The verdict in three sentences
For a corporate website of 20 to 60 pages, allow 14 to 22 weeks from kick-off to launch, for a budget of EUR 15,000 to 45,000 excl. VAT. If your date is fixed by a trade show or an AGM, the schedule must be built backwards from that date with 2 weeks of buffer before testing. The main cause of delay is not technical: 30 % of slippage comes from client-side content and sign-offs.
The typical corporate website schedule
| Phase (2026 order of magnitude) | Duration | Deliverable | Client sign-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and workshops | 2 weeks | Brief, goals, personas | Head of communications |
| Sitemap and wireframes | 2 weeks | Site map, wireframes | Steering committee |
| Visual design | 3 to 4 weeks | Desktop and mobile mock-ups, web style guide | Managing director |
| Development and CMS build | 5 to 8 weeks | Staging site | Technical lead |
| Content (in parallel) | 6 to 10 weeks | Copy, photos, translations | Each contributing team |
| Testing and fixes | 2 weeks | Resolved issue log | Project team |
| Launch and training | 1 week | Live site, editor training | Head of communications |
| Total | 14 to 22 weeks |
Content work starts as soon as the sitemap is approved, not after design. It is the only way to hold a 14 to 16 week schedule.
Causes of delay and how to neutralise them
| Cause of delay | Share of observed delays | Average delay | Countermeasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late or incomplete content | 30 % | 3 to 5 weeks | Page-by-page content plan, named owner, deadline |
| Multiple or late sign-offs | 20 % | 2 to 3 weeks | Committee of 3 decision makers, 5 working day turnaround |
| Scope changes mid-project | 18 % | 2 to 4 weeks | Change list deferred to V2 |
| Photos and visuals not available | 12 % | 1 to 3 weeks | Photo shoot booked in week 4 |
| Third-party integrations (CRM, intranet, newsletter) | 10 % | 1 to 2 weeks | Technical access secured at discovery |
| Underestimated testing | 10 % | 1 to 2 weeks | 2 full weeks, named testers |
One simple rule works: every milestone has a date, a deliverable and a single final approver. Beyond three approvers, the feedback cycle stretches from 5 to 12 days on average.
Building the plan backwards from a fixed date
Take an AGM on 12 June. Launch happens by 29 May at the latest, with two weeks of buffer. Testing starts on 15 May, development on 20 March, design on 20 February, sitemap on 6 February, and discovery begins on 23 January. If the project is signed after 23 January, cut scope rather than testing.
Mini case study
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Aoife, head of communications at a professional federation in Dublin, must launch the new site for its annual congress. Her budget is EUR 32,000 for 45 pages. On the previous redesign, content arrived 5 weeks late, which kept the agency on time-and-materials at EUR 650 a day for 6 extra days, a EUR 3,900 overrun. This time she names one content owner per section and sets copy delivery in week 10. The site launches in 18 weeks, with 1 week of buffer unused and no budget overrun. The same schedule applies to a Lille organisation, at comparable rates.
FAQ
Can a corporate website be built in under 14 weeks?
Yes for 15 to 20 pages with existing content, in 8 to 10 weeks. Beyond 40 pages or with several languages, going below 14 weeks almost always compromises testing.
How much time should sign-offs take?
Plan 5 working days per major milestone, so 4 to 5 weeks cumulated over the project. A committee of 3 people at most can hold that pace.
Who should write the content?
Your teams know the substance, the agency brings structure and tone. A copywriter costs EUR 250 to 500 per key page and saves 2 to 4 weeks.
What if the date cannot move and delays pile up?
Cut scope: launch 70 to 80 % of pages on the planned date and publish the rest within the following 4 weeks. Never cut testing.
Let's scope your project. Give us your fixed date, page count and languages: we build the backward schedule with an indicative budget and sign-off milestones. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
