BusinessWeb Design
If you’re planning a new website for your business, one of the first questions that comes to mind is:
“How long will it take to build the website?”
The honest answer: it depends.
A professional website can take anywhere from one week to three months, depending on the complexity, content, design needs, revisions, and development features.
In this guide, you’ll get a clear, realistic breakdown of how long websites take to build in 2025—whether you’re launching a small business website, a custom brand site, or a full e-commerce platform.
Average Website Development Timelines
| Website Type | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Basic One-Page Website | 3–7 days |
| 5–7 Page Business Website | 2–3 weeks |
| Custom Professional Website | 4–6 weeks |
| Advanced Business Website | 6–10 weeks |
| E-commerce (Shopify, WooCommerce) | 4–8 weeks |
| Large Custom Platform | 2–3+ months |
But to understand WHY it takes this long, you need to see the stages.
The 6 Stages of Building a Professional Website
Below is the exact process most agencies (including ours) follow.
1. Discovery & Planning (2–5 days)
This is where everything starts. We clarify:
Your business goals
Target audience
Branding direction
Pages you need
Features required
- Competitor analysis
- SEO structure
- Website style references
The better the planning, the smoother the project.
Time needed: 2–5 days
Depends on: how fast communication happens.
2. UX / UI Design (1–3 weeks)
This stage includes:
Wireframes
Website structure
Page layout
- Brand colors + typography
- High-fidelity design mockups
- Mobile responsive versions
For custom websites, this step is extremely important because good design reduces revisions later.
Time needed:
Template-based design: 2–5 days
Custom website design: 1–3 weeks
Depends on:
Number of pages
Revision rounds
- Complexity of design
3. Development Phase (1–4 weeks)
This is where designs turn into a functional website.
Development includes:
Front-end development (HTML, CSS, JS)
Back-end or CMS setup (WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, WooCommerce)
Theme customization
Custom features
- Animations and interactions
- Mobile responsiveness
Time needed:
Standard business website: 1–2 weeks
Custom advanced website: 3–4 weeks
Depends on:
Choice of platform (Shopify is faster, custom WordPress takes longer)
Third-party integrations
- Custom coding requirements
4. Content Creation & Uploading (3–10 days)
Many projects get delayed because the content is not ready.
This step includes:
Copywriting (headlines, text, product descriptions)
Image selection
SEO meta titles & descriptions
- Blog setup
- Translations (important for Swiss businesses)
Time needed:
If content is ready: 2–3 days
If content needs writing: 5–10 days
Content is often the #1 cause of website delays.
5. Testing & Quality Assurance (5–7 days)
Testing is done on:
Desktop
Mobile
Tablets
All major browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
Speed performance
- Core Web Vitals
- Form submissions
- Payment gateways (for e-commerce)
- Security setup
Time needed: 5–7 days
6. Launch & Final Optimization (1–3 days)
This final stage includes:
DNS setup
Hosting configuration
SEO setup
Security setup
- Backups
- Live site testing
- Fixing final issues
And finally… your website goes live.
Time needed: 1–3 days
Factors That Can Delay Website Delivery
Some delays are completely avoidable. The most common are:
Slow communication
When feedback or approvals take days, timelines extend.
Content not ready
If images, text, or product details are missing, development pauses.
Too many revisions
Unlimited changes = unlimited delays.
New features added during the project
Adding extra pages or functions also adds extra time.
Poor hosting
Cheap hosting slows down development and launch.
How to Speed Up Your Website Project
Here’s how to reduce timeline by 30–40%:
Provide content early
Approve designs quickly
- Keep revision rounds limited
Choose a platform that matches your needs
- Invest in a clear brand style guide
- Use modern hosting
- Communicate regularly
How Long Should Your Website Take?
Here’s a simple cheat sheet:
Choose a Template Website If
You want something quick
Budget is limited
You don’t need custom features
Time: 3–10 days
Choose a Custom Website If
You care about branding
You need high performance
You want a long-term scalable system
Time: 4–8 weeks
Choose an E-Commerce Website If
You want to sell products online
You need shipping, checkout, or product filters
Time: 4–8 weeks
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a website be built in 1 week?
Yes, but only small one-page or simple template websites.
2. Why do custom websites take longer?
Because they require detailed design, development, testing, and customization.
3. How long does a Shopify store take?
A professional Shopify store takes 2–4 weeks depending on features.
4. How much time do revisions add?
Each revision round adds 1–3 days.
5. What slows down most website projects?
Waiting for content and slow communication from the client.
