What stretches timelines most is scope creep and unclear requirements. Every added feature, edge case, and integration adds design, build, and testing time. Starting with a tight MVP and adding in stages is the reliable way to ship something real sooner.
Testing and refinement always take longer than people expect, especially for anything handling money or personal data. A realistic plan budgets meaningful time for quality assurance, not just building features, because a fast build that breaks in front of users costs more in the end.
Updated July 2026
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