5 Tips For Building Your App-Based Business
If you have a great idea for an app-based business but have no experience building software, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are five tips to get you on your way to a successful launch.
1. You Don’t Need to Know How to Code
Learning to code in order to build your own app is like learning construction in order to build your own store. It can take upwards of a year of study and practice to make something usable, and even then, it can be difficult to make a product that is user friendly, streamlined and accessible.
What’s more, since time is money, it’s probably worth simply investing in your project and hiring an app developer that already has the required experience. That way you are much more likely to have an attractive and usable product, in less than half the time. That gives you the space to focus on advertising and promoting your product, so you’re ready to support your venture as soon as it’s ready.
2. Know Your Budget
Depending on the complexity of your app, you should expect to spend about $5-$10k for a minimal or functional app. Developers can also often build the app on an additional platform for you, at a fraction of the cost of your original build. Investing in this can bring more eyeballs to your app much earlier if you have the necessary spending money. Research the benefits of native code to decide if this could be worth it for your business.
3. Think Internationally
App development can be done from anywhere, which means you don’t have to hire a developer from within your home country. Paying an app developer in the US can cost 2-5 times as much as hiring someone equally skilled from overseas. Most often the quality of your product will be very much the same, but you can save a remarkable amount of money.
4. Be a Contract Pedant
Contracts are incredibly boring, but before you enter into one with a developer, it’s important that you go through it with a fine-toothed comb. Be as specific as you can about your desired time frame, the features you want to include, the devices you’d like to be compatible with and, of course, how much you are willing to pay.
A misunderstanding with your developer could cost you much-needed time and resources, and you could even lose the developer before they can fix the issue. Agree on every detail you can in advance to save yourself from having to hire another developer to fix mistakes with the previous build. Discuss the “warranty” your developer offers for their work. Will they devote time to fixing any errors that come up? Never rely simply on a verbal agreement. Include everything in the written contract.
5. Finally, know your needs
Your goal in app development is to build your “MVP” (minimal viable product), something that provides the most essential features necessary to start your business, but with none of the extra frills and fluff that sometimes come up on older apps. These features add to cost and development time, and right now your priority is simply to launch a product and find out whether it has legs. Write down the necessary features of your app and rank them, keeping the list as small as possible. What works for Marie Kondo will work just as well for your fledgling app!
Need more startup support? No problem! Floww is on hand to help you connect with the right funding partners for your business, check out our end-to-end platform here.