How long does it take to build a website?
Typical timelines for each kind of project, the stages from first idea to launch, and the one thing that delays most website projects.
Most small business websites can launch in a few weeks. Online stores and web apps take longer, and mobile apps longest. Here are our typical timelines once the deposit is paid:
| Project | Price range | About, in naira | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing pageOne focused page that sells a product, event or launch. | $120 to $350 | ₦160,080 to ₦466,900 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| WebsiteA multi-page site for a business, church, school or brand. | $300 to $1,000 | ₦400,200 to ₦1,334,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Online storeProducts, cart, checkout and order management. | $700 to $2,500 | ₦933,800 to ₦3,335,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Web appLogins, dashboards, bookings, portals and anything with data. | $1,200 to $5,000 | ₦1,600,800 to ₦6,670,000 | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Mobile appAndroid and iPhone apps, usually with a web dashboard behind them. | $2,000 to $7,000 | ₦2,668,000 to ₦9,338,000 | 6 to 14 weeks |
Naira at about ₦1,334 per $1; you pay in naira at the rate shown at checkout.
The stages
- Idea and estimate (minutes). Describe what you need and you get the project type, a cost range and a timeline straight away.
- Prototype (about a minute). A clickable version you can look through, change and share with your partners before deciding.
- Consultation (a few minutes). Budget, deadline, domain name and the care plan after launch.
- Proposal and contract (usually within 24 hours). A fixed price, milestones and a launch date in writing.
- Content. Your logo, photos, page text and any logins. This step decides your launch date more than any other.
- Build and review. We build, you review against the agreed scope, and we fix anything that doesn’t match.
- Launch and handover. The site goes live, you accept it, and you receive the logins, files and access.
What delays projects
In our experience the biggest cause of late launches is waiting for content: the logo in good quality, real photos, and the words for each page. That’s why our contracts say the launch date moves by the same number of days content is late, and why every project gets a checklist with a due date.
To launch on time:
- Gather your logo, photos and price list before you start.
- Write rough text for each page. It doesn’t need to be polished; that’s our job.
- Decide on your domain name early. Good names get taken.
- Have one person on your side who can approve things quickly.
Can it be faster?
Yes, by keeping the first version small. Launch with the pages and features that bring in customers, then add the rest through small change requests after launch. A smaller site that’s live this month beats a perfect one that’s still “almost ready” in three months.
More guides
How much does a website cost in Nigeria?
Real price ranges for landing pages, business websites, online stores, web apps and mobile apps, what pushes the price up or down, and the yearly costs people forget.
Web app vs mobile app: which does your business need?
The real differences in cost, time, reach and upkeep between a web app and an Android or iPhone app, and a simple way to decide which to build first.
Website care plans explained: hosting, updates and what happens after launch
What a website care plan covers, what it doesn’t, what “Change Hours” are, and how to tell whether you need one.