A simple website with 5–10 pages, basic contact forms, and standard functionality takes 2–4 weeks when working with a professional agency or developer. This assumes content and branding are mostly ready. If you're starting from scratch with logo design, brand strategy, or need copywriting, add another 1–3 weeks upfront. The timeline breaks down roughly as follows: discovery and planning (2–4 days), design mockups and revisions (3–7 days), development and CMS setup (5–10 days), content population and QA (2–4 days), and client review rounds (scattered throughout). Faster timelines are possible if you approve quickly and provide assets on schedule. Slower timelines happen when feedback loops stretch or scope creeps mid-project. DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com can get you live in 1–3 days if you use a template and have basic tech comfort. You sacrifice custom design, technical SEO depth, performance optimization, and scalability. For a local business that just needs an online presence fast, that tradeoff can make sense. For anyone competing in search or planning to grow the site, it usually doesn't. Complexity adds time. E-commerce functionality, custom filters, member portals, or integrations with CRMs can push a "simple" site into 6–10 weeks. Mobile responsiveness, accessibility standards, and performance optimization are non-negotiable and are baked into the 2–4 week estimate at Ottawa SEO Inc. Skipping those to save time creates technical debt you'll pay for later in rankings and user experience. The biggest variable is you. Clients who respond to feedback requests within 24–48 hours and deliver assets on time stay on schedule. Clients who go silent for a week or request major changes after development starts can double the timeline. Treat your launch date as a shared responsibility, not something the developer controls alone. Clear requirements, fast decisions, and organized content handoffs are how simple sites stay simple.