What is a project timeline?

A project timeline lays out the key phases, milestones, and deadlines for a project in chronological order. It shows the client exactly when things will happen and when you need input from them to stay on track.

For freelancers, timelines do double duty: they manage client expectations and protect your schedule. When a client asks "why isn't this done yet?", you can point to the timeline and show that their delay in providing feedback pushed everything back.

When should you use one?

Any project that runs longer than a week or has multiple stages. Especially important for projects where the client needs to provide content, feedback, or approvals at specific points.

What's included

Project phases - the major stages of the project (discovery, design, development, review, launch) with start and end dates.

Milestones - key checkpoints where deliverables are presented or approvals are needed.

Client dependencies - tasks that require input from the client, with deadlines. Makes it clear that delays on their end delay the whole project.

Buffer time - built-in breathing room for unexpected delays. Experienced freelancers always add 10-20% buffer.

Review and feedback windows - how long the client has to review each deliverable. Typically 3-5 business days.

Final delivery date - the target completion date, with a note that it's dependent on the client meeting their deadlines too.