How Long Does It Really Take to Build an MVP?
When you’re getting started with a new app or service, the first milestone is a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). By the end of this article, you’ll know the typical timeframes, the steps involved, the often-overlooked hurdles (like compliance or founder experience), strategies to move faster, common traps that slow you down—and what happens to most startups after they ship that first version.
Typical MVP Timeline
Most development teams land somewhere between 3–6 months for a standard web or mobile MVP, according to Atlassian’s survey on software delivery timelines.
MVP Type | Timeline | Source |
|---|---|---|
Standard web/mobile MVP | 3–6 months | Atlassian survey |
Average MVP | 4.5 months | Cleveroad survey |
No-code MVP | 4–8 weeks | MindInventory |
Complex fintech/health tech MVP | 6–9 months | Accenture report |
Maker's Den MVP | 0.5 - 2 months | Makers' den |
In a 2019 survey of 150 software projects, Cleveroad found the average time to develop an MVP was about 4.5 months.
Simpler MVPs built with no-code tools can launch in 4–8 weeks, based on MindInventory’s analysis of no-code development timelines.
Complex solutions—think fintech or health tech—often stretch to 6–9 months, once you factor in extra reviews and integrations, as highlighted in Accenture’s fintech innovation report.
Makers' Den delivers MVPs between 2 weeks and 2 months. That's what we consider the sweet spot for the first iteration of Line of Business applications we deliver.
Key Stages of MVP Development
You can break an MVP build into six broad phases:
Discovery/Ideation
Nail down the problem you’re solving, survey competitors, interview potential users.
Design
Sketch wireframes or click-through prototypes, then refine your UI/UX.
Development
Build the front end, back end, API and database.
Testing
Carry out QA cycles, fix bugs, verify performance.
Deployment
Set up hosting, release to app stores or web servers.
Iteration
Gather user feedback, analyze metrics, plan your next sprint.
Factors That Shape Your MVP Schedule
Several elements can make your timeline shorter—or much longer:
Factor | Impact on Timeline |
|---|---|
Scope and Feature Set | Each additional feature adds dev and test time |
Team Size & Expertise | Smaller teams move slower |
Tech Stack & Platform | Custom vs. BaaS affects speed |
Design Complexity | Polished UI adds hours |
Regulatory & Compliance | +2–3 months for audits |
Founder Experience | Experienced founders decide faster |
Scope and Feature Set: Every new feature adds development and testing time.
Team Size & Expertise: Smaller or less-experienced teams move slower.
Tech Stack & Platform: Custom backend vs. BaaS, native vs. cross-platform.
Design Complexity: A polished, custom UI takes more hours than a simple framework.
Regulatory & Compliance Requirements
In areas like healthcare or finance, you’ll need formal audits, data-security checks and legal sign-offs. These can tack on 2–3 months for documentation, third-party reviews and certification under the HIPAA Security Rule.
Founder Experience & Decision Speed
If you’ve built products before, you’ll likely avoid time-wasting detours. First-time founders often spend extra weeks debating priorities or researching unknown domains.
How to Speed Up Your MVP Build
Focus on Core Features
Resist adding “nice-to-haves” before you’ve validated the core problem.
Adopt Agile Practices
Short, 1- or 2-week sprints keep you on track and let you pivot fast—as outlined in the Scrum Alliance guide to sprint planning.
Use No-Code/Low-Code Platforms
Tools like Bubble, Adalo or Webflow let non-technical founders spin up databases, forms and logic in days.
Leverage Reusable Components
Open-source libraries and pre-built templates can shave weeks off UI development.
No-Code and Low-Code Platforms
If your MVP is a data-driven directory, marketplace or form-based app, you can often get a fully functional prototype in 2–6 weeks. Non-developers can:
Define data models in clicks
Wire up user authentication and payments
Publish to a custom domain
Pitfalls That Can Stall Your MVP
Even seasoned teams can hit roadblocks:
Scope Creep: Chasing every feature request before you’ve proven the idea.
Weak Problem Validation: Building before you’ve confirmed there’s genuine user interest.
Over-Investing in Design: Spending months crafting pixel-perfect assets you may end up scrapping.
Poor Communication: Misaligned expectations between founders, devs and stakeholders.
“If you don’t ruthlessly prioritize, you’ll never ship. Every extra feature is an invitation to delay.”
– Teresa Torres, product discovery coach
What Happens After You Ship Your MVP?
Once your MVP is live, two paths usually open:
Iterate based on real user data and gradually expand your feature set.
Pivot—changing the core offering or target market if initial feedback shows a mismatch.
According to a survey by CB Insights, 42% of startups cite “no market need” as the main reason they failed. On the flip side, startups that systematically collect feedback and iterate are 30% more likely to reach product-market fit within a year, as noted in a Forbes analysis of continuous iteration.
Outcome | Percentage |
|---|---|
Failure due to no market need | 42% |
Reach product-market fit with iteration | 30% more likely |
Your Next Sprint
Now you have a clear view of what goes into an MVP: the months it can take, the stages you’ll move through, the hidden hurdles around compliance and decision-making, plus ways to speed things up with no-code tools. Watch for common traps, set up early feedback loops, and you’ll turn that first release into a platform you can build your business on.
