For most small business websites, a realistic build time is 7 to 14 days once you have chosen a provider and are ready to start. A simple one-page site can be ready in under a week, while larger multi-page sites or online shops usually take 2 to 6 weeks. The single biggest factor is how quickly you provide content, photos and feedback.
The short answer
There is no single number, because a corner café website is not the same job as a 40 product online shop. As a rough guide, a one-page site takes a few days to a week, a standard multi-page business site takes 1 to 3 weeks, and an e-commerce site takes 3 to 6 weeks. These ranges assume you are reasonably responsive with content and approvals.
With a done-for-you service like All Done Sites, most small business sites go live in 7 to 14 days. We handle the design, build, hosting and security so the work that is left on your side is small and clear.
Timelines by site type
Use these as planning ranges, not promises. Complexity, custom features and content readiness all move the numbers.
- One-page site: a few days to one week. Good for a single service, a profile or a launch page.
- Multi-page business site: 1 to 3 weeks. Home, about, services, contact and a few extra pages.
- E-commerce site: 3 to 6 weeks. Product pages, payments, delivery options and stock all add time.
- Larger custom or booking sites: 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the features and integrations involved.
The phases of a build
Almost every website moves through the same phases. Knowing them helps you see where time goes and where you can help things along.
- Discovery: 1 to 2 days. We learn about your business, your goals and who you serve.
- Design: 2 to 4 days. We shape the look, layout and structure, then show you a draft.
- Build: 3 to 7 days. The design is turned into a working, responsive website.
- Content: runs alongside the build. Your copy, photos, logo and details are added in.
- Review: 1 to 3 days. You check the draft and request any changes.
- Launch: 1 day. We connect your domain, switch on security and take it live.
These phases often overlap. While we build, you can be gathering photos and approving copy, which keeps the whole project moving.
What speeds it up
The fastest projects are not the simplest ones, they are the ones where the client is ready. A few things make a real difference:
- Having your content ready: a short description of your business, your services and your prices.
- Good photos of your work, your team or your premises, even decent phone photos help.
- Quick, clear feedback when you review the draft, ideally in one consolidated list.
- Knowing your goal for the site up front, such as enquiries, bookings or sales.
- A registered domain, or letting us help you sort one out early.
What slows it down
Content is the biggest factor in how long a website takes, far more than the technical build. A site can sit unfinished for weeks simply because the text or photos have not arrived yet.
- Waiting on copy, photos or logos that have not been sent through.
- Slow or scattered feedback, with changes coming in a few at a time over many days.
- Decisions that keep changing, such as a new layout or a different set of pages midway.
- Adding new features once the build is already underway.
- Domain or email access that takes time to track down.
Content is the real timeline
If you can prepare your business description, services, prices and a handful of photos before you start, you remove the single biggest cause of delay. Even rough notes give us something to work with and refine.
Our done-for-you 7 to 14 day timeline
All Done Sites is built around getting you live quickly without an upfront build cost. You tell us about your business, we design and build a draft free to start, you review and request changes, and then we launch and look after hosting, security and updates on a simple monthly plan.
Most clients are live within 7 to 14 days. The faster you send content and feedback, the closer you land to the 7 day end. You can see the steps in detail on how it works or compare the monthly plans to find the right fit.
Planning your launch date
If you have a specific date in mind, such as a market, a season or an event, give yourself a little buffer. Aim to have your content ready a week or two before you want to go live, and start the conversation early. That way a 7 to 14 day build comfortably fits inside your plan.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can a website really go live?
A simple one-page site can be live within a few days if your content is ready. For most small business sites we work to a 7 to 14 day timeline, with the faster end depending mostly on how quickly you send content and feedback.
Why does content take so long?
Writing about your own business, choosing photos and agreeing prices often takes longer than people expect. Preparing this before you start, even as rough notes, is the best way to keep your project on track.
Can you build a website faster if I am in a hurry?
Yes, a focused one-page site can move quickly when you are ready with the essentials. Tell us your deadline up front so we can plan the work and let you know what we need from you and when.
Does a bigger site always take longer?
Usually, yes. More pages, an online shop or custom features add build and testing time. The structure and number of pages are a bigger factor than the design itself.
What do I need to have ready before we start?
A short description of your business, your main services or products, your prices, your logo if you have one, and a few photos. The more of this you have ready, the faster your site comes together.