Typical timelines
| Type of project | Typical time | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Small business website (up to five pages) | 4 to 6 weeks | How ready your words and photos are |
| Bespoke website | 6 to 10 weeks | Number of pages, custom features, animation |
| Online shop | 6 to 12 weeks | Number of products, options, delivery rules and links to other systems |
| Redesign of an existing website | Similar to a new website | How much content is being kept, rewritten or moved |
These are typical ranges, not promises: every quote should give you a timeline for your own project.
How a website project runs
- Kick-off (week 1). You send your words, photos and logins, and the pages are planned.
- Design (weeks 1 to 2). You see the homepage design first and give feedback.
- Build (weeks 2 to 4). Every page, form and feature is built and tested on phones, tablets and computers.
- Changes and launch (weeks 4 to 6). Rounds of changes, then it goes live, followed by checks that everything works.
What slows a website down
- Waiting for content. Words and photos are the number one cause of delay. Have them ready, or ask for writing to be included.
- Slow feedback. A week to reply to a design adds a week to the project.
- Too many decision-makers. Agree who signs things off before you start.
- Changing the brief halfway. New ideas are fine, but they add time. Save them for after launch if you can.
- Domain and hosting logins. Find them early. They’re often with someone who set things up years ago.
How to keep yours on track
- Gather your words, photos, logo and logins before kick-off.
- Book time in your diary to review designs within a couple of days.
- Give one combined list of changes each round, not a drip of emails.
- Agree a launch date with a little room to spare.
How I work
Every quote I send includes the timeline, and the clock starts once payment has cleared and I have what I need from you. A starter website usually takes four to six weeks; I’ll tell you upfront if yours will take longer and why. If a project goes quiet for more than 60 days, my terms allow me to treat it as finished, so nothing stays half-done forever.
When you don’t need me
If you need something online this week, a simple website builder page will do while you plan the real thing. When you’re ready for a website built properly, see my website design service.
Written by Ben Brailsford-Chambers, the web designer behind Clever Rabbit in Oldbury. Last updated 25 October 2026. More guides