As mobile devices and smartphones have become common, all kinds of mobile applications have appeared. Many companies now develop apps for their businesses, but there are several points you should understand before starting. Taking time to prepare before finding an app development company can increase the chance of success.
1. App Development Cost
An app is software designed for smartphones and mobile devices, so app development requires specialist software engineers. If your company does not have in-house app developers, you will need to find an app development company to provide the service.
App development pricing is often calculated by man-days. For example, if planning and development require three engineers over six months, the total workload is calculated from that manpower and time. The price of one man-day depends on the quotation from the app development company and can vary widely.
2. Budget Scale
Smartphones are mainly divided into iOS and Android. Before development, you need to consider whether the app should launch on both systems at the same time or start with only one platform.
Even if the functions are the same, an iOS app and an Android app are treated as two separate development efforts. As a result, the development budget may need to increase by 1.5 to 2 times.
3. App Store Launch
Before publishing an app, you should know that both Google Play Store and Apple App Store require paid developer accounts. Different account types may support different publishing functions, so the fees can vary. Apple App Store accounts may involve different annual fees, while Google Play Store requires a registration fee.
4. App Operation Model
There are three common app operation models.
First, the app can be sold as a product. App stores usually take a commission from app revenue, and the app developer or owner receives the remaining share. If you choose to sell the app, pricing must be reasonable. You also need to estimate how many downloads are required to cover development and promotion costs.
Second, the app can be free to download and supported by advertising. In this model, a large user base is especially important because advertisers will only be interested if the app can reach enough users.
Third, the app can be used for customer service. If this is the purpose, you should consider how the app can provide high-quality online services, attract customer downloads, and support your online business.
5. App Maintenance
iOS and Android systems release new versions from time to time. Apps need to be adjusted for system updates; otherwise, users may not be able to use them properly. App maintenance also requires support from an app development company, and the budget depends on the app’s size and complexity.
6. App Promotion
After development is complete, users still need to know the app exists before they will download and keep using it. There are many apps in both App Store and Google Play Store, so standing out requires marketing budget and a promotion strategy, just like promoting any company product or service.
These six points are the key things to understand before developing an app. We hope this article helps clarify some common questions. If you have further questions, feel free to contact us.
Translation supported by AI.