·3 min read
How Long Does It Take to Build an MVP
The honest answer: 2 weeks to 3 months. Anything longer and you're probably not building an MVP.
Realistic Timelines
| MVP Type | Timeline | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page + waitlist | 1-2 weeks | Validate demand before building |
| Simple MVP | 2-4 weeks | One core feature, basic auth, simple UI |
| Standard MVP | 4-8 weeks | Full user flow, payments, dashboard |
| Complex MVP | 8-12 weeks | Multiple roles, integrations, advanced features |
What Slows You Down
- •Unclear scope: not knowing exactly what to build
- •Feature creep: adding "just one more thing"
- •Perfectionism: polishing before validating
- •Wrong priorities: building nice-to-haves first
- •No decision maker: waiting for approvals
What Speeds You Up
- •Locked scope: decide once, don't revisit
- •One user, one flow: ruthless focus
- •Daily progress: ship something every day
- •Templates and frameworks: don't reinvent
- •Single decision maker: fast approvals
The 2-Week MVP
It's possible to build a working MVP in 2 weeks if you're ruthless about scope. Here's what that looks like:
- •Day 1-2: Scope lock and architecture
- •Day 3-5: Core feature development
- •Day 6-8: Auth, basic UI, integrations
- •Day 9-10: Testing and fixes
- •Day 11-12: Deployment and launch prep
- •Day 13-14: Launch and first users
If your MVP takes longer than 8 weeks, you're building too much. Cut features, not corners.