A small business website usually takes 4 to 8 weeks to build. That assumes you have your content ready or can provide it within a week or two, the design doesn't require multiple revision rounds, and there are no third-party integrations that need API work or custom development. If you're starting from scratch with no logo, no photography, and no clear idea of what you want to say, expect 8 to 12 weeks or longer. The biggest bottleneck is almost never the actual build. It's content. Most projects stall because the client can't get us copy, images, or decisions on structure. A developer can wire up a five-page WordPress site in three or four days. Writing five pages of conversion-focused copy that doesn't sound like everyone else takes two weeks if the business owner is doing it themselves, or one week if they hire a copywriter. Here's a realistic breakdown for a standard 5 to 8 page site: - Discovery and planning: 3 to 5 days - Design mockups and revisions: 1 to 2 weeks - Development and CMS setup: 1 to 2 weeks - Content population and QA: 3 to 7 days - Client review and final tweaks: 3 to 5 days Template-based builds using Elementor, Divi, or a pre-made theme can collapse that timeline to 2 to 3 weeks if the client is responsive. Custom WordPress theme development or a headless setup adds another 2 to 4 weeks. E-commerce sites with WooCommerce or Shopify start at 6 weeks minimum because product setup, payment gateways, and shipping logic take time to configure and test. At Ottawa SEO, we push clients to finalize content before design starts. That alone cuts timelines in half. If you want a site done in a month, come to the table with your messaging nailed down, your imagery ready, and someone empowered to make decisions quickly. Otherwise, plan for two months and avoid the stress.