Realistic MVP Timelines: What to Actually Expect

The Timeline Myth

"We'll have an MVP in two weeks!"

Sound familiar? Let's talk about realistic expectations.

MVP Types and Timelines

Landing Page MVP

**Timeline:** 1-3 days

**Purpose:** Validate interest

**Includes:** Value proposition, email capture, maybe pricing

Concierge MVP

**Timeline:** 1-2 weeks

**Purpose:** Validate the solution manually

**Includes:** Manual service delivery, basic booking

Single-Feature App

**Timeline:** 2-4 weeks

**Purpose:** Validate core functionality

**Includes:** One main feature, basic auth, simple UI

Multi-Feature MVP

**Timeline:** 4-8 weeks

**Purpose:** Full validation with early adopters

**Includes:** Core features, polished UI, basic analytics

What Affects Timeline?

Speeds Things Up:

Clear scope definition

Experienced team

No-code/low-code tools

Design system in place

Single decision maker

Slows Things Down:

Scope creep

Multiple stakeholders

Custom integrations

Complex user flows

Perfectionism

The MVPgo Approach

We've optimized for speed without sacrificing quality:

**Landing Pages:** 1-3 days

**Web App MVPs:** 1-2 weeks

**Mobile App Design:** 2-3 weeks

Red Flags in Timeline Discussions

Watch out for:

"It depends" without specifics

Promises that sound too good

No mention of revision rounds

Unclear definition of "done"

Setting Yourself Up for Speed

**Write down exactly what success looks like**

**List features, then cut half**

**Prepare content and assets in advance**

**Designate one decision maker**

**Commit to the timeline publicly**

The Bottom Line

A realistic timeline is one you can actually meet. It's better to promise 4 weeks and deliver in 3 than promise 2 weeks and deliver in 6.

MVPgo