists on a South African supplier for procurement reasons.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, hypothetical firm. Thabo runs "Hyde Park Fee-Only Partners", a fee-only advisory firm whose clients are mostly over 60. A local developer quoted ZAR 70,000 (about USD 3,900) to retrofit contrast and keyboard fixes on the old theme, and a Rosebank agency quoted ZAR 300,000 (about USD 16,700) for a full redesign.
- Kolonell Growth: USD 4,900.
- Independent WCAG 2.2 AA audit (third-party cost): ZAR 30,000, about USD 1,700.
- Total: USD 6,600, against USD 16,700 for the agency, a difference of USD 10,100.
- Against the retrofit (USD 3,900), the redesign costs USD 2,700 more but also fixes the fee-only message, the forms and the insights hub.
FAQ
Is WCAG 2.2 AA a legal requirement for our site?
South African law does not set a single website accessibility standard for private firms that we can cite with certainty, so treat WCAG 2.2 AA as the professional benchmark. Meeting its roughly 55 A and AA success criteria also protects you if clients complain.
How much does an accessibility audit cost?
A 2026 ballpark for an independent audit of 15 to 25 pages is ZAR 20,000 to 60,000, about USD 1,100 to 3,300. It is a third-party cost on top of any build price.
Can our older clients still use the current login link?
Yes. Portal and custodian links keep the same destination and are tested on staging; the portal itself stays with its vendor and any change to it is quoted separately.
How long will compliance review take?
Plan 2 to 5 working days for a 20-page site, longer if the fee disclosure is rewritten. Starting review on staging in week 3 keeps the 3 to 4 week schedule.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Maintenance and hosting are on quote. Ask for a written monthly figure from every provider before comparing.
Let's scope your project. Send us your page count, your disclosure pages and your accessibility goals, and we will return a fixed price from USD 2,900 and a 3 to 4 week plan. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
