By Tanya Ganian · · 3 min readA small-business website usually takes 2 to 6 weeks to design and build. A one-page site can be ready in 1 to 3 weeks, a larger custom site takes 6 to 12 weeks, and an e-commerce or advanced site often needs 8 to 16 weeks or more. The biggest cause of delays isn't the design; it's waiting for content, photos and feedback.
Typical website design timelines
Short answer: for most small businesses, plan on a few weeks, not months. Reasonable planning estimates:
| Type of website | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| One-page website | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Basic business website | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Larger customized website | 6 to 12 weeks |
| E-commerce or advanced website | 8 to 16 weeks or longer |
These vary with the designer, the features and how quickly decisions are made. A bilingual site adds time for writing and reviewing both languages.
What takes the most time?
A website project is more than choosing colours and adding pictures. It usually includes:
- Planning the structure and pages (with keyword research)
- Writing and organizing content
- Designing pages
- Building the website
- Adding features and integrations
- Testing on phones, tablets and browsers
- Revisions
- Launch, plus sitemap submission to Google and Bing
What causes delays?
The most common cause is missing content. If the designer is waiting for your logo, photos, service descriptions or feedback, the project stalls. Changing the scope halfway through, like adding an online store, also extends the timeline.
How can you speed things up?
- Prepare your content early, or hire someone to write it (content writing)
- Name one person who approves decisions
- Give feedback promptly and in one list, not piece by piece
- Agree on the scope before design starts
Our guide on preparing for a web design consultation lists what to gather.
The bottom line
A good website doesn't have to take months, but rushing without proper planning creates problems later. Ask your designer for a schedule that includes both their tasks and yours.
Planning a project? See our web design process and what a good website budget looks like.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a small business website?
Typically 2 to 6 weeks for a basic business website, depending on the number of pages, features and how quickly content and feedback are provided.
Why do website projects take longer than expected?
Most often because content, photos or feedback arrive late, or because the scope changes during the project.
Can a website be built in one week?
A simple one-page site sometimes can, if the content is ready. Multi-page sites with SEO planning usually take longer.