The verdict in three sentences
A bilingual 30-page corporate website is delivered in 12 to 14 weeks for a budget of EUR 18,000 to EUR 30,000 (ex VAT) in 2026. The launch date promised to leadership depends only half on the agency: 70 % of delays come from client-supplied content and approval chains. A credible timeline therefore sets content delivery milestones and a limited number of approvers from week one.
The typical 14-week timeline
The communications manager of a cross-border mid-sized company can rely on this breakdown, which assumes a client project team available 4 to 6 hours a week.
| Weeks | Phase | Deliverable | Client sign-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1 to W2 | Discovery | Scoping note, goals, list of 30 pages, backward plan | Kick-off steering committee |
| W3 to W4 | Sitemap and wireframes | Approved sitemap, wireframes of 8 to 10 templates | 1 round, 5 working days |
| W5 | Visual designs | Home page and 2 key templates on desktop and mobile | Executive team |
| W6 to W9 | Development | CMS, templates, forms, second language version | 30-minute weekly check-ins |
| W4 to W10 | Content in both languages in parallel | Copy, photos, translation | Client writing, native proofreading |
| W10 to W11 | Content loading | 30 pages per language on staging | Review by each department |
| W12 to W13 | Acceptance testing | Test plan, fixes, browser testing | 2 test cycles |
| W14 | Go-live | 301 redirects, Search Console, training | Leadership green light |
Content production starts in week 4, as soon as the sitemap is approved. Waiting for development to finish before writing copy mechanically adds 4 to 6 weeks.
Where delays come from and what they cost
Use this table during discovery to agree each party's commitments.
| Cause of delay | Share of observed delays | Average delay | Countermeasure in the plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late content | 40 % | 3 to 5 weeks | Deadline per page, writing template supplied |
| Approval chain too long | 30 % | 2 to 4 weeks | 3 approvers maximum, 5-day response time |
| Late translation | 10 % | 1 to 3 weeks | Translator booked from W2, EUR 0.12 to 0.18 per word |
| Scope change mid-project | 10 % | 2 to 3 weeks | Priced change request, move to phase 2 |
| Technical issues on the agency side | 10 % | 1 to 2 weeks | 1-week buffer built into the plan |
A bilingual 30-page site represents about 15,000 to 20,000 source words, or EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,600 of professional translation.
Budget by phase
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Discovery and UX: EUR 3,000 to EUR 5,000, about 15 % of the budget.
- Design: EUR 3,000 to EUR 5,500 for designs and mobile adaptation.
- Development: EUR 8,000 to EUR 14,000, CMS, templates, forms and second language.
- Testing, SEO and go-live: EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,500, redirects included.
- Training and support: EUR 1,000 to EUR 2,000 for 2 half-days.
Translation and photography are priced separately, as they depend on the actual volume supplied by the client.
Mini case study
Julie, communications manager of a 450-employee industrial company in Strasbourg, must give the executive committee a date. The project starts on 5 January 2027 for EUR 24,000. With the 14-week plan, go-live falls on 9 April. On previous projects, each week of delay tied up about 6 hours of her team's time, EUR 360 at EUR 60 per loaded hour. By enforcing 3 approvers and content deadlines, she avoids an estimated 5-week delay, EUR 1,800 of internal time, and launches before the April trade show.
FAQ
Can a 30-page site ship in 8 weeks? Yes, if content in both languages is ready before kick-off and a single decision-maker signs off. Expect a 10 to 15 % premium to run more work in parallel.
How many approvers should we plan? Three at most: communications, one executive representative and a native proofreader for the second language. Beyond 5 approvers, approval times double on average.
Translate in-house or outsource? Professional translation at EUR 0.12 to 0.18 per word, proofread by a native-speaking colleague, offers the best quality and speed. In-house translation without review often causes 1 to 2 weeks of corrections.
What does acceptance testing cover? A test plan of 80 to 150 checks (layout, forms, links, second language, accessibility, performance) run on 4 browsers and 2 screen sizes, over 2 cycles.
What maintenance budget after launch? Between EUR 150 and EUR 400 a month for hosting, security updates and 1 to 3 hours of enhancements.
Let's scope your project. Give us your target date, page count and languages, and we will build a realistic backward plan and a phase-by-phase budget. 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.
