Here's a conversation I had last week:
Founder: "We want to build an MVP. How long do you think it will take?"
Me: "Depends on complexity. What are you building?"
Founder: "A marketplace with user profiles, messaging, payments, reviews, search, recommendations, and an admin dashboard."
Me: "That's not an MVP."
Founder: "Well, we need all those features to launch."
Me: "Why?"
Founder: [long pause] "Because... that's how marketplaces work?"
This is the problem. Founders have a vision of what their product should look like, and then they ask how long it will take to build that vision. The answer is usually: way longer than they expect.
Let me give you some honest numbers.
The Realistic MVP Timeline Spectrum
Here's what I've seen work in practice:
MVP Type | Timeline | Budget Range | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | 2-4 weeks | $2,000-$5,000 | Landing page + email capture, basic tool |
| Standard | 4-8 weeks | $5,000-$15,000 | SaaS with auth, database, payments |
| Complex | 8-16 weeks | $15,000-$40,000 | Marketplace, platform with integrations |
| Very Complex | 16+ weeks | $40,000+ | AI products, regulated industries, hardware |
Most founders aim for "Standard" but build "Complex" without realizing it.
Why Founders Consistently Underestimate
I've identified five patterns that cause timeline overruns:
Pattern #1: Vision Inflation
You have a clear picture of what the final product looks like. Every feature on that picture feels essential. You can't imagine launching without any of it.
The reality: Your users don't see that picture. They just want to solve their problem. You can solve it with 50% of the features in 50% of the time.
The fix: Force yourself to describe your MVP in one sentence. Then ask: "What can I remove while still keeping this promise?"
Pattern #2: Discovery Debt
You haven't actually validated your idea. You're building on assumptions. So every week of development is also a week of discovery—which doubles the timeline.
The reality: The more discovery you do upfront, the faster you build.
The fix: Spend 1-2 weeks before development talking to users, testing concepts, and validating assumptions.
Pattern #3: Technical Ambition
You want to use the latest framework, build microservices, create a custom design system, and implement complex algorithms—all for an MVP.
The reality: Technical ambition is the enemy of speed. The best MVPs are built with boring, proven technology.
The fix: Ask "What's the simplest way to build this?" Not "What's the best way?"
Pattern #4: Team Friction
You're working with a new team, or outsourcing for the first time, or learning as you go. Every communication gap, misaligned expectation, and context switch adds days to the timeline.
The reality: Team velocity is not just about skill—it's about coordination.
The fix: Reduce scope to match your team's coordination capacity. Or invest time upfront in alignment.
Pattern #5: Perfectionism
You keep refining, polishing, and improving instead of launching. You're waiting for it to be "ready."
The reality: Your MVP is never going to feel ready. Launching is the only way to make it real.
The fix: Set a hard launch date. Ignore the voice that says "just one more thing."
Timeline Breakdown: Where Does the Time Go?
Let me show you where time actually goes in a typical 8-week MVP build:
Week 1-2: Discovery and Planning (20% of timeline)
What happens:
- User interviews and validation
- Feature definition and prioritization
- Technical architecture decisions
- Team alignment and sprint planning
Common mistake: Skipping this. Founders think planning is wasted time. It's not—it's time that prevents rework.
Time invested: 3-5 days of focused work
Week 3-4: Core Development (40% of timeline)
What happens:
- Database setup and authentication
- Core feature implementation
- Key integrations (payments, email, etc.)
- Basic UI for main flows
Common mistake: Building edge cases and polish instead of core features.
Time invested: 10-12 days of focused work
Week 5-6: Testing and Iteration (20% of timeline)
What happens:
- Bug fixes and stability improvements
- User testing and feedback
- Performance optimization
- Edge case handling
Common mistake: Rushing this phase or skipping it entirely.
Time invested: 5-8 days of focused work
Week 7-8: Launch Preparation (20% of timeline)
What happens:
- Deployment and DevOps
- Analytics setup
- Documentation and help content
- Marketing assets
- Launch execution
Common mistake: Underestimating the non-development work.
Time invested: 5-8 days of focused work
The 30-Day MVP: When It Works (And When It Doesn't)
You can build an MVP in 30 days. People have done it. But here's when it works:
When 30 Days Works:
-
The scope is genuinely minimal
- You're building a single feature, not a platform
- You're using existing tools, not building from scratch
- You're comfortable with "good enough" over "perfect"
-
The founder is technical or has done this before
- No learning curve for the technology
- No time spent explaining requirements
-
The idea is validated
- You've talked to users before starting
- You know what to build
-
You're willing to compromise
- No custom design
- Manual processes where possible
- "Ship first, fix later" mindset
When 30 Days Fails:
-
You have a complex marketplace or platform
- Multiple user types, multiple flows
- Each side needs different features
-
You're learning the technology as you build
- First time with the stack
- First time building this type of product
-
You haven't validated the idea
- You're discovering requirements as you build
- Scope keeps changing
-
You want it to look professional
- Design takes time
- Polish takes time
- "Good enough" feels like failure
The Real Timeline for Different MVP Types
Simple MVP (2-4 weeks)
Scope examples:
- Landing page with email capture
- Simple calculator or tool
- Content site with basic functionality
- Single integration (Zapier, webhook handler)
What it includes:
- 1-3 core features
- Basic design
- No user accounts or minimal accounts
- Simple deployment
Key success factors:
- Extreme scope discipline
- Use existing tools (no custom development)
- Launch with minimal testing
Standard SaaS MVP (4-8 weeks)
Scope examples:
- B2B SaaS tool with multiple features
- Consumer app with core functionality
- Two-sided marketplace with basic transactions
- Platform with API integration
What it includes:
- User authentication
- Database with core entities
- 3-7 key features
- Payment integration
- Basic admin capabilities
Key success factors:
- Clear feature prioritization
- Experienced developer or team
- Weekly iterations with feedback
Complex MVP (8-16 weeks)
Scope examples:
- Full marketplace with reviews and messaging
- Platform with multiple integrations
- AI-powered product with custom model
- Regulatory product (healthcare, finance)
What it includes:
- Multiple user types with different flows
- Complex data models
- 10+ features
- Advanced integrations
- Compliance requirements
Key success factors:
- Experienced technical lead
- Clear MVP definition (avoiding scope creep)
- Phased development approach
Timeline Red Flags to Watch
Watch for these signs that your timeline is unrealistic:
Red Flag | What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| First-time technical founder building alone | Timeline will likely double | Consider no-code or co-founder |
| More than 5 core features | This isn't an MVP | Cut ruthlessly |
| Multiple user types with different flows | Multiplies complexity | Start with one user type |
| "We need custom" for everything | No leverage from existing tools | Use existing solutions |
| No explicit feature prioritization | Scope creep guaranteed | Define must-have only |
| First time working with this team | Communication overhead | Add buffer time |
| Unvalidated idea | Discovery and building happen simultaneously | Validate first |
How to Shrink Your Timeline (Ethically)
If you need to move faster, here are legitimate ways to do it:
1. Cut Scope Ruthlessly
The fastest way to finish faster is to build less.
Ask for every feature: "What happens if I don't build this?"
If the answer is "users won't like it" or "it won't be complete," you might still need it.
If the answer is "it would be nice" or "we could add it later," cut it.
2. Use Existing Tools
Don't build:
- Authentication (use Clerk, Firebase, Supabase)
- Payments (use Stripe)
- Email (use Resend, Postmark)
- Database (use Supabase, Prisma)
- Hosting (use Vercel, Railway, Render)
- Analytics (use Google Analytics, PostHog)
Build only what makes you different.
3. Leverage No-Code for Parts
You don't have to go all-in on custom code. Consider:
- Bubble or Flutterflow for the main product
- Airtable + Softr for data-driven tools
- Webflow for marketing sites
You can always rebuild later.
4. Outsource Strategically
Don't waste time on:
- Design (hire a designer)
- DevOps (use managed services)
- Testing (automate what you can)
- Documentation (write minimally, improve later)
Focus your time on what only you can do.
5. Parallelize Work
While development happens:
- Start marketing site in parallel
- Prepare launch assets
- Set up analytics
- Draft documentation
Development isn't the only thing that needs to happen before launch.
6. Launch Earlier
The best way to finish faster is to accept that you'll finish when you launch—and launch earlier.
Ship a "disposable MVP" that proves the concept, then build the real product with real user feedback.
The Honest Timeline Calculator
Here's a simple formula I've developed:
Realistic Timeline = (Optimistic Timeline × 2) + 2 weeks
If you think it will take 4 weeks, plan for 10 weeks.
If you think it will take 8 weeks, plan for 18 weeks.
This accounts for:
- Discovery you didn't plan for
- Scope creep you can't avoid
- Bugs that take longer to fix
- Delays you can't predict
It's better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.
Milestones to Track Progress
Instead of just watching the calendar, track these milestones:
Milestone | What It Means |
|---|---|
MVP Definition Done | You can describe your MVP in one sentence |
Tech Stack Selected | You've chosen tools and know how to build |
Core Flow Works | A user can complete the main action |
Alpha Tested | 5-10 real users have tried it |
Bugs Fixed | No critical issues remain |
Deployed | Live on production |
Live Users | Real users, not just friends |
Track these milestones, not just days.
What to Do If You're Behind
If you realize your timeline is slipping:
Step 1: Diagnose the Problem
- Is it scope creep? Cut more features.
- Is it team velocity? Reduce scope or add capacity.
- Is it discovery? Accept the learning or validate faster.
- Is it quality standards? Lower them temporarily.
Step 2: Make a Hard Decision
You have three options:
- Cut scope to match your timeline
- Extend timeline to match your scope
- Add resources if that's the bottleneck
You can't have all three. Pick two.
Step 3: Communicate Transparently
If you have co-founders, investors, or team members:
- Share the reality early
- Propose solutions
- Get alignment on the path forward
Hiding timeline slippage only makes it worse.
The Bottom Line
Most founders underestimate their MVP timeline by 2x. The reasons are always the same: scope creep, unvalidated ideas, technical ambition, and perfectionism.
The good news: you can fix all of these.
If you want a faster timeline:
- Cut scope
- Validate early
- Use boring technology
- Launch when it's "good enough"
If you want an accurate timeline:
- Plan for surprises
- Track milestones, not just days
- Accept that you'll learn as you build
- Build in buffer time
The best founders aren't the ones who build fastest. They're the ones who plan realistically and execute disciplined.
Need Help Accelerating Your MVP?
At Startupbricks, we've built dozens of MVPs across every timeline and complexity level. We know where founders get stuck, how to avoid common delays, and how to ship faster without cutting corners.
Whether you're:
- Planning your MVP timeline
- Behind schedule and need to catch up
- Not sure if your scope is realistic
- Wanting to validate before you build
Let's talk. We help founders ship faster—realistically.