One of the first questions founders ask is simple: “How long will it take to build our MVP?”

For most early-stage products, the goal is speed, clarity, and early validation. As an agency, we focus on delivering a functional, lean MVP fast — often in 1 to 4 weeks depending on complexity.

Below is a clear timeline of what the process includes and how long each phase typically takes.

MVP development timeline breakdown

Our MVP process is streamlined. We skip long discovery cycles and focus on building the core functionality as quickly as possible.

➤ Pre-development (1 to 3 days)

A short preparation phase where we clarify requirements, define the scope, and confirm the features for the first release.

• Feature definition (1–2 days)

A simple, focused outline of what the MVP must include. We prioritize the smallest set of features that deliver real value.

• UI wireframes or basic prototype (1 day)

Quick layout sketches or low-fidelity mockups to align on flow before development starts.

➤ Main development (1 to 4 weeks)

This is the core of the timeline. The exact duration depends on the number of screens, business logic, integrations, and complexity.

• Frontend development (1–3 weeks)

Building the user-facing interface, forms, components, dashboards, and interactions.

• Backend development (1–3 weeks)

APIs, authentication, core logic, admin panels, and database connections.

Simple backends move fast. More complex logic adds time.

• Database setup (1–5 days)

Schema planning and cloud configuration.

• Third-party integrations (1–7 days)

Payments, analytics, messaging APIs, AI features, or other external tools.

Some integrations take a day. Others require testing and custom logic.

• Quality assurance and fixes (2–5 days)

Functional testing, bug fixes, and final polishing.

Most simple MVPs finish within 1–4 weeks end-to-end.

➤ Post-development (3 to 7 days)

This prepares your MVP to go live and start collecting real user feedback.

• Deployment and launch setup (2–5 days)

Production servers, domains, security, and setting up hosting.

Mobile apps may need store submission time.

• Early analytics and feedback loops (1–2 days)

Basic tracking, onboarding emails, and tools to gather user insights.

Major factors that influence MVP timelines

• Scope and feature count

More features and screens mean more time. The tighter the scope, the faster the delivery.

• Design complexity

Simple layouts move quickly. Custom or animated interfaces increase the timeline.

• Integrations

Payment systems, CRMs, AI features, or scheduling tools add setup and testing time.

• Clarity of requirements

Clear direction speeds up development. Unclear or shifting requirements slow it down.

How long does an MVP actually take?

For most agency-built products:

• Ultra-simple MVP: 1 - 2 weeks

• Standard MVP: 2 - 4 weeks

• Feature-heavy MVP: 4 - 6 weeks

These ranges cover the majority of early-stage products we build.

Conclusion: speed matters, but clarity matters more

A fast MVP lets you learn quickly, test with real users, and avoid wasting months on assumptions.

With the right scope, team, and focus, an effective MVP can be shipped in 1 to 4 weeks.