Can I do this?

I want to put up a placeholder image on my domain name while I build the site. I have access to my server. Can I build the site in a subfolder (public_html/subfolder) and then move it all up one level to the public _html folder when I’m ready to present it to the world, or will there be some sort of database issues after the move?

I ran into so much trouble the last time I moved a local site online that I want to just build this one online. Thanks for your help.