How To Start An App Business

If you're thinking of starting an apps business then you won't need just one business idea – you'll need lots of them

Although you can use one really good concept to set you on the right path, building an apps business will require a constant flow of ideas. Don’t limit yourself to one project because you won’t really know if it’s going to be a hit until you release it. If after several months it hasn’t taken off, you’ll need to move on to something new. And even if your initial idea does take off, you’ll want to consolidate your success with more apps.

Write down the ideas as you get them and keep developing them until you have all the details and requirements worked out. Then you can start turning your idea into a real app.

Don’t expect to be able to do it all on the cheap, though, especially if you’re working on several ideas. Unless you have the skills to design, build and test apps yourself, you’ll need to pay developers’ fees. And even if you do have the knowledge, it’s doubtful you’ll be able to do it all by yourself.

So you need to work out your costs carefully and raise the necessary capital. Crowdfunding can be effective for this. Research the various options to find a suitable home for your pitch, take note of the tactics used by successful campaigns and adapt them for yours.

You need to decide whether to build apps for more than one platform. Focusing on just one can help reduce complexity and keep costs down.

To submit an app to Apple’s App Store or Android Market you’ll need to create developer accounts and pay the fees ($99 for Apple and $25 for Google).

But before you release your app, you must make sure it works properly. Test it rigorously to eliminate any bugs before you go to market. But don’t spend ages in development adding a long list of features. Stick to the core concept for the initial release to gauge the demand. You can then develop the app further and release upgraded versions down the line if it proves popular.

Pricing strategy varies among app companies. Ultimately, you need a return on your investment (and so will your backers if you’ve managed to get external funding). So the price you charge needs to account for that, and it should be an integral part of your business plan.

Don’t forget to market your app. Use social media to help spread the word and encourage customers and tech bloggers to review it.

Don’t ignore what the users of your app are saying – not only can their comments help you improve your product, but they can also give you an idea of whether it’s actually worth persisting with the app or moving on to something new.

And if your app fails – as many do – you can use the valuable feedback to help make your next one a success. So keep those ideas flowing.