A question I get asked all the time is how long does it take to get a Squarespace website live?

It’s the question everyone wants an answer to, but unfortunately there’s not one set answer. The time it takes will depend on a myriad of things.

I’ve broken down all the factors that impact the speed of a website build, and how long on average each step will take.

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DIY vs Designer

The first thing that impacts how long it takes to build your website is whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional. If you hire a professional you’ll need to factor in how long it takes you to communicate with your designer of choice, how long it takes to send all of the relevant assets over, briefing time and the designer's lead time.

The First Draft

Once you’ve hired your designer (and for the sake of this timeline we’re going to presume you’re using a designer) the next step is getting your first draft. This first draft may be built straight into Squarespace or you may receive it as a Figma file. You’ll need to confirm with your designer which one to expect. You’ll need to account for the time it will take the designer to put together the draft and how long it will take you to review it and provide feedback. This will all depend on the size and scope of the project.

Iterations

This is one of the steps that can really lengthen the web design timeframe, depending on how well you and your web designer communicate with each other. Some projects need next to no iterations, some will go through the iteration process for weeks. To keep things speedy make sure you are as clear as possible about what you want.

Quality Control

Once you’re happy with your website it will need to go through quality control. Your designer will go through your website with a fine tooth comb, checking that everything is perfect. This includes checking that all your images are compressed, all the URLs are correct, there’s no spelling mistakes etc. This is a process that needs time , if you try to rush it you risk missing something important. Usually this will take around 3-4 days.

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Connect Your Domain

Next you’ll need to connect your domain to your website. For the most part, every domain is similar and usually connecting your domain will take up to 72 hours. In reality, the process is often completed within 1-2 hours.

Choose Your Hosting

Once your domain is connected you’ll need to choose your hosting. Most websites will be fine with a Squarespace Business Plan. Try to decide which plan you’ll be going for ahead of time so you don’t delay getting your website live.

So as you can see, there’s a lot of factors that determine how long a Squarespace website takes to build and a lot comes down to how quickly your chosen designer works and communicates. 

I know you probably want a figure so here it is. For a one page website you’re looking at around a week from start to finish. For smaller sites around 4-7 pages around 3-4 weeks. Anything bigger and you need to expect it to take a couple of months.

Your designer

I'm Sam, an award-winning Squarespace web designer. I have worked with every type of business, building platforms for solo entrepreneurs through to multi-million dollar corporations. If you want to discuss a potential project, you can email on sam@bycrawford.com or get in touch with me here. Alternatively, you can book in a free 15-minute consultation call here.

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