These days, more businesses are becoming increasingly aware that they need to invest in a mobile app if they want to be as successful as possible in today’s competitive marketplace. Businesses that lack connectivity can easily be overtaken by their competitors, so it stands to reason that having a mobile application is the best course of action. However, app development can be a confusing area for the uninitiated to navigate. It isn’t too surprising, then, that one of the main questions that many business owners ask is “how much does it cost to make a mobile app?” Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this common query. The answer, rather, will depend on a number of different factors and without taking these into account it’s impossible to put a price tag on the development of either an Android or an Apple mobile app. That said, it’s important to have some frame of reference to work from, so here, we take a closer look at the starting costs for developing a mobile application, and some of the considerations you need to keep in mind when it comes to determining a final cost.
The Time And Money Variant
The first thing that needs to be borne in mind when determining the cost of developing an app is the length of time that it will take to create. Not every mobile app is the same and while the platform for which it is developed is one inequality that needs to be addressed, there is a far more pressing issue to take into account – the time that will be taken to create an application that has the level of functionality that is required. Certain application features will take more time than others to implement, so it’s important to be aware of the differences here. A basic application that has simple functionality will, of course, take far less time to develop than a complex one that requires a lot of in-depth input from developers. As an example, a basic app could take between 500 and 800 hours to bring to fruition. Meanwhile, a complex app will take as long as 1200 hours to develop, and perhaps even longer. Needless to say, an app with complex functionality will, therefore, be more costly to develop since the process will take far longer.
The Key Factors Affecting Mobile Application Costs
Since you’re now aware that the length of time taken to develop an app will determine, in large part, how much your app development will cost, you’ll need to be aware of the various factors that come into play to determine an application’s complexity. Some of the key factors affecting development costs include:
The project type – for example HER, LMS, CRM, marketplace, etc).
The functionality of the app itself.
The level of customisation required for the app’s visual design, whether it requires a custom design or whether an existing template can be used.
The platform or platforms that the app will be designed for i.e. whether it is for the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store or both.
The backend infrastructure that the app requires along with the ongoing administration of the application.
The structure and location of the app’s development team as well as the type of developers involved in the project.
The costs of maintaining the app as well as the cost of any additional services required. Whether the app development team will be in-house or will be outsourced to a specialist company.
Some Of The Functionality Factors Affecting Price
Some of the factors regarding app functionality that are likely to have a major impact on the overall cost of developing the application include the level of user engagement which will be required. As an example, user authorisation could be simple or it could be quite complex – adding functionality like password storage or recovery or login through social networking platforms will result in the costs increasing. Involvement tools like push notifications, emails and social sharing will also cause prices to rise. If support for in-app purchases is required or if location based services will be needed, the price will also increase accordingly. As an example, an app that uses basic location data such as mapping and detecting will be more affordable than an app that implements cutting-edge technology such as geofencing and iBeacon. Also, if multiple payment processing methods need to be integrated into the app, this will add to the length of time taken to develop the application and, thus, increase the price overall. Another key factor to bear in mind is the use of native device features. Modern apps now deal with multiple near field communication (NFC) chips and various payment systems and this means that apps need to use APIs that are specific to each platform. As new features are constantly emerging, new APIs need to be introduced and this increases the app development time and, in turn, boosts the costs.
Bespoke Pricing Is The Only Option
Since there are so many different elements and factors that come into play when it comes to pricing up the cost of mobile app development it’s impossible to have a set price list available for every client. That’s why we use a system of bespoke pricing, giving a tailored cost to each and every client based on their own individual needs. As a basis to work from, our starting price for a basic mobile app comes in at £1000 for an application that can achieve simple tasks such as making reservations, ordering food or booking appointment slots. If more complex and bespoke functionality is required, the price will naturally be higher. If you’re ready to find out more about how much it would cost to develop a bespoke mobile application for your own individual requirements, contact our Liverpool based team today. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and from learning more about your needs so that we can get to work on a customised Android or iOS app that is perfect for your business. We also offer web design services too, so we can create a complete package to suit your requirements.
For those interested in a professional and cost-effective solution for their app development or web design needs, consider reaching out to a trusted liverpool web design company.
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