It’s one of the first questions people ask me, right after cost. The honest answer: most small business websites take a few weeks from kickoff to launch. But the biggest factor usually isn’t the design or the building. It’s content. Here’s how the time typically breaks down.
A typical small business site
- Planning: a conversation or two to settle pages, features, and goals
- Content: gathering or writing text and photos
- Design: the look of the home page, then the rest
- Build: putting pages together, forms, SEO basics
- Review: your feedback and fixes
- Launch: going live, redirects, and final checks
A simple site with content ready to go can move quickly. Larger sites, online stores, or custom features take longer.
What slows projects down
- Waiting on text and photos
- Too many decision-makers giving feedback at different times
- Adding features halfway through
- Tracking down logins for the domain or old hosting
How to keep your project moving
- Decide who gives final approval before you start.
- Gather logins for your domain, current hosting, and Google accounts early.
- Start collecting photos of your work right away.
- Answer content questions in batches instead of one at a time.
- Keep a list of “later” ideas instead of adding them mid-project.
Is faster always better?
Not really. A site rushed out without good content or search basics often needs rework later. A few extra days spent on clear service pages and good titles pays off for years.
Redesigns have one extra step
If you’re replacing an existing site, plan time for mapping old page addresses to new ones. Those redirects protect the search rankings you already have. It’s not glamorous work, but skipping it is one of the most expensive mistakes a redesign can make.
Questions I hear a lot
Can a website be built in a week?
A very simple site with content ready can be, but most projects benefit from a little more time for feedback and polish.
Who writes the content?
It varies. Some owners write it; many prefer to have it drafted for them to review.
If you want a second set of eyes
If you have a deadline in mind, tell me early and I’ll be straight with you about what’s realistic. Here’s how I approach web design projects.