It's the 'million dollar question' (although it shouldn't cost that much!) and the thing we get asked more than anything else!

So, we'll do our best here to provide you with a transparent and honest overview outlining the costs, things that will influence that and some of the things that you're likely to face when looking to build an App for your business.

First things first, there are two routes you can take when developing an app and you need to firstly decide which route to take... 

• Route One - 100% bespoke build - where you start from scratch and work with a team of designers and developers to wireframe ideas, develop user experience (UX) and build from the ground up.  This offers premium customisation that is likely to only be within the reach of larger companies or those with substantial budgets circa £20k+.
  
  
• Route Two - templated build - where you start with a more standardised template that does a lot of the initial 'heavy lifting' and provides you with a range of typical features that fit most scenarios. This reduces the development costs, enables you to move faster and is generally a more suitable option for small to medium sized businesses. 

For the purposes of this article we have assumed most people will be looking at 'Route Two' so we have also assumed the following too...

You are...

• A small to medium sized business 
• Looking to build an App to help promote and market your business 
• Keen to find a solution to help you communicate with your customers quickly and easily.
  
• Looking for an App that will work on both iOS and Android devices

You are not...

• A big business looking for a 100% custom-built app that starts with a completely blank page 
• Looking to have to remortgage your house to create an app for your business
  
  

Progressive Web App vs Native App

Okay so you're heading down 'Route Two' and going for a templated app build. The next thing to consider is what type of app you need.  To the uninitiated, there are basically two types of apps you can look at - Progressive Web Apps or Native Apps - the article here outlines some of the differences between the two.

Assuming you've taken a quick look at the article above outlining some of the differences, you'll now have a clearer idea on what type of app you need. If you haven't clicked the link above, then here's a reminder of the benefits of each...

Benefits of Progressive Web Apps

• You don’t have to go through the process of submitting them for approval to app stores
• They are often cheaper and faster to build
• No need to hand off big chunks of money to Google and Apple
• They are discoverable via search engines 
• Installing a PWA can lead to higher engagement

Benefits of Native Apps

• Great visibility as they appear on the official App Stores
• Faster and more responsive since they use native features of the phone
• Native apps can fully utilise Push notifications
• Apps are more intuitive and can use more features
• Often seen as 'more credible' than PWA's

So, what's the cost of a Progressive Web App or Native App?

Progressive Web Apps - start from around £1k upwards depending on features required

Due to the fact that PWA's (Progressive Web Apps) are built from the web technologies, they can be created reasonably cheaply and quickly. There's a whole range of App Development Companies who have access to and license tech platforms that enable them to build apps quickly and for a reasonable cost too.

Most Mobile App Developers will charge a 'Design and Build' fee to cover the cost of scoping out the app with you and understanding what type of features you require.  Once they have got a clear specification you are happy with they will start the 'build phase'.  This will involve them building a draft of your app for you to review and sign off.  Once it's all been approved they will then launch the app and it's then over to you.

Timescales from initial meeting and depending on the complexity of the app brief can be 4-6 weeks.

Most companies then charge a hosting and maintenance fee (monthly or annual) to maintain the app, make tweaks and be available to support you too once the app is live.  This again varies depending on the service provided but ranges from £50 a month to £200 a month.

Native Apps - start from around £2k upwards depending on features required

As mentioned, native apps are a little more complex and, as such, a little more expensive to develop.  Native Apps install onto a device from the respective App Stores - iOS App Store or Android Google Play store and they are often more responsive and faster than PWA's

As for the PWA apps, most Mobile App Developers will charge a 'Design and Build' fee to cover the cost of scoping out the app with you and understanding what type of features you require. Once they have got a clear specification you are happy with they will start the 'build phase'. This will involve them building a draft of your app for you to review and sign off. Once it's all been approved they will then launch the app and it's then over to you.

Timescales from initial meeting and depending on the complexity of the app brief can be 6-8 weeks.

Most companies then charge a hosting and maintenance fee (monthly or annual) to maintain the app, make tweaks and be available to support you too once the app is live. This again varies depending on the service provided but ranges from £50 a month to £200 a month.

Whatever road you choose to go down - Progressive Web App or Native App - creating an App for your business is more straightforward than you might think and is an important part of your mobile marketing.   

Research now shows that people in the UK now check their smartphones, on average, every 12 minutes of the waking day. Two in five adults (40%) first look at their phone within five minutes of waking up, climbing to 65% of those aged under 35. Similarly, 37% of adults check their phones five minutes before lights out, again rising to 60% of under-35s. (Source: Ofcom).

So take a moment to think just how powerful that is for your business...  And if you'd like some more details on our Mobile App Development Services then feel free to contact us for a chat and we'll be happy to provide you with some further insight and advice.