For the custom business websites we build, 6 to 10 weeks is a practical planning range from kickoff to launch. It is not a guarantee or a stretch of uninterrupted development. Discovery, design, content, development, and quality assurance overlap, and the schedule depends heavily on scope, content readiness, and the speed of decisions and feedback.
A practical 6 to 10 week website timeline
| Phase | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Discovery | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Information architecture | About 1 week |
| Design | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Development | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Content | 1 to 2 weeks |
| QA | About 1 week |
| Launch | A few days |
These phases often overlap, so a project may move through several of them at once. The ranges below are planning estimates for a focused business website, not fixed deadlines for every project.
Discovery: 1 to 2 weeks
Discovery defines what the website needs to accomplish, who it serves, what content already exists, and what the project includes.
This is where we clarify goals, audiences, requirements, existing content, functionality, and technical considerations.
Skipping this phase doesn’t necessarily make a project faster. It often moves the uncertainty into later phases where changes are more expensive.
Information architecture: about 1 week
Information architecture determines how the content is organized and how people move through the site.
It covers navigation, page structure, content relationships, and the overall hierarchy.
A focused five-page site can move through this phase quickly. A larger, content-heavy website needs more planning.
Design: 1 to 2 weeks
Design turns the approved structure into a visual system that can be implemented consistently.
The work typically includes page layouts, typography, colors, components, responsive considerations, and reusable patterns.
A clear design system reduces ambiguity because the interface has already been considered before development begins.
Development: 2 to 4 weeks
Development turns the approved design into a working WordPress site.
For our projects, that means building the custom block theme, implementing components, configuring content structures, integrating required functionality, and making the site responsive and performant.
Development can move quickly when the design and requirements are settled.
Content: 1 to 2 weeks
Content is often the least predictable part of the schedule because the client usually owns the process of creating or approving it.
Copy, images, downloads, products, staff profiles, and other content need to be ready for implementation and review.
If content arrives late, launch can be delayed even when most of the development is complete.
QA: about 1 week
Quality assurance is where we test the finished site across browsers, devices, content types, forms, links, accessibility considerations, and performance.
QA helps us catch and correct problems before launch, giving visitors a smoother and more reliable experience from day one.
Launch: a few days
Launch is usually the shortest phase, but it still needs a coordinated checklist.
DNS, redirects, analytics, search engine settings, caching, backups, forms, and final checks all need to be handled.
What makes website projects run late?
The most common delays are late content, slow feedback, and decisions that arrive after work has already begun.
When the project team is waiting on copy, images, approvals, or decisions, work pauses or has to be repeated.
To stay near the faster end of the range, identify content owners and final decision-makers before kickoff.
What does a rushed build cost you?
A compressed schedule usually requires a narrower scope, faster decisions, greater client availability, or additional production capacity.
A rush build does not simply make development faster. It compresses discovery, design, review, testing, or scope, and that tradeoff needs to be explicit.
How much time will the client need to spend?
Plan for meaningful client involvement during discovery, content preparation, design review, and final approval.
The exact time commitment varies, but projects move faster when feedback is consolidated and comes from one clear decision-maker.
What do you need from a client on day one?
To hit the fast end of the range, you need a clear scope, decision-maker, content plan, and timely feedback process.
Have core content ready or assigned, decide who approves design and copy, and confirm access to required third-party accounts and integrations.
Considering a new website? Talk with Search Strategies about your project.
Frequently asked questions
For the type of focused business website described here, 6 to 10 weeks is a practical planning range.
Common causes include delayed content, slow feedback, changing requirements, and late approvals.
Yes, but a shorter schedule usually requires tighter scope, quicker decisions, greater client availability, or additional resources.
