The verdict in three sentences
A site's timeline does not depend on how fast the developer types but on the project type and your content readiness. In 2026, plan 3 to 7 days for a landing, 2 to 4 weeks for a showcase site, 4 to 8 weeks for e-commerce and 8 to 16 weeks for a business app. The main delay factor remains client content (text, photos, sign-offs) delivered late.
Realistic timelines by project type
| Project type | 2026 timeline | Pages/modules | Content to provide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page | 3-7 days | 1 page | Offer, 3-5 visuals |
| Showcase site | 2-4 weeks | 5-7 pages | Text, logo, photos |
| E-commerce | 4-8 weeks | Catalog + checkout | Product sheets, prices |
| Marketplace | 8-14 weeks | Multi-vendor | Rules, commissions |
| Business app | 8-16 weeks | Custom modules | Spec brief |
Landing vs e-commerce: why the gap
A landing page has one goal and one page: it is produced fast. E-commerce multiplies the zones to design, test and secure.
| Step | Landing | E-commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping | 0.5 day | 3-5 days |
| Design | 1-2 days | 1-2 weeks |
| Build | 1-2 days | 1-2 weeks |
| Wave/OM payment | no | 3-5 days + tests |
| QA and go-live | 1 day | 3-5 days |
Wave and Orange Money payments, with webhooks to test, explain much of the timeline gap.
Mini case study
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Ibrahim, a restaurateur in Dakar, wants a site to take bookings. We agree on a 5-page showcase site with a booking form. Scoping on Monday, mockup approved Friday, content (menu, photos) received 4 days late. Result: instead of 18 working days, the project takes 24. The quantified lesson: each day of content delay pushes go-live by one day. By preparing text and photos upfront, Ibrahim would have saved nearly a week on launch.
FAQ
Can you go faster by paying more? A little, but the bottleneck is rarely the developer: it is sign-offs and content. A showcase project rarely drops below 2 weeks in a healthy way.
What is the most common delay? Late delivery of client content (text, photos, legal notices). It accounts for most timeline overruns in 2026.
How are validation milestones organized? Three milestones: scope sign-off, mockup sign-off, QA before go-live. Any milestone not approved on time mechanically pushes delivery.
How long for an e-commerce store with Wave? From 4 to 8 weeks, including 3 to 5 days dedicated to integrating and testing Wave and Orange Money payment webhooks.
What should I prepare before starting? Your logo, key text, 5 to 15 quality photos, the page list and, for e-commerce, product sheets with prices. Having this kit ready upfront can cut the timeline by 20 to 30%.
Let's talk about your project. Send us the site type you want and we'll return a realistic timeline with milestones. 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.
