NTG STUDIO WEBShort answer
Allow 3 to 7 days for a single page, 1 to 2 weeks for a simple showcase site, 3 to 5 weeks for a custom site with tools, and 5 to 8 weeks for full e-commerce. The main cause of delay isn’t technical: it’s the client supplying content and approvals.
Key takeaways
- The clock starts when content arrives, not at signature
- A quickly approved mockup saves weeks
- Payment integrations involve paperwork
- A written timeline in the quote protects both sides
"When will it be ready?" The honest answer depends on three things: the type of site, how ready the content is and how fast approvals come. Here are realistic timelines, and how to keep to them.
Timelines by type of site
| Type of website | Realistic timeline |
|---|---|
| Single page | 3 to 7 days |
| Simple showcase (5 pages) | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Simple store (WhatsApp + Mobile Money) | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Custom showcase with copywriting | 3 weeks |
| Site with tools (booking, quotes, chatbot) | 4 weeks |
| Full e-commerce | 5 to 8 weeks |
| Redesign keeping SEO | 3 to 6 weeks |
At NTG Studio Web: 5 days to 2 weeks for an Essential site, 3 to 5 weeks for a Premium site.
What really takes time
Content. Copy, photos, list of services, prices. A stalled project is almost always waiting for content from the client.
Approvals. A mockup waiting ten days for feedback pushes everything back.
External accounts. Opening a merchant account with a Mobile Money aggregator, recovering a domain from a former provider, verifying a Google profile: these steps depend neither on you nor on us.
Mid-project changes. Adding a store halfway through a showcase project is a new project.
NTG Studio Web does it for you (Custom website design, E-commerce & Mobile Money). Free 30-minute audit, reply within 24 hours, payment by Orange Money or MTN MoMo.
How to go faster
- Prepare a pack before kickoff: logo, copy, photos, services, prices, contact details.
- Name one person who approves.
- Reply within 48 hours to approval requests.
- Start external steps immediately: merchant account, domain, Google profile.
- Save new ideas for version 2: they’ll be better done after launch.
A 4-week project, week by week
- Week 1: workshop, content, style choice, homepage mockup.
- Week 2: approval, inner pages, copywriting.
- Week 3: integrations (WhatsApp, payment, booking), English version.
- Week 4: phone testing, speed, SEO, launch, training.
Beware timelines that are too short… or too long
A professional site "in 24 hours" is rarely custom. A site that "will be ready when it’s ready", with no written date, can drag on for six months. Demand a date in the quote, with a checkpoint every week.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a website in 48 hours?
A simple page, yes, if all content is ready. A complete professional site in 48 hours almost always means a barely adapted template.
Why is my site taking longer than planned?
Usually: late content, slow approvals, features added mid-project or a merchant payment account taking time to open.
How long does it take to open a Mobile Money merchant account?
Depending on the aggregator and your documents (RCCM, NIU, ID), from a few days to a few weeks. Start the process at the beginning of the project.
Founder of NTG Studio Web in Douala. Master’s in international public law, IBM Data Analytics and Anthropic AI Fluency certified. He designs websites and visibility strategies for African businesses. Learn more →