How long a website takes ranges from a few days to a few months, depending on the type of site and how it's built. But one thing we can say: in many projects, what stretches the timeline isn't code. It's waiting for copy, waiting for photos to be taken, an approval that takes weeks.
Short answer: estimated times by site type
If content is ready and approvals come on time, Kodyva's estimated delivery times are:
- Landing page (single page): 3 to 5 business days.
- Corporate site (5 to 8 pages): 7 to 10 business days.
- Online store: 3 to 5 weeks. Product entry and payment and shipping integrations set the pace.
The exact timeline is written into the quote once the scope is clear. For projects designed from scratch, times get noticeably longer, because a design phase and revision rounds are added. Projects with integrations, multiple languages or a custom admin panel can take a few months.
The stages of a project
Every project has more or less the same steps. First, needs are discussed and the scope is put in writing. Then content is gathered: logo, copy, images, service list, contact details. Then the design or adaptation is done and the first version is shown to the client. Revisions follow feedback. The domain is connected, and forms and, if in scope, analytics tools are set up. After final checks, the site goes live.
Of these steps, design, development and technical setup are in the agency's hands. Content and approval are in the client's. When the schedule slips, the cause is often in the second group.
Six common reasons for delays
Common causes of delay:
- Copy isn't ready. 'We thought you'd write the copy' or 'I'll write it at the weekend' are sentences we hear often.
- No photos. Starting with stock images and then deciding to do a shoot means doing part of the work twice.
- An unclear decision-maker. The design is approved by one person, then a business partner sees it and wants to change everything.
- Scope growing mid-project. Requests like 'let's add a blog too' or 'it should be in English as well'.
- Access details can't be found. Whose name the domain is registered in, which company it's with, the panel password.
- Feedback arriving piecemeal. A comment every day can stretch the schedule considerably compared with one consolidated round of feedback.
The domain issue looks small but can cause serious delays. A domain bought years ago by an acquaintance on their own account, who can no longer be reached, can turn into a problem whose transfer takes weeks.
Timeline difference: adaptation versus custom build
In a custom build, design starts from a blank page. First a sitemap, then visual design is prepared and approved, then coded and tested. Every stage waits for approval, and every approval carries a chance of delay.
With adaptation, the design and code are already done and tested. The client sees the working site before buying, so the 'design approval' stage largely disappears. That's why most of the schedule is set by content preparation. We explained how the ready-to-brand model works in a separate article.
What the client can do to speed things up
The most effective way to speed up a project is to finish preparing before it starts. Find your logo in vector format (SVG, AI or PDF). Write out your services with a few sentences on each. Gather your own photos in one folder. Find your domain and hosting account details. Note two or three sites you like. And most importantly, decide up front who has the final say.
Give feedback in one go, in one document. A bulleted list like 'this sentence on that page, that image on this page' gets processed much faster than ten messages spread over days. We listed what to prepare before getting a website built in a separate article, and covered what to check at handover in another.
At Kodyva, we go through this preparation list together in the first meeting. If your content is ready, getting a corporate site live in under two weeks is often possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a website be built in a day?
A very simple single page technically can, but if copy, images, domain and tracking are done properly, a few days is more realistic. One-day sites may skip some of these steps.
Do delivery times include weekends?
Many agencies quote business days. Check whether the quote says 'days' or 'business days'; 10 business days is about two calendar weeks.
Does it take longer if the agency writes the copy?
It can take a little longer, since copywriting needs a briefing about your business and approval of the texts. But it's often faster than waiting for the client to write them.
Blog posts are for general information only and are not a substitute for legal, financial or technical advice.