How Long Does It Take to Build a Website? A Realistic Timeline
A realistic, honest timeline for building a small business website — from first consultation to going live.
Website timelines vary wildly depending on who you ask, and unrealistic promises ("your site in 24 hours!") often mean cut corners. Here's a realistic breakdown:
Simple one-page landing site: 1–2 days, once content and images are ready.
Standard multi-page business website: 2–5 days for design and build, assuming content (text, logo, images) is provided upfront.
E-commerce website: 1–3 weeks, depending on how many products, payment gateway setup, and shipping configuration.
The biggest delay factor isn't design — it's content. Agencies and freelancers can usually build fast. What slows things down is waiting on the business owner to send through logos, photos, service descriptions, and pricing. Having this ready before you start can cut your timeline in half.
A realistic weekly plan looks like:
- Day 1: Consultation, gather content and brand assets
- Day 2–3: Design and build
- Day 4: Review and revisions
- Day 5: Final checks, go live
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