The verdict in three sentences
A standard brochure site ships in 6 to 10 weeks, a site with advanced features (multilingual, integrations, e-commerce) in 12 to 20 weeks. The critical path is almost never technical: the number-one cause of delay is client content (copy, photos, approvals), responsible for roughly 60% of slippage. Hitting the timeline means producing content in parallel with design, not after it.
Phase-by-phase timeline
2026 estimates for an SMB brochure site (10-20 pages), European market (Amsterdam and region).
| Phase | Duration | Deliverables | Who does what |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping | 1-2 wks | Sitemap, specs, wireframes | Agency + client |
| UI design | 2-3 wks | Approved desktop/mobile mockups | Agency |
| Content | 2 wks (parallel) | Copy, photos, video | Client (often agency) |
| Integration / dev | 3-5 wks | Working site in staging | Agency |
| QA / acceptance | 1-2 wks | Tests, fixes, sign-off | Client + agency |
| Go-live | 2-3 days | Deployment, DNS, technical SEO | Agency |
Brochure vs complex site
| Project type | Total timeline | Longest phase | Risk factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple brochure (5-10 pages) | 6-8 wks | Design | Client content |
| Premium brochure (10-20 pages) | 8-10 wks | Integration | Multiple approvals |
| Multilingual site | 10-14 wks | Content + translation | Language coordination |
| Site with integrations | 12-16 wks | Development | Third-party dependencies |
| E-commerce / complex | 14-20 wks | Dev + QA | Payments, logistics |
Causes of delay and impact
| Cause | Frequency | Average delay |
|---|---|---|
| Late client content | ~60% | 2-4 weeks |
| Long approval cycles | ~20% | 1-3 weeks |
| Scope changes | ~12% | 2-5 weeks |
| Third-party dependencies (API) | ~8% | 1-2 weeks |
Mini case study
Lisa, client-side project manager at a logistics firm in Amsterdam, must launch the new site before a trade show in 9 weeks. The agency plan calls for 8 weeks if content is delivered in week 3. She blocks 3 half-days upfront to gather copy and photos, and names a single approver. Result: content delivered by day 18, QA wrapped in week 7, go-live at exactly 8 weeks, one week of margin before the show. Without this discipline, the company's history showed 3-week delays on average.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
How long for a simple brochure site?
Expect 6-8 weeks if content is ready. Design (2-3 wks) and integration (3-5 wks) are the longest phases; go-live takes only a few days.
Why does content cause so many delays?
Because it is routinely underestimated: writing service pages, choosing photos and getting internal sign-off take time. In 60% of projects content is the blocker, not the tech.
Can a web project be sped up?
Yes: content ready at scoping, one approver, frozen scope. A brochure site can then go from 8 to 5-6 weeks. Rush mode sometimes adds a 15-25% surcharge.
Who should provide the content?
Ideally the client, who knows the business. If the agency writes it, budget EUR 800-3,000 and 1-2 extra weeks for revisions.
What happens if scope changes mid-project?
Each major addition pushes the timeline 2-5 weeks and is billed as enhancement work. Hence the importance of precise scoping at the start.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target date and your content readiness, and we'll propose a realistic back-planning with 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.
