The verdict in three sentences
In Nairobi, redesigning the website of a yacht and private aviation charter broker costs roughly KES 300,000 to 1,500,000 with a local agency in 2026 (about USD 2,300 to 11,500), versus USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 on Kolonell's fixed grid. The first risk is both legal and commercial: a broker's site must never suggest that it operates the aircraft or vessels, since operating licences belong to the operator. Next come protecting the destination pages that already rank and enquiry forms cut to the strict minimum, with no passport copies.
Which signals say the redesign is due?
- The site says "our fleet" or shows aircraft photos without stating they belong to partner operators.
- Destination pages (Kenyan coast, Zanzibar, safari airstrips, Seychelles) exist but no longer bring enquiries because they are out of date.
- The form asks for a passport copy, date of birth and passenger weights at first contact.
- The site is slow for clients browsing on mobile from Europe or the Gulf.
- Indicative prices on the site are stale and no longer match operators' real quotes.
How do you write as a broker, not an operator?
| Wording to avoid | Broker wording | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "Our fleet" | "Aircraft and yachts from partner operators" | the broker operates nothing |
| "We fly you to Lamu" | "We arrange your flight to Lamu with a certified operator" | explicit intermediary role |
| Fixed price per route | "Quote on request by aircraft and date" | prices are set by the operator |
| Aircraft photos without captions | caption "partner operator aircraft, photo supplied with consent" | rights and transparency |
| "Guaranteed safety" | "Selected operators, licences held and maintained by them" | no guaranteed outcome |
| "Book now" button | "Request a proposal" | no firm online sale |
Aviation compliance (Kenya Civil Aviation Authority) and maritime compliance sit with the operator. The broker's site describes its role, its selection and its responsiveness, and claims nothing more.
What budget for the redesign?
2026 ballpark, based on typical agency quotes and public local agency rate pages, indicative conversion at about KES 130 to USD 1.
| Option | 2026 ballpark | Approximate equivalent | Usual timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi freelancer | KES 80,000 to 250,000 | USD 600 to 1,900 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Westlands or Kilimani agency, standard site | KES 300,000 to 700,000 | USD 2,300 to 5,400 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Established agency, premium project | KES 700,000 to 1,500,000 | USD 5,400 to 11,500 | 8 to 14 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | fixed price | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | fixed price | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | fixed price, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | 3 to 4 weeks |
Included: a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, 3 months of support. An online availability and quote engine stays on quote. Details on the international offer page.
What timeline and which risks?
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| URL and destination inventory | 3 to 4 days | page table with traffic and enquiries |
| Broker rewrite and sign-off | 1 to 2 weeks on the client's side | approved copy and captions |
| Design and build | 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready | site on staging |
| Testing, 301 map, compliance review | 4 to 5 days | tested redirects, reviewed copy |
| Go-live | 1 evening, outside peak season | sitemap submitted to Search Console |
Main risks: destination pages losing rankings (inventory, 301 map, Search Console monitoring), migrating content and images whose rights must be confirmed, integrations (CRM, quote engine, messaging) linked or embedded on quote, downtime during the DNS switch. Forms follow Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019, overseen by the ODPC: name, contact, dates, number of passengers, preferred destination; identity documents are sent later through a secure channel provided by the operator or broker. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask: who checks the broker wording? Are photos royalty-free or supplied by operators? How many URLs are in the 301 map? Is support after 3 months priced (at Kolonell: on quote)?
When a local agency is the better choice: if you want on-site shoots at Wilson Airport or on the coast, regular video production, or an agency that also runs your client events in Nairobi.
Need a professional website?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Savanna & Sea Charter Brokers, a Nairobi-based broker arranging private flights to safari airstrips and the coast, plus yacht charters in the Seychelles and Zanzibar.
Before: 52 URLs, 18 of them destination pages, a 14-field form with a passport copy. After: 18 destination pages rewritten in broker wording, 6 pages merged, a 6-field form. 301 map: 52 lines.
Budget: Growth tier USD 4,900. A local agency quoted KES 900,000, about USD 6,900. Gap: roughly USD 2,000, which the broker keeps for a quote request engine priced separately.
FAQ
How much does a charter broker website redesign cost in Nairobi?
KES 300,000 to 1,500,000 with a local agency, 2026 ballpark. At Kolonell, USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900.
Can we show flight prices?
Only if the operator supplies and confirms them. In 100% of cases, "quote on request" remains the safer wording.
Is the availability engine included?
No. The USD 4,900 Growth tier covers the site and forms; an availability or quote engine is priced on quote.
What data should we ask for at first contact?
5 to 6 fields: name, email or phone, dates, number of passengers, destination. The passport comes later, through a secure channel.
When should we go live?
Outside your busiest weeks, with 1 evening for the switch and 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring.
Let's scope your project. Broker wording, destination pages and a 301 map priced on Kolonell's grid, 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.
