How long does a small business website take?

Usually two to four weeks from an agreed scope to launch, depending mostly on how quickly content and feedback come back.

Why do website projects get delayed?

The most common causes are content arriving late, feedback given in large batches, and new features added halfway through.

A very simple page sometimes can, but most business websites take two to four weeks when they're done properly.

Landing page or small business site (five to eight pages): typically two to four weeks; a single landing page is usually at the quicker end.
Online store: longer, depending on the number of products and payment setup.
Custom web app: usually months rather than weeks, depending on what it needs to do.

Waiting for content. Text and photos arriving late is the most common delay by far.
Feedback in big batches. Small, regular feedback keeps a project moving.
Scope that keeps growing. New pages and features halfway through push the date out.

Have your content ready: text, photos, logo and prices.
Agree the scope in writing first, with a fixed date attached.
Use a live preview link so you can give feedback as it's built, not at the end.

A fixed written quote with a delivery date is the simplest protection against drift; our price guide lists the other questions to ask before you pay.