The verdict in three sentences
In Toronto, redesign quotes between 12,000 and 80,000 CAD for the same site rarely reflect quality alone: they reflect different scopes and missing lines. The costliest traps are content migration, bilingual French content, AODA accessibility, forgotten 301 redirect plans, hosting lock in and vague code ownership. Before comparing prices, normalise every quote into a single grid and add the protective clauses below.
Six traps, line by line
| Trap | Typical quote wording | Hidden cost (2026 estimate) | Clause to require |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content migration | "Client to supply all content" | 1,000 to 6,000 CAD billed later | Number of pages, posts and documents migrated, stated in scope |
| French version | "Bilingual ready" | 20 to 35 % of project added by change order | Full French content, translation or entry only, stated clearly |
| AODA accessibility | "Accessible design" with no standard | 3,000 to 12,000 CAD of retrofit work | WCAG 2.0 AA minimum, ideally 2.1 AA, with audit before launch |
| Redirect plan | No line at all | 20 to 60 % organic traffic drop for months | Full 301 map of old URLs, tested at acceptance |
| Hosting lock in | "Hosting included, year one" | 600 to 3,000 CAD a year afterwards, no choice | Free choice of host, full server and DNS access |
| Code ownership | "Licence to use" | Cost of a rebuild if you leave | Assignment of rights to code and designs on final payment |
Ontario organisations with 50 or more employees must meet WCAG 2.0 AA on their public websites under AODA and file accessibility compliance reports. A quote silent on accessibility is a quote that will grow.
Normalising quotes into one grid
| Item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and build (25 pages) | 22,000 CAD | 14,000 CAD | 48,000 CAD |
| Migration of 80 posts and 30 PDFs | Included | Not mentioned (est. 3,000 CAD) | Included |
| French version | Not mentioned (est. 6,000 CAD) | Included | Included |
| WCAG 2.1 AA audit and fixes | Not mentioned (est. 7,000 CAD) | Not mentioned (est. 7,000 CAD) | Included |
| 301 redirect plan | Not mentioned (est. 1,500 CAD) | Included | Included |
| Hosting, 3 years | Locked in, 2,400 CAD a year | Your choice, 900 CAD a year | Your choice, 1,200 CAD a year |
| Maintenance, 3 years | On request (est. 10,800 CAD) | 300 CAD a month | 600 CAD a month |
| Corrected 3 year total | 54,500 CAD | 37,500 CAD | 73,200 CAD |
Quote A looked mid priced and complete. Corrected, it carries four gaps worth 25,300 CAD, and its gap to quote B grows from 8,000 to 17,000 CAD.
Clauses to add before signing
Attach a scope schedule covering pages and content migrated, languages and who translates, accessibility standard and audit method, the redirect map delivered before launch, assignment of rights on final payment, credentials handed to you, response time for outages and a payment schedule of 30 % on signing, 40 % on design approval and 30 % at launch. If forms collect personal information, add PIPEDA safeguards and where the data is stored.
For simpler scopes, Kolonell is a remote benchmark: an 8 to 12 page Growth site at 530 to 910 EUR in 14 to 21 days, maintenance from 38 to 115 EUR per month, with code ownership transferred to the client.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Michael, VP finance at an 80 person engineering services firm in Mississauga, receives quotes of 22,000, 14,000 and 48,000 CAD. Normalised over three years, they become 54,500, 37,500 and 73,200 CAD. He picks quote B, adds the WCAG 2.1 AA audit at 7,000 CAD, and signs at 44,500 CAD over three years, 10,000 CAD less than quote A, which had looked like the safe middle option.
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FAQ
What does a website redesign cost in Toronto in 2026?
Quotes typically run from 12,000 to 80,000 CAD depending on pages, languages, accessibility and integrations. A 25 page bilingual corporate site usually lands between 25,000 and 50,000 CAD once every line is included.
Do we have to meet AODA on the new site?
If your organisation has 50 or more employees in Ontario, yes: WCAG 2.0 AA applies to your public website. Auditing and fixing usually costs 3,000 to 12,000 CAD.
How much does a French version add?
Generally 20 to 35 % of the project, depending on whether the agency translates or only enters supplied text. Federally regulated firms and those selling in Quebec should treat it as essential.
Why do redirects matter so much?
Without 301 redirects, old indexed URLs return errors and organic traffic can drop 20 to 60 %. A proper redirect plan usually costs 1,000 to 2,000 CAD.
Who should own the code?
Your company, on final payment. A licence to use means rebuilding if you change provider.
Let's scope your project. Send us your quotes or your current sitemap, and we will help you compare on equal scope and price a redesign with redirects, migration and code ownership included. 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.
