How Long Does It Take to Build a Website?

The short answer

Most of the small business websites I build take 1 to 2 weeks. A simple site can sometimes go faster. A full online store usually takes longer, because there's more to set up and more to test.

What affects the timeline

• A one to three page site: often about a week, as long as your wording and photos are ready.
• A four to eight page site: usually 1 to 2 weeks.
• An online store: depends mostly on how many products you have and how quickly you can provide their photos, prices and descriptions. A Shopify store I built this fall ran on about a two week schedule from first draft to launch date.
• Custom features: things like memberships or booking add time. I'd tell you how much before we start.

What really slows a website down

Usually it's content, not code. The most common holdups are:

• Writing the text. It's harder than most people expect, especially product descriptions and your own story.
• Getting good photos.
• Waiting on outside accounts, like registering a domain or setting up business email.
• Decisions about shipping, returns and sales tax for online stores.
• Too many people giving feedback, with no one person making the final call.

How to speed it up

1. Gather your logo, photos and basic wording before you start.
2. Choose one person to approve things.
3. Send your feedback all at once, instead of one change at a time.
4. Register your domain early, in your own name.

Launching doesn't mean Google finds you right away

A site can go live in a couple of weeks, but it can take weeks or months to start showing up well in search. If that's your concern, read why you can't find your business on Google.

Common questions

How long does a small business website take?

Most take about 1 to 2 weeks once your content is ready. Online stores and custom features usually take longer.

Can you build a website in a few days?

Sometimes, if it's simple and your wording and photos are ready. I'd rather give you a realistic date than promise one and miss it.

What do I need before starting a website?

Your logo if you have one, photos, a rough idea of the pages you want and any wording you've already got. If you don't have everything, we can work out what to do about it.