Short answer: a landing page or small business website usually takes 2–4 weeks. A full online store, web app or brand identity takes 6–12 weeks, depending on scope and feedback.
The range is wide because "a website" can mean very different things — a five-page site and a Shopify store with checkout, apps and product migration are not the same job. Here is how the timeline breaks down at Raise My Business, and what makes a project faster or slower.
The four stages (and how long each takes)
1. Research — the stage most people skip Before any design, we study your competitors, your users and your market — SWOT analysis, UX research and a UX strategy. This is what stops a website from looking good but selling nothing.
2. Experience design Wireframes and clickable prototypes turn the research into user-friendly pages and flows. You can click through the site before a single pixel of final design exists — this is where big changes are cheap.3. Interface design Moodboard, design concept and high-fidelity mockups, delivered with a UI kit for development. This is the stage clients see most, and where feedback rounds matter most for the timeline.
4. Development No-code, mobile app or custom web app builds, with designers and developers in constant contact. WordPress sites, Shopify stores and custom builds all go through testing before launch.
What slows a website down (and how to avoid it)
-
Content arrives late. Text, photos and product details are the most common delay. Gather them during stage 1, not stage 4.
-
Too many feedback rounds with no single decision-maker. One person signing off each stage keeps a 4-week project at 4 weeks.
-
Scope grows mid-build. Adding a store, a booking flow or a second language halfway through is possible — it just moves the date. Decide the must-haves before development starts.
-
Third-party delays. Payment gateways, domain transfers and app-store reviews have their own timelines, outside any agency's control.## How long does each type of website take?
-
Landing page or small business website: 2–4 weeks
-
WordPress business website: 4–8 weeks (theme vs custom changes this)
-
Shopify store: 6–12 weeks (products, checkout, apps, migration)
-
Mobile app: 6–12 weeks and up, depending on features and testing
-
Full brand identity + website: 6–12 weeks
These are the timelines we work to at Raise My Business for clients in the USA, UK, Australia and the UAE. A precise date comes after a short scoping call — tell us the goal, the deadline and what "done" looks like, and we come back with a timeline and a quote.
FAQ
Can a website be built in a week? A simple landing page, yes — if content and feedback are ready on day one. A full store or app cannot be done well in a week, and anyone promising that is cutting testing.
Does a redesign take as long as a new website? Usually slightly less, because content and branding often exist already — but the same four stages apply. See our guide: What a website redesign looks like, from research to launch.
What do you need from me to start? Your goal, your timeline, and any existing content or brand material. Send it through the contact form or email [email protected] and we will map the right mix of design, development and branding.