Most business websites we build go live within two to three weeks. Larger online stores and custom systems take longer, and the single biggest factor isn't the developer at all. Here's how the time actually breaks down.
The stages of a website project
- Scope. Agreeing what the site has to do, who it's for and what success looks like, then getting a fixed quote. This can be done in a day or two if you know what you want.
- Design. Layouts and user journeys before any production code. You review, we refine. Three rounds of revisions per page are included as standard.
- Build. Development against the approved design, responsive on every screen size and tested on real devices.
- Launch. The site goes live, you get every credential, and your team is shown how to run it. You then have two working days to flag anything before the project is closed off.
What slows a website down
In our experience, the most common delay is content. Text, photos, product information and logos that arrive late hold up everything that depends on them. Other common causes:
- Decisions that take a long time, or too many people needing to approve each change.
- Requirements that grow after the scope is agreed.
- Waiting on third parties, such as payment gateway approval or domain transfers.
- Images supplied inside PDFs or Word files, which strips out their quality.
How to get your website live sooner
- Have your copy written in an editable document before the project starts.
- Supply photos at the highest resolution you have, as separate files.
- Nominate one person to give feedback and sign off.
- If you have a hard deadline, say so upfront. A good developer will tell you honestly whether it's achievable.
When it takes longer
Online stores with large catalogues, custom web systems such as portals and booking engines, and anything that integrates with other software are scoped individually. You'll get a timeline with the quote, so you know what to expect before you commit.
Ready to plan yours? Tell us what you need and we'll come back with a scope, a fixed quote and a realistic timeline.