/ Web design
How long does a website take to build?
A small business website takes 3–6 weeks from kick-off to launch. Ecommerce and custom builds take 8–14 weeks.
/ 01
The short version
The honest answer depends on three things: how many pages, how much of the content and photography is already sorted, and how quickly you can give feedback. Most delays come from the client side, not the studio side.
/ 02
The realistic timeline
For a straightforward 5–8 page brochure site, expect 3–6 weeks from kick-off to launch with a competent studio. The build itself takes maybe 10–15 working days; the rest is content, feedback rounds, tweaks and go-live prep.
Ecommerce is different. A Shopify build with 50–200 products, custom design and proper SEO takes 8–12 weeks. If it's a full custom platform or a Shopify Plus migration, add 4–8 weeks on top.
- • Landing page or single-page site: 1–2 weeks
- • Small business site (5–10 pages): 3–6 weeks
- • Content-heavy or multi-language site: 6–10 weeks
- • Shopify store: 8–12 weeks
- • Custom ecommerce or Shopify Plus migration: 12–20 weeks
/ 03
What actually slows things down
It's almost never the design or the code. It's copy that never arrives, product photography that never gets shot, and stakeholders who take a week to reply to a Loom video.
If you want a fast build, prep before you brief: get final copy in a Google Doc, photos in a shared folder, and one decision-maker who can sign off without a committee. Studios that miss deadlines are usually chasing content, not writing code.
/ 04
What 'launch' actually means
A site launching isn't the end of the timeline. Google needs 2–8 weeks to fully re-index a new site; conversion optimisation takes months to see. The build is the start, not the finish.
Any studio quoting you an implausibly fast timeline (a full site in a week for £500) is either using a template you could buy yourself or planning to disappear the moment you go live.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get web design right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Can you build a site in a week?
Yes — for a landing page, a template-based build, or an emergency migration. Not for a proper custom business site with real SEO and copy work.
What if I have a deadline?
Tell us on the first call. We regularly deliver against event and campaign deadlines by narrowing scope and staging content. Deadlines are fine; deadline surprises after week three aren't.
How long between briefing and first designs?
Typically 5–10 working days for wireframes and 2–3 weeks for full design mockups on a small business site.
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