Key takeaways
- A landing page can take about a week; business websites a few weeks; online stores longer.
- Content and approvals are the most common causes of delays.
- A clear plan, quick feedback and ready content keep projects on schedule.
When you plan a new website, you probably want to know when it will be ready. The answer depends on the type of website, the number of pages, features and how quickly content and feedback are shared.
Typical timelines
- Landing page: about 5 to 7 working days.
- Business website with a few pages: usually 10 to 15 working days.
- WordPress website with admin panel and blog: about 3 to 4 weeks.
- Ecommerce website: about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on products and features.
- Custom web application: depends on complexity and is planned separately.
These are typical ranges. Your written quote should include a timeline for your specific project.
The stages of a website project
- Discovery: understanding your business, goals and customers.
- Planning: deciding pages, features and content.
- Design: creating the homepage design for your approval.
- Development: building all pages and features.
- Content: adding text, images and products.
- Testing: checking devices, forms, speed and SEO.
- Launch: going live and connecting Google tools.
What slows projects down
- Content and photos not ready
- Slow feedback or approvals
- Changing requirements during the project
- Many decision makers with different opinions
- Delays in domain or hosting access
How to speed things up
- Prepare content early using our page by page content guide
- Collect logo, photos and reviews in one folder
- Choose one person to give feedback
- Share domain and hosting access at the start
- Give clear, combined feedback on each stage
Should you rush?
A fast launch is great, but not at the expense of quality. Skipping testing or SEO setup can cause problems later. It is better to launch a smaller website on time and add more pages later than to launch a big website with errors.
A week by week example
To make timelines easier to picture, here is how a typical business website with about six pages might progress when content and feedback arrive on time:
- Days 1 to 2: discovery call, requirements, page plan and content checklist.
- Days 3 to 5: homepage design shared for your feedback.
- Days 6 to 7: design changes and final approval.
- Days 8 to 12: development of all pages, forms, WhatsApp and SEO setup.
- Days 13 to 14: testing on phones, tablets and computers, then your final review.
- Day 15: launch on your domain and connection of Google tools.
Larger projects follow the same stages, with each stage taking longer.
What you need to prepare
Having these ready at the start is the single best way to avoid delays:
- Your logo in good quality
- Text for each page, or notes we can turn into content
- Photos of your work, team, office or products
- A list of services or products with short descriptions
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- Domain and hosting login details, if you already have them
- Contact details, address and working hours
- Examples of websites you like
Tip: put everything in one shared folder and send the link. It saves days of back and forth.
How revisions affect the timeline
Feedback is a normal part of every project. What matters is how it is given. Combined feedback on each stage keeps things moving, while many small messages on different days slow the project down. Agree on the number of revision rounds in advance, and make sure the person approving the design has the final say.
Timelines for ecommerce and custom projects
Online stores take longer because of product setup, payment gateways, shipping rules, tax settings and extra testing. Adding hundreds of products can take significant time on its own. Custom web applications are planned in phases, often starting with a smaller first version that launches sooner. Read our ecommerce launch checklist for everything a store needs.
How to keep your project on schedule
A few simple habits keep most website projects on time. Agree on the timeline and milestones in writing at the start. Share all content, logins and brand files in the first few days. Choose one person to review each stage and give combined feedback within a day or two. Save new ideas that come up mid project for a second phase, unless they are essential.
On our side, we share progress updates at each stage and a private preview link, so you can see the website taking shape without waiting until the end.
What happens after launch
Launch is the beginning, not the end. In the first weeks after going live, check that forms and WhatsApp buttons deliver messages, monitor Google Search Console for indexing, and watch how visitors use the site. Plan small improvements based on real data. Ongoing website maintenance keeps everything secure and up to date over time.
Signs a project timeline is unrealistic
Be cautious if a quote promises a complete website in an unusually short time without asking about your content, pages or features. Very fast timelines often mean a generic template with little customisation, skipped testing or missing SEO setup. A realistic timeline comes after the web team understands your requirements, and it includes time for your feedback and a proper final check before launch.
Frequently asked questions
Can a website be built in one or two days?
A simple landing page can sometimes be built very quickly, but a proper business website needs time for planning, design approval, content, testing and SEO setup. Rushing usually leads to mistakes.
What is the most common reason websites get delayed?
Content. Waiting for text, photos and approvals causes more delays than design or development.
Can we launch first and add pages later?
Yes. Launching with your most important pages and adding more later is a smart way to go live sooner.
Who gives the final approval before launch?
Ideally one decision maker on your side reviews the finished website and approves the launch.
Plan your project with us
Timelines and cost go together, so read what decides the cost of a website too. We agree on a timeline before we start and keep you updated at every stage. Learn about our website design, landing page design and ecommerce development services, or contact us.
Need Help With Your Website?
Talk to Web & Growth for a free consultation and a clear written quote.
