By Yuvrajsinh Vaghela
There is a rumor associated with the mobile app development that it is an expensive thing which makes a lot of businesses strike app development from their to-do list. Actually, it’s the rumor that needs to be eliminated rather than the decision of making an app because after all, it is just an app, not a rocket.
The cost of app development is not the same for all apps. It differs based on various factors and current market status. However, you can make the cost of your app pocket-friendly by modifying the requirements in such a way that it fits your budget. Here are four factors that can help you control your mobile app development cost.
1. Start with Demographics and Market Research
Determine the age, location, gender, income, education and occupation of your target market before deciding upon an app. Decoding such will give you a clear picture of who is going to use your app, where, how often, how long and how much are they able to invest in your app.
Suppose you are planning an online food ordering app. You need to analyze the locations you are planning to make the app available because if a particular location has no nearby restaurants, then there is no point in launching the app there. Even if there is, you need to know the income and the occupation of the people living at those locations to check whether they have access to online payments and are willing to pay enough.
Next is to study the pattern; after knowing the income graph you need to know their local culture. For that, you can seek the help of Followerwonk, to know what is the local food over there and what people prefer to eat. Knowing which nearby restaurants they eat at the most and where good local dishes are available will help you link with those restaurants and make it available for users to order at home.
Next, comes research and analysis. The market is already flooding with apps and though you are launching an out-of-the-blue app or an app with a common concept, peeking into the market is mandatory. For example, if you are planning a messenger app, studying the top apps in the category like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and others is a must. Only after knowing the potential, existing competitors and the target audience, you can define the demand and need of the app.
2. Dissect the Development of the App Before Beginning
Define each and every single aspect of your app; this will help you decide what and where you can cut the budget. Use these areas to get started:
- Business goals, the purpose of the app, the nature of app i.e hybrid or native (a native app is comparatively faster but costs more than a hybrid app).
- The platform – AndroidOS, iOS, or WindowsOS — because the development on each cost differently and if you want both iOS and Android then be prepared for the cost of both, the device – as Android supports a fleet of devices, making the app compatible with each becomes an expensive job compared to iOS which has fewer devices.
- Functionality and features which includes the appearance, graphics and usability of the app.
- The team and resources behind the development of your app; check first whether to keep it in-house or outsource it.
- The time frame; setting an approximate time frame to launch your app is necessary because the more the time it takes, the more resources will be utilized and it will cost you more.
3. Conduct Testing, Updates and Maintenance
A bug free app is what everyone desires and it is your responsibility to provide it. Therefore, an app should be launched only after you are satisfied with its test results. Extensive testing is necessary for the app to survive without any glitch in the market. Chances are you might be required to conduct repetitive or multiple tests to ensure the functionality of the app. Hence, keep aside some budget for a complete checkup of your app.
Now, after the development of the app, you will have to invest some more in maintaining and updating the app. You are required to do both so as to provide uninterrupted functioning of the app to the users, only then, you will be able to get returns of what you invested.
4. Seal It with a License and Copyright
Copyright and licensing of the app are necessary before releasing it to the market or else anyone can claim the ownership of your app. For which, you will be required to pay a considerable amount to the app store. Apple’s iOS charges $99 a year, whereas Google’s Play Store charges $49 a year.
There are also certain other factors like the complexity of the app, geographical location, resources utilised, third-party integration etc., that affect the app development cost as well which can raise or lower your budget accordingly. I
Determining a round figure rate for your mobile app development is a difficult mission as it entirely depends upon what you want your app to be. From concept, design, feature, platform, audience, security, nature, everything about the app, lies upon your decisions made during development. Just make sure you provide something more innovative and unique than your competitors.