STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) For Website
Website Development Process
(From Client Onboarding to Project Delivery)
- PURPOSE
This SOP defines the complete workflow for website development projects, including:
- Services-based websites
- E-commerce websites
- WordPress projects
- Shopify projects
- Custom-coded projects
It Ensures structured execution, quality control, and timely delivery.
- SCOPE
This SOP applies to:
- Project Managers
- Designers
- Developers
- QA Team
- Account Managers
- PROCESS OVERVIEW
The website development lifecycle consists of 10 phases:
- Client Onboarding
- Requirement Collection
- Proposal & Agreement
- Planning & Architecture
- Design Phase
- Development Phase
- Testing Phase
- Client Review
- Deployment
- Delivery & Handover
PHASE 1: CLIENT ONBOARDING
Objective:
Understand client business, goals, and project expectations.
1.1 Discovery Call Checklist
Business Understanding
- What does your business do?
- Who is your target audience?
- What makes your business unique?
- Who are your competitors?
- What are your long-term goals?
Project Goals
- What is the primary goal?
- Lead generation
- Online sales
- Brand awareness
- Booking system
- Do you need scalability?
- Do you need SEO from the beginning?
- Do you require multilingual support?
Project Type
- Services website
- E-commerce website
- Hybrid
- Redesign or new website
PHASE 2: REQUIREMENT COLLECTION
2.1 Basic Business Information (Mandatory for All Projects)
- Business name
- Logo (PNG/SVG)
- Brand colors
- Tagline
- Business description
- Target audience
- Contact details
- Social media links
- Domain status
- Hosting status
- Competitor websites
2.2 Services Website Requirements
Content
- List of services
- Detailed descriptions
- Pricing (if public)
- Testimonials
- Case studies
- Team details
- Certifications/Awards
Lead System
- Contact form fields
- WhatsApp number
- Call tracking number
- Booking system required?
- CRM integration required?
Legal
- Privacy Policy
- Terms & Conditions
2.3 E-Commerce Website Requirements
Product Information
- Product list (Excel preferred)
- SKU
- Categories
- Price / Offer price
- Stock quantity
- Variants
- Product images
- Weight (for shipping)
Payment
- Preferred payment gateway
- Merchant account created?
- API keys (Live/Test)
Shipping
- Shipping partner
- Shipping rules
- Free shipping threshold
- International shipping required?
Tax
- GST number
- Tax percentage
- HSN codes
- Invoice format
Order Process
- COD enabled?
- Email/SMS confirmation?
- Return policy
- Refund policy
2.4 Technical Access Required
- Domain access
- Hosting access
- cPanel/Server access
- DNS access
- Previous website access (if redesign)
PHASE 3: PROPOSAL & AGREEMENT
Before development begins:
- Confirm platform (WordPress / Shopify / Custom)
- Confirm timeline
- Confirm total project cost
- Confirm payment terms
- Define revision limits
- Define content responsibility
- Sign formal agreement
Development begins only after advance payment.
PHASE 4: PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE
4.1 Sitemap Creation
Define and get approval for:
- Homepage
- About page
- Services / Shop
- Product pages
- Contact page
- Legal pages
- Blog (if required)
No development without sitemap approval.
PHASE 5: DESIGN PHASE
- Select theme or create custom design
- Design homepage first
- Obtain client approval
- Design internal pages
- Ensure mobile-first responsiveness
Major design changes are not allowed after approval.
PHASE 6: DEVELOPMENT PHASE
6.1 WordPress Projects
- Install WordPress
- Configure SSL
- Setup permalinks
- Install required plugins
- Setup WooCommerce (if E-commerce)
- Add products/services
- Integrate payment gateway
- Configure shipping & tax
- Setup SMTP & forms
- Enable caching & optimization
6.2 Shopify Projects
- Create store
- Connect domain
- Configure currency, tax, shipping
- Add products & collections
- Setup payment gateway
- Customize theme
- Install required apps
6.3 Custom Development Projects
- Finalize tech stack
- Create database schema
- Develop frontend & backend
- Build user, product, cart, and order modules
- Integrate payment gateway
- Implement security protocols
- Optimize performance
PHASE 7: TESTING PHASE
All projects must undergo:
- Mobile responsiveness test
- SEO onpage testing
- Cross-browser testing
- Form functionality testing
- Payment testing
- Checkout testing
- Speed testing
- Broken link check
- Admin panel functionality test
No project moves to deployment without QA approval.
PHASE 8: CLIENT REVIEW
- Share staging URL
- Collect structured feedback
- Apply approved revisions
- Obtain final written approval
PHASE 9: DEPLOYMENT
- Move website to live server
- Recheck SSL
- Enable live payment mode
- Configure backups
- Setup analytics & tracking
- Final live testing
PHASE 10: DELIVERY & HANDOVER
- Share admin credentials
- Provide basic training session
- Share documentation
- Provide backup copy
- Confirm support/warranty period
Project is marked complete only after formal sign-off.
FINAL DELIVERY CHECKLIST
Before closing the project:
- Website fully responsive
- SSL active
- Forms working
- Payment gateway live
- Shipping configured
- Tax configured
- Backup created
- Admin access shared
- Training completed
QUALITY CONTROL PRINCIPLES
- No development without requirement clarity
- No deployment without testing
- No design changes after approval stage
- Always maintain project documentation
- Always keep backup before deployment