The verdict in three sentences
A website redesign for an executive search firm in Melbourne is judged first on one thing: a board chair or HR director must find your practice areas, partner seniority and confidentiality process in under a minute. Local agencies typically charge USD 9,750 to 26,000 for this kind of project, while Kolonell's fixed grid starts at USD 2,900 (Starter) and puts most firms on USD 4,900 (Growth). The real risk of a redesign is not the budget but lost search visibility and poor handling of candidate data, and both can be contained with serious preparation.
The signals already costing you mandates
An executive search firm speaks to two audiences. Clients (boards, CEOs, HR heads) assess your sectors, your partners' experience, your discretion and your method. Candidates look for open mandates and a simple, safe way to send a CV. A site that serves one audience poorly weakens the other.
| Signal on the current site | What a client concludes | Expected fix |
|---|---|---|
| Two-line partner biographies with no sector | "They cover everything, so nothing in depth" | Partner biographies with sectors and role types |
| No description of the process | Doubts about rigour and confidentiality | Process page: brief, mapping, assessment, follow-up |
| CV form landing in a shared inbox | Concern about data protection | Secure upload, minimised data, stated retention period |
| Client logos without written permission | Reputational risk and misleading claims | Remove them or obtain written consent |
| Slow on mobile (over 4 seconds) | Dated image with senior candidates | Lightweight pages, optimised images |
| Undated mandates | Visibly stale listings | Publication date and automatic removal |
On the legal side, the Privacy Act 1988 governs personal information, with a small business exemption below AUD 3 million turnover that carries exceptions. The Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading claims, which directly covers promises about placements or success rates. This is not legal advice: have your notices reviewed by your adviser.
What to budget: three routes compared
Market ranges are 2026 ballpark figures from typical local agency quotes, converted at roughly 0.65 USD per AUD (approximate).
| Route | Budget | Typical timeline | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne freelancer | USD 3,250 to 7,800 (AUD 5,000 to 12,000) | 4 to 8 weeks | Varies, copywriting rarely included |
| Mid-sized local agency | USD 9,750 to 26,000 (AUD 15,000 to 40,000) | 8 to 14 weeks | Strategy, design, build, copywriting often optional |
| Large brand agency | USD 32,500 to 78,000 (AUD 50,000 to 120,000) | 3 to 6 months | Full brand platform |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Showcase site, native copywriting, 3 months of support |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Pages by sector and partner, SEO structure, 3 months of support |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
| Maintenance after delivery | USD 100 to 390/month (market assumption) | Monthly | At Kolonell: on quote after the 3 included months |
All three Kolonell tiers include a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting and 3 months of support. A candidate portal linked to your ATS, a gated client area or a CRM integration are priced on quote. Details are on the international offer.
Timeline and risks, phase by phase
Kolonell timelines run from the moment content is ready: 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium.
| Phase | Indicative duration | Main risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory and scoping | Week 1 | Missing URLs that receive traffic | Full export of URLs and pages that generate enquiries |
| Content and biographies | Before the build starts | Partners signing off biographies late | Sign-off schedule agreed by each partner |
| Design and build | Weeks 1 to 3 | Non-compliant CV form | Minimised fields, consent, retention period |
| Compliance review | Week 3 | Unverifiable claims about outcomes | Line-by-line review before go-live |
| Migration and redirects | Week 4 | Lost Google positions | 301 redirect map, Search Console monitoring |
| Go-live | End of week 4 | Downtime | Off-peak switch, rollback ready |
Questions to ask any provider: who writes the biographies, how CVs are stored, who builds the redirect map, what support covers, and what each requested integration costs.
When a Melbourne agency is the better choice. If you want weekly in-person workshops, on-site video of your partners, or a full rebrand with months of research, a local agency fits better. Kolonell suits firms that want a solid site, delivered fast, at a fixed price and managed remotely.
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Illustrative example: "Yarra Board Search", 6 consultants in Melbourne, receives a local agency quote of AUD 28,000, about USD 18,200, for its redesign.
- Kolonell Growth tier: USD 4,900, a USD 13,300 gap with the local quote.
- The candidate portal linked to the ATS is priced separately, on quote.
- The site has 140 indexed URLs: each one is kept or receives a 301 redirect, and Search Console is checked weekly for 8 weeks.
The firm keeps most of its budget for partner content, which weighs more than design in a board's decision.
FAQ
How much does a website redesign cost for an executive search firm in Melbourne?
Local agencies generally ask AUD 15,000 to 40,000, roughly USD 9,750 to 26,000. At Kolonell the price is fixed: USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 depending on the tier.
Will the redesign cost us our search visibility?
The risk is real if old URLs disappear without redirects. A full inventory, a 301 redirect map and Search Console monitoring for 6 to 8 weeks reduce it sharply.
How should candidate CVs be handled on the new site?
Collect the minimum (name, contact, CV, consent), state the retention period, for instance 24 months, and avoid the shared inbox. Integration with your ATS is priced on quote.
Can we show our placements and clients?
Only with written consent and verifiable facts, since the Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading claims. Without consent, describe role types and sectors rather than names.
Can the site run in several languages?
Yes, that is the role of the Premium tier at USD 8,900, with languages set in the quote. Allow 4 to 6 weeks once content is ready.
Let's scope your project. A Growth redesign at USD 4,900 covers sector pages, partner biographies and a compliant candidate form, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. 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.
