How Hard Is It To Build A Successful App Startup?

We are all guilty of being fooled by the media. Over the past decade, blogs have mentioned hundreds of app startups that seemingly appeared out of nowhere and sold for billions a month later. After reading about so many app acquisitions, building a successful app startup seems almost…well, easy. Because the media doesn’t always mention how many obstacles these entrepreneurs and app developers faced, it gives us the wrong picture of what it takes to build a quality mobile app and build a profitable business with it.

How hard is it to create an app? This answer has several levels. On the one hand, if you’re just making an app for the sake of the app, it’s not hard at all – a variety of software will allow you to launch an app in minutes.

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Now if the question is how hard it is for an app entrepreneur to get an app built; well, that takes on a different meaning. Difficulty depends on many factors including budget, experience and the skill of their developers. The level of difficulty can range from relatively easy to extremely difficult.

These are still very different questions than – how difficult is it to build a successful app startup (like Uber or Instagram)? In this case, it’s about as difficult as finding a steaming hot cup of coffee in Antarctica. Luckily, if you know what you’re doing, you can greatly improve the odds. In this post, we’ll give you an insight into what it takes to create a real app startup and finally answer the question: how hard is it to create an app?

Creating one App vs App Startup

By definition, building an app is not the same as building an app startup. Just because you create a great app doesn’t mean it will be successful – it doesn’t even mean that a single user will ever use it. Just to clarify:

• Create an app refers to the technical side of app creation. It includes processes like wireframing, app design and programming. A “great app” refers to a software product that is technically sound and works with little to no bugs.
• Building an app startup refers to the business side of a App idea to life. When an app references the product, the app startup is the entity that brings that product to the consumer and monetizes it. Building an app startup involves planning and executing effective launch strategies, marketing strategies, pricing strategies, and more. A “great app startup” refers to a company that is able to successfully introduce the application to the audience, convince them to download the application, and convert them into long-term users.

Everyone creating an app startup creates an app, but not everyone creating an app creates an app startup. For example, a warehouse chain may create an app to better manage their units, but they don’t aspire to create an app startup. However, an app startup launching a mobile auction platform needs to create the software to promote a product.

For an entrepreneur with no development experience, creating a first version of a mobile app can be quite difficult. However, building the app itself is just the tip of the iceberg for a successful app startup.

How hard is it to build an app?

To answer this question, you have to You first define what you mean by an “app”. Most apps suck, and it’s relatively easy to create another average app with outdated default features and lackluster functionality. However, when most people think about the app they want to make, they probably don’t think about a mediocre app that looks like it was born in 2009; You think of the crème de la crème of apps that are downloaded by the millions and become the top features in the App Store. How hard is it to develop an app that can compete with the best apps in the world? It’s extremely challenging and very few have the ability to pull it off.

There’s no shortage of app ideas – everyone seems to have one, but only a brave few will ever get ahead with development. Of those few, only a handful will ever publish their app on the App Store; and of those that do, only a small fraction will ever attract even 100 users.

For an entrepreneur with no coding skills, there are three main factors that contribute to the difficulty of creating a competitive mobile app today Market: the development costs, lack of experience and inability to find the right development team.

The cost of building an app

Companies like Facebook and Uber spend tens of millions of dollars every year for the development and maintenance of their software. If you’re expecting to compete with these $2,500 budget apps, you’re living in a dream world.There is no such thing as high-quality and low-cost app development. Big dreams need big budgets. Unfortunately, when developing apps, young entrepreneurs often underestimate the costs involved in building the functionality they design. A full mobile application easily costs over $50,000 in most cases to develop all of the features and functionality. If you have adopted a lean startup strategy, a minimum viable product will likely cost $15,000 or more and require additional capital for subsequent rounds of development.

See also: Cost to Develop a Marketplace App Like TaskRabbit

High quality app development agencies often charge between $45 and $100+ per hour . Entrepreneurs also need to fund the hosting and maintenance of their application. Unfortunately, to create a quality app, you need a significant development budget. Lack of budget is the factor that weeds out most would-be app entrepreneurs.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can raise money to build your first application release; but it won’t be easy. If you believe in your app idea and in yourself as an entrepreneur, here are some ways you can raise the money needed to develop your Minimal Viable Product.

• Savings: Many entrepreneurs are turning to their savings or nest egg to fund the first steps of their app journey. This may include using funds from previously established savings accounts, borrowing from 401ks, or liquidating other investments.
• Loan: App entrepreneurs often rely on outside credit, in order to be able to access the necessary finances further their ideas. Home equity loans, personal loans, and even credit cards are popular funding methods for many early-stage app entrepreneurs.
• Crowdfunding: Innovative and fresh ideas often lend themselves well to crowdfunding. Thousands of entrepreneurs have raised the funds needed to launch their application by pre-selling the idea to their audience or raising funds before actually making it happen.
• Be creative: Entrepreneurs are destined to solve problems, and sometimes when funding is the challenge, they need to be creative and figure it out. Take Airbnb, for example: instead of taking a traditional loan, the founders made 500 boxes of cereal labeled Obama O’s and Captain McCains and sold them for $40 a box during the presidential campaign. Through their creativity, they were able to generate over $30,000; Give them the boost they need to take their software to the next level.

Want to learn more about raising app funding to bring your app idea to life? Check out our article on how to find app funding for your great app idea

Build an app with a lack of experience

One Developing a quality app requires organizing many different parts of a move – and this can be a problem for first-time mobile app entrepreneurs. Just because someone uses apps or has an idea for one doesn’t mean they know what it takes to build them. When entrepreneurs with no prior experience act as project managers, it often results in massive delays, inefficiencies and additional costs.

Project managers are responsible for getting all the actors moving, running the show and overseeing the development of the project from start to finish. Entrepreneurs who work with freelancers or internal teams often have to manage the projects themselves. Effective project managers fully understand what is being built, can plan the best steps to build it, and use the most current practices to complete it.

App development practices change frequently. One day everyone uses double clicks; Another day, swipe is the new. One month 3D technology will be trending, the next it’s all about augmented reality. Managing an app development project means you need to stay ahead of the market and be able to direct a team to deliver a product that exceeds users’ high expectations.

So, how is that hard? make an app? Well, when you lead a development project for the first time, it will probably be more difficult than expected. There’s nothing better to prepare you than getting your feet wet, but here are a few things you can do to get comfortable with managing the development of an app project:

• Learn the art of wireframing: Words are comically misinterpreted and miscommunicated when it comes to app development. You may be able to picture the app clearly in your head, but you may not be able to explain it in a way that a designer or developer can recreate. With limited experience, you may even lack the technical jargon needed to properly explain your ideas. Luckily, wireframes let you visually express exactly how you want the app organized.It helps you to outline which pages need to be included, how each element should be arranged on each page, and how each page interacts with the next. Wireframes allow project managers to instantly convey their vision to developers in an easy-to-understand way. Additionally, creating a wireframe is fairly easy – even a simple penciled wireframe is usually enough to get the message across.
• Join Jod Coder Communities: Anyone who Managing mobile app development needs to keep up to date with how mobile and development practices are changing. A few good ways to keep up to date are by joining developer communities on LinkedIn and Facebook; Participation in developer forums; and subscribing to leading programming blogs. Always keep track of which types of functions and features are trending and which are no longer seen as crucial to the customer experience. The more you know, the better you can direct a team to build a modern application that exceeds user standards.
• Check the competition: Before you start thinking, how you want your app to look or work, download your competitor’s apps. Identify which parts of your app stand out and which parts could be improved. Knowing what the competition is offering gives you a basis for the level of quality a user will expect. If you want to be a better project manager, it’s important to know how a great app should look and work.

The alternative to a project management this way is to work with a reliable development company that goes above and beyond to understand your application and your vision. A strong development company has experienced project managers who can translate your vision into an effective plan that is executed by a development team.

Find a developer to build your app

There are millions of developers out there, but finding a great developer is a challenge. In most cases (but not all) the quality of the developer available to you depends on the size of your budget. If you can afford the best developers, you can hire the best developers.

Many entrepreneurs assume that as long as they bring a great app idea to their table, they have no problem working with a developer to build software. Unfortunately, quality developers often don’t put their full-time efforts into developing an unproven concept with no salary. While you can convince someone to take a lower salary in exchange for equity, they’re unlikely to close a deal with equity alone; and when they do, the likelihood that they’ll stay long enough to complete it is minimal.

Hiring a freelancer might seem like an inexpensive option, but sometimes it can cost more than going to one to go agency. A freelancer may have a lower hourly wage, but they can come with their challenges. Compared to an agency, freelancers are often severely restricted. An agency that may have dozens of developers has a collaborative knowledge that is exponentially greater than that of a single freelancer. Also, agencies have more capacity – freelance developers are notorious for abandoning projects when a better offer comes along; which can put entrepreneurs in a loss situation.

How hard is it to create an app? Well, it’s MUCH easier when you have the right development partners on your side. Here are three tips for hiring the right developers:

• Look for references:A developer can tell you almost anything about a previous project or client, but if You really want to know how the project went – ask the customer. It’s great to see the cool apps in their portfolio. However, just looking at an app doesn’t tell the story of what it took to get there. Creating a great app might have taken twice as long as planned, cost twice as much, or changed hands between multiple agencies before it was completed. Talk to previous clients and ask them for the details. Ask how well the developer communicated, how committed they were to the project, and how smooth the process went. Check out their reviews on sites like BBB and Clutch.co. The better you are able to screen each candidate, the more accurately you can choose the right development partner for your project.
• Check for “cultural” fit: Whatever developer you choose are chosen, you will likely work very closely with them during and after the development of your application. Find someone you work well with; someone who has the professional qualities you consider important; and someone you can get along with for a long time. The relationship between an app entrepreneur and a developer is like a marriage.Make sure you find a spouse who will keep you interested!
• Understand their guidelines: A valuable developer isn’t just someone who codes well — they’re someone who who communicates well and is attentive to the project, does not abandon ship in the middle of development and is consistent with your expectations. Ask candidates about their communication policies, how to deal with delays, etc. It’s the small details that can make or break a project!

The real challenge for app entrepreneurs

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Is it hard to make an app? Yes, but overall that’s not the hard part. The hardest part of building an app is knowing what to do with it once it’s built. How do you get users to do this? Can you make money with it? How do you keep users engaged once they’re there? These are the types of questions that need to be answered to become a successful app startup.

You built a great shovel, great. You will need it. The hole you have to dig to succeed is about the size of the Grand Canyon. There are three major hurdles entrepreneurs must overcome when trying to build a successful app startup: finding the right market, attracting users, and monetizing the app.

Finding the right product market -Fit

When you launch an app, you’re not just competing with other apps that are in the same space as yours – you’re really competing with the millions of apps in the App Store. Every app fights to be featured. Every app startup wants their app to be the king of its category.

But no app serves everyone. The more clear you are about which market would benefit the most from your particular app, the better off you will be at introducing them to it and convincing them to download it.

Select a market , to start. Even if your solution has the potential to serve multiple markets, your marketing budget will likely be limited; Therefore, it is far better to focus your initial efforts on the market where you can be most effective. Learn all about the consumers in this market. Join the groups they engage with, go to the places they frequent and read the magazines they read. Talk to consumers as much as possible and collect their feedback whenever possible. Identify their challenges, their pain points, and the qualities they dislike in competitor solutions. Know your customers – because the better you know them, the better you can serve them; and the better you serve them, the more effectively you can monetize them.

Bring users to your app

It really doesn’t matter if you have the perfect solution developed for someone else’s problem when that person is never aware that the solution exists. “Build it and they will come” is not a phrase that applies to app startups. Build it and do nothing else and no one will come. Not even a single user. It can be a lonely world in app startup land.

App marketing is a very strategic process. Once you know who your market is and where they spend their time, you can start identifying the best marketing techniques to reach them. Some of the most common and successful marketing techniques you might want to consider are:

• Influencer Marketing: Word of mouth has always been one of the most effective ways of promoting a product , and today influencers are the mouths of the social media world. Applications that are able to align with the right influencers can be quickly rolled out to large audiences. With the right influencer promotion, these apps can spread like wildfire. Not every influencer is a star. In fact, not every influencer is even extremely popular. Some influencers have small audiences but make a powerful impact on that niche audience. When they say they like a product, people tune in. When they ask people to share it, their followers click share. Find your audience—then engage with the people who influence them.
• App Store Optimization: The majority of app downloads occur when people are in the App search store. App Store Optimization (or ASO) is a process to make your app more visible in the App Store. Through this process, apps hope to rank higher for certain keywords and search phrases.
• Press and media: The press plays an important role in the success of popular app startups. When the press starts mentioning your app, people take notice; because when the media talks about you, you have to be newsworthy, right? Building the right media relationships is crucial for an app entrepreneur. Being mentioned by the right source can give you instant credibility and expose your application to thousands of potential users.

Want to learn more about marketing an app? Read our article How to Promote an App for Maximum Visibility

Generate Revenue (App Monetization)

Finally, a successful app launch must be able to to generate its income. Focusing solely on advertising is not a sustainable way of generating revenue for most mobile app startups. Most applications don’t get millions of views per day. For those that are, many don’t make enough revenue from ads alone to support the company’s growth. Finding the right monetization model will likely take some testing. Some consumer groups are more inclined to subscribe than others; while some types of apps lend themselves better to in-app purchases than others. Here are some popular ways to monetize a mobile application:

• Freemium: A freemium app is a hybrid of a “free” app and a “premium” app . Basically, users are offered a free version of the application. This free version is slimmed down, but offers enough features to take advantage of some of the software’s benefits. A “Premium” version is offered for either a one-time or recurring monthly fee. With this version, the user can access additional features and further enhance their experience.
• In-App Purchases: This method allows users to purchase credits or virtual items through the application while using it. The “in-app purchase” model is extremely popular in mobile gaming. In games, users may have the option to pay for extra lives, coins, or game items.
• Paid Apps: For some applications, users are willing to pay upfront just to download the application. App startups with higher brand awareness may be able to attract paid users, but most users don’t spend anything without a trial. Some app entrepreneurs offer a free version of their app that displays ads (which can get extremely annoying), but also offer an ad-free version in the form of a paid app.

Want more about Learn about monetizing your mobile app? Check out our article: How to Identify the Most Profitable App Business Model

So… how hard is it to build an app?

One last note here. Launching a successful app is very difficult and certainly not for the faint of heart. Although many app ideas will fail on their way to success, some will survive. Yes, you can be a part of that few. The key is knowing what it takes to build an app startup and prepare for the journey. You wouldn’t take a trip around the world without planning your trip first, would you? Don’t launch your app without a well thought-out plan.

Are you ready to bring your app idea to life? We’re here to help. Our project managers and app developers know exactly what is important to build and successfully position cutting-edge technology. Contact us today and let’s discuss your idea!

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