The verdict in three sentences
A controlled redesign follows a sequence of phases with validated deliverables at each milestone, avoiding the tunnel effect and nasty surprises at UAT. In 2026, a B2B corporate site is rebuilt in 12 to 14 weeks with 5 milestones: scoping, mockups, build, content/SEO, UAT. Each cleared milestone unlocks the next and its associated payment, aligning agency and client on the same trajectory.
Phases and their deliverables
A director wanting a realistic schedule should think in sequenced but partly overlapping phases. Here is the reference framework.
| Phase | Duration | Key deliverable | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Scoping | 2 weeks | Specs, sitemap, timeline | M1 |
| 2. UX / UI | 3 weeks | Wireframes + mockups of 3 page types | M2 |
| 3. Build / dev | 4 weeks | Working site on staging | M3 |
| 4. Content / SEO | 2 weeks | Migrated content, 301 redirects, meta | M4 |
| 5. UAT | 2 weeks | Acceptance report, fixes | M5 |
| 6. Go-live | 2-4 days | DNS switch, monitoring | Go-live |
These phases overlap slightly: content production starts once mockups are approved (M2), and technical SEO is embedded during development. This controlled overlap is what makes 12 to 14 weeks achievable rather than 18.
Milestones, effort and payment split
Each milestone maps to a workload and often a payment instalment. This transparency protects both parties.
| Milestone | What is validated | Indicative effort (person-days) | Typical payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 Scoping | Frozen scope, timeline | 5-8 | 20 % |
| M2 Mockups | Art direction approved | 10-15 | 20 % |
| M3 Build | Features meet the spec | 20-30 | 30 % |
| M4 Content/SEO | Migration + redirects | 8-12 | 15 % |
| M5 UAT | Blocking defects = 0 | 8-12 | 15 % |
A critical 2026 point: UAT must never be sacrificed. Plan a full 2 weeks with a test grid (functional, accessibility, performance, mobile compatibility). An undetected blocking defect costs on average 3 to 5 times more to fix after go-live than during UAT.
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| Common risk | Cause | Methodological safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline overrun | Content delivered late | Content due at M2, penalties |
| Tunnel effect | No interim demo | Demo at every sprint end |
| SEO traffic loss | Forgotten redirects | Redirect plan at M4 |
| Rushed UAT | Compressed deadline | 2 firm weeks in the plan |
Mini case study
Sophie, marketing director of an industrial group in Lyon, plans a redesign at EUR 38,000 excl. VAT. Her previous project overran by 3 months for lack of milestones. This time she enforces the 5 milestones and one rule: content is due at M2. Result: the project holds at 13 weeks. A plan of 420 301-redirects at M4 preserves 92 % of organic traffic in the first month post-migration, versus a typical 30-to-50 % drop. At 8,000 visits/month and 2 % lead conversion, the preserved traffic represents about 13 leads/month that would otherwise have been lost.
FAQ
How long does a redesign take in 2026? For a B2B corporate site, plan 12 to 14 weeks. A simple brochure site can drop to 6-8 weeks; a complex platform with integrations rises to 18-24 weeks.
Which deliverable matters most to validate? The mockups of the 3 page types (home, section page, detail page) at milestone M2. They freeze the art direction and avoid costly rework during development.
How do I avoid SEO traffic loss? Build an exhaustive 301-redirect plan at M4 (old URL to new) and keep high-performing title/meta tags. Well executed, it preserves 85 to 95 % of organic traffic.
Should I pay in one go or per milestone? Per milestone: a 20/20/30/15/15 split aligns interests. You only pay an instalment once the deliverable is validated, which keeps the agency accountable.
What happens if content arrives late? The timeline slips accordingly, since phases chain together. That is why content is contractually due at M2; some vendors apply penalties or bill for team idle time.
Let's scope your project. Give us your page count and target integrations: we deliver a milestone plan over 12 to 14 weeks with deliverables and payment split. 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.
