"How long will it take?" is one of the first questions anyone asks about a website project, and the honest answer is "it depends". It depends on the size of the site, how much is custom, how quickly content and feedback arrive, and how many people need to approve things. Here are realistic timelines for different types of project, and how to keep yours on track.
Typical timelines by project type
| Project type | Typical timeline | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page | 1–2 weeks | Copy, design and tracking setup |
| Small business site (5–10 pages) | 4–6 weeks | Content, design rounds, feedback speed |
| Larger marketing site (20+ pages) | 8–12 weeks | Content volume, templates, migration |
| E-commerce store | 6–12 weeks | Catalogue size, integrations, payments, testing |
| Custom web application | 3–6 months+ | Features, integrations, complexity |
| Redesign with SEO migration | 8–14 weeks | Content audit, redirects, testing |
A phase-by-phase timeline (small business site)
| Phase | Typical duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Week 1 | Goals, audience, sitemap, content plan |
| Content | Weeks 1–3 (in parallel) | Copy written or gathered, images sourced |
| Design | Weeks 2–3 | Wireframes, visual design, feedback rounds |
| Development | Weeks 3–5 | Build, CMS setup, integrations |
| Testing | Week 5 | Devices, browsers, forms, speed, accessibility |
| Launch | Week 6 | Go live, redirects, tracking checks, training |
What causes delays
| Delay | How to prevent it |
|---|---|
| Late content | Start writing on day one; agree deadlines for each page |
| Slow feedback | Book review sessions in advance; agree turnaround times |
| Too many decision-makers | Name one person with final sign-off |
| Scope changes | Use a change process; park new ideas for phase two |
| Waiting for access | Share hosting, domain and tool logins early |
| Integration surprises | Confirm APIs and access during discovery |
| Unclear goals | Agree success measures before design starts |
Our guide to managing scope creep explains how to handle new ideas without derailing the timeline, and cost of delay shows why slow decisions are more expensive than they look.
How to launch sooner
- Prepare content early, or work with a copywriter from the start
- Make decisions quickly, with one clear decision-maker
- Launch the essentials first, then add extra pages and features after launch
- Use proven building blocks, such as a design system, rather than custom-building every detail
- Consolidate feedback into one list per round
Phased launches
Many businesses launch a focused version of their site first, then improve it in phases.
| Phase 1 (launch) | Phase 2 (after launch) |
|---|---|
| Homepage, key service pages, contact | Case studies, resources, blog |
| Core booking or enquiry flow | Advanced integrations |
| Essential SEO and tracking | Content marketing programme |
This gets you results sooner and lets real visitor data guide what comes next.
What a realistic plan looks like
A good agency will give you a timeline with milestones, show which tasks depend on you, and update the plan when things change. At Zelvorm, clients see their project in Mission Control, including a live launch forecast based on real progress rather than a fixed date set at the start.
Questions to ask about timelines
- What do you need from us, and by when?
- How many design and feedback rounds are included?
- What happens if content is late?
- How do you handle new requests mid-project?
- How will we know if the timeline is slipping?
Example: a six-week project plan with client tasks
| Week | Agency tasks | Your tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discovery workshop, sitemap, content plan | Share goals, access, brand assets |
| 2 | Wireframes | Review wireframes; start writing content |
| 3 | Visual design | Give consolidated design feedback; deliver content |
| 4 | Development | Approve final copy; gather photos |
| 5 | Development and testing | Review the staging site; test forms |
| 6 | Launch, training, monitoring | Final sign-off; attend training |
Most delays come from the right-hand column, which is why good agencies make your tasks and deadlines as visible as their own.
Redesigns vs new builds
| New website | Redesign of an existing site | |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Written from scratch | Audited, reused, improved and migrated |
| SEO | Building from zero | Protecting existing rankings with redirects |
| Integrations | New setup | Existing integrations to preserve or replace |
| Typical extra time | Content creation | Audit, migration and redirect testing |
Redesigns often take longer than expected because of the audit and migration work. Plan for it rather than discovering it halfway through.
How we help
Our custom business website projects come with a clear plan and a live forecast, and our team and process advisory helps in-house teams deliver projects on time. For a quick estimate of scope and timeline, try the free AI Project Blueprint.
The short version
A landing page takes one to two weeks, a small business site four to six, larger sites and stores two to three months, and custom applications longer. Late content, slow feedback and scope changes cause most delays. Prepare content early, make quick decisions with one sign-off, and launch the essentials first.
