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WHAT IS THE COST TO CREATE AN APP?
You probably already know that you need a mobile app if you run an online business. "Having a web presence alone is no longer sufficient," Prof. Scott Shane wrote in Entrepreneur last year. Every day, more and more people rely on their smartphones to do everything from ordering coffee to paying their bills. Customers expect brands with whom they interact to provide seamless, user-friendly mobile experiences as our lives increasingly converge in our hands.
However, building an app can make business owners nervous. They end up delaying this crucial decision because they are unsure of where to begin or how much it will cost. The good news is that developing and launching an app is affordable regardless of your financial situation. Costs vary greatly depending on the kind of app you want and how you approach it, but businesses of all sizes have options. You can launch an app quickly if you are willing to be creative and flexible.Let's examine the process:
1.Hire a developer
The simplest method is to hire a developer to build your app. A seasoned professional will be aware of the app's requirements, how to incorporate your objectives into the functionality, and how to provide an excellent user experience. However, if your app requires a variety of complex processes, this option can be costly.
Working with a studio or freelance designer is one option. A contract app developer working from a major city like Sydney, Australia, according to Upwork, could charge up to $140 per hour. However, people who live in second- and third-tier areas might be willing to work for $40 to $50 an hour. Even though even a simple app can take up to 170 hours to build, the latter still adds up to a significant sum. However, there are ways to keep costs manageable.If you let your developer use code from other platforms, it will take less time and work to make your app, which will save you money. Check out this handy BusinessApps calculator to get an idea of how much an app will cost.
You can hire a developer to make changes to the app in response to customer demand for more features as your business expands. You may decide to hire a full-time developer or a development team to work solely on the app, depending on the size of your business.
However, if you are just starting out, you shouldn't hire a full-time app developer right away. The average salary for these positions is $84,000, which could be used to invest in other parts of the business. Contracting a freelancer or studio to complete the first iteration will allow you to deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) to your users without blowing your entire runway, even though a dedicated app developer would undoubtedly benefit the organization.
2.Learn how to code and make it yourself
If you can't afford to hire a developer, you can learn how to code and make the app yourself. Numerous online courses cover Android and iOS app development.Udemy offers development courses at prices as low as $10 on occasion, but the average price is closer to $200. Treehouse provides access to a variety of coding tracks through the platform, including Android and iOS development, and its three pricing tiers start at $25 per month. With freeCodeCamp, which, as its name implies, does not require any payments, entrepreneurs who are bootstrapping their businesses and have limited resources can begin.
DIY Genius recommends taking a foundational computer science course prior to beginning app development, despite the fact that many coding courses are intended for beginners. Understanding the fundamentals of computer science will speed up your comprehension and application of development concepts.
Learning, of course, takes time, which you might not be able to afford. If you already know how to program, you might be able to learn enough quickly to build the app yourself so that it won't stop you from doing it. Option three, on the other hand, might be something to think about if you're just starting out and want to get your app out into the world as soon as possible.
3.Use a DIY app builder
DIY app builders are like a mix of the first and second options. With a fraction of the time and expense, you can add your own personal touch to the app while benefiting from the expertise of professional developers.
There are currently a number of choices, including my own company, AppInstitute, each with its own set of features. Some simply incorporate your content and feeds into their templates, while others provide a menu of options that you can use in your app. Our platform is extremely user-friendly for non-developers because you can select from a list of templates and then create the brand experience you want by dragging and dropping features.
Prices for DIY app builders vary based on the level of service. Some use subscription-based or profit-sharing models, while others simply charge monthly hosting fees. Several businesses, including ours, provide tiered pricing so that you can select your service based on your needs and budget. For instance, although our drag-and-drop feature is free, we also provide custom development packages. However, regardless of the pricing structure, you will almost certainly pay less if you use a DIY app builder than if you hire a developer.
A mobile app is essential for your business, regardless of its current stage. Thankfully, you can afford one as well. App development is not a one-and-done process like so many other aspects of running an online business. To meet customers' mobile needs, you can begin with a straightforward app and then enhance the user experience as your offerings and resources expand. The most important thing is to begin and bring your business mobile right away.
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