The verdict in three sentences
The corporate website of a food group with 4 brands ships in 16 weeks in 2026 when the schedule is built backward from the date announced to the executive committee, not the other way round. The 16 weeks break down as scoping 2, UX 3, design 3, development 5, content and QA 3. The 30 to 50% overruns seen on this kind of project almost always come from the same three causes, all manageable if an owner and a deadline are set in week one.
The backward schedule, week by week
Take a launch announced for Monday, June 7, 2027, ahead of a major autumn trade show. Counting back 16 weeks, the project starts on Monday, February 15, 2027.
| Phase | Weeks | Deliverables | Sign-off needed | Owner on the client side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping | W1 to W2 | Sitemap, goals per brand, content inventory, CMS choice | Steering committee | Communications director |
| UX | W3 to W5 | Journeys for candidates, distributors, investors, wireframes for 12 templates | Brand directors | Digital project manager |
| Design | W6 to W8 | Group web identity + 4 brand variants, desktop and mobile mockups | CEO | Communications director |
| Development | W9 to W13 | Build, multisite CMS, forms, careers feed connector | Technical QA | IT director |
| Content and QA | W14 to W16 | Loading 60 to 90 pages, translations (EN/ES), testing, SEO, go-live | Steering committee | Digital project manager |
Content does not start in week 14: it is written in parallel from week 6, once UX templates are approved. Weeks 14 to 16 cover loading, legal review (allergen statements, FDA labeling claims, certifications) and testing.
Indicative budget for this scope in Miami: USD 55,000 to 100,000 (EUR 45,000 to 85,000 excluding VAT for our Lyon clients) for a group site and 4 brand sites on a multisite CMS, with 15 to 20% for UX and design, 40% for development and the rest for scoping, QA and content support.
The three causes of delay and their cost in weeks
| Cause of delay | Observed frequency | Typical delay | Fix from scoping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brands deliver content late | 7 projects in 10 | +3 to +5 weeks | Delivery calendar per brand, external copywriter as backup (USD 5,000 to 9,500) |
| Cascading sign-offs (brand, group, legal, CEO) | 5 projects in 10 | +2 to +4 weeks | One approver per deliverable, 5 working days max per sign-off |
| Scope creep along the way | 4 projects in 10 | +2 to +3 weeks | Phase 2 planned from the start for new requests |
| All three combined | 3 projects in 10 | +5 to +8 weeks, i.e. +30 to +50% | Steering committee every 2 weeks tracking the critical path |
Announcing 16 weeks to the executive committee without handling these three points means, in practice, announcing 21 to 24 weeks. Better to present 16 weeks with a 2-week safety buffer before the public date: technical go-live in week 16 and official launch in week 18.
Mini case study
Maria, communications director of a 600-employee food group in Miami, has to give the executive committee a date. The project is estimated at USD 80,000 for 16 weeks. She prices a 6-week delay: 6 weeks of a half-time internal project manager (about USD 6,500), 2 extra weeks of agency time and materials (about USD 8,500) and a postponed recruiting campaign planned on the new site, USD 9,000 more on job boards. Total: USD 24,000, or 30% of the initial budget. By comparison, an external copywriter at USD 7,000 and a 5-day sign-off rule cost about a third as much.
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FAQ
How long does a multi-brand group website take?
Allow 16 weeks for a group site and 4 brand sites with 60 to 90 pages. Without planning for content and sign-offs, the real duration rises to 21 to 24 weeks.
Can the schedule shrink to 12 weeks?
Yes, starting from an existing design system and content already written, which removes 2 weeks of design and 2 weeks of content. The 5 weeks of development are hard to compress without a 15 to 25% premium.
What budget for this kind of site in 2026?
Allow USD 55,000 to 100,000 for a multisite CMS with 4 brands. Annual maintenance runs USD 5,000 to 11,000.
Who should sign off on the client side?
Ideally one approver per deliverable, with 5 working days maximum. Projects with more than 3 approval levels take 3 weeks longer on average.
Should we keep a buffer before the public announcement?
Yes, 2 weeks between technical go-live and official launch. They absorb final fixes and 90% of end-of-project surprises.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target date, number of brands and the state of your content: we build a 16-week backward schedule and a budget between USD 55,000 and 100,000, ready to present to your executive committee. 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.
