How Long Does It Take to Build a Website?

One of the first questions small business owners ask is: "How long until my website is live?" The answer depends on who's building it and how complex it is.

Quick Answer:

A professional small business website typically takes 2-5 days with a freelance designer, or 2-6 months with an agency.

Timeline by Website Type

DIY Website Builder (1-7 Days)

Platforms: Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy
Timeline: A few hours to a week

If you're doing it yourself with a drag-and-drop builder, you could technically have something online in a day. But getting it looking professional and actually working properly? That takes longer. Most DIYers spend weeks tweaking and adjusting.

Freelance Web Designer (2-5 Days)

Best for: Small businesses, tradespeople
Timeline: 2-5 days

At Spark Media, we typically deliver websites in 2-5 days. Why so fast? Because we focus on what actually matters:

Professional design that converts visitors into customers
Mobile-friendly and fast-loading
SEO-ready to rank on Google
Clear calls-to-action and contact forms

No unnecessary features or bloat. Just a solid website that brings you business.

Web Design Agency (2-6 Months)

Best for: Large companies with big budgets
Timeline: 8 weeks to 6+ months

Big agencies have layers of project managers, account managers, and approval processes. Everything takes longer—and costs more. For most small businesses in Barnstaple or Bideford, this is overkill.

What Affects Website Build Time?

Number of Pages

A 5-page site is faster than a 20-page site.
Custom Features

Booking systems, membership areas, or e-commerce add time.
Content Readiness

If you provide photos, text, and logo upfront, it's faster. If the designer has to wait for content, it drags on.
Revisions & Feedback

Quick feedback speeds things up. Slow responses stretch the timeline.

Typical Timeline for a Small Business Website

Here's what a realistic build process looks like with a freelance designer or small web design company:

Discovery & Planning (1-2 days)

You discuss your needs, provide content, share design preferences

Design & Build (5-10 days)

Designer builds the site, adds content, optimizes for SEO

Review & Revisions (1-2 days)

You review, request changes, designer makes adjustments

Launch (1 day)

Final checks, connect domain, go live!

Total: 2-5 days from start to finish.

Can You Speed It Up?

Yes! Here's how:

Prepare content in advance: Have your text, photos, and logo ready before you start.
Respond quickly to designer questions: Don't leave them waiting for feedback.
Keep it simple: Don't add unnecessary features that slow things down.
Choose a responsive designer: Work with someone who communicates clearly and moves fast.

Get Your Website Live in 2-5 Days

We build professional websites fast for small businesses in Braunton, Ilfracombe, and across North Devon.

Get Your Free Quote

The Bottom Line

If you want a professional website quickly without agency timelines or DIY hassle, a freelance web designer is your best bet. At Spark Media, we deliver quality websites in 2-5 days—fast enough to get you online quickly, but thorough enough to do it properly.

Whether you're a plumber, electrician, builder, or any small business in North Devon, you don't need to wait months for a website. Get online fast and start bringing in customers.