Getting a mobile app built: the process from idea to launch, step by step

You want to have a mobile app built, but does the process look big from where you stand? You have the idea, and then what? In this post we explain the steps a mobile app goes through from idea to launch on the App Store and Google Play, what is expected from you and what to watch out for. If the terms are unfamiliar, start with our post what is a native app and what does cross-platform mean?

1. First, write down what the app is for

A good mobile app lets the user get one job done quickly, every time: book an appointment, see their workout, follow an order. Before starting, put these in writing:

• Who will use the app?
• Which problem will it solve?
• What will the user want to do when they first open it?
• How is this job done today without an app?

2. Keep the scope of the first version small

In the first version (often called an MVP), build only the features that show the app's value and add the rest based on user feedback. Loading everything into the first version enlarges both the timeline and the cost.

3. Choose the approach: cross-platform or native?

For most business apps, the cross-platform approach, which releases to both iOS and Android from a single codebase, delivers in a shorter time and at a lower cost. Native is considered when heavy graphics or special hardware are needed. For a detailed comparison: cross-platform or native?

4. The process, step by step

1. Discovery and scope: We settle who the app will solve which problem for and which features the first version will have. The timeline and fixed price follow from this scope. 2. Flow and design: Screen flows and the interface are designed and submitted for approval with a clickable prototype. 3. Development: The app, the server side and the admin panel are developed in phases. At each phase you install the test version on your phone and try it. 4. Testing: Tests are run on different devices and screen sizes, on iOS and Android. 5. Store launch: The App Store and Google Play pages are prepared, and the app is submitted for review and published. 6. Growth and support: New versions follow user feedback, and the app is kept compatible with operating-system updates.

5. The unseen side of the app

Behind the app's screens there is a server that holds user accounts, data and business rules, and an admin panel from which you manage content and users. Count this side in when discussing cost and time; in most projects an important part of the work is here. For example, a hospital app makes sense through the doctor interface and the admin panel as much as through the patient side.

6. Store accounts and launch

To publish an app you need App Store and Google Play developer accounts. It is important that these accounts are opened in your name; that way, even if you change teams later, the app doesn't leave your hands. The review process and the preparation of the store page are part of the launch timeline.

7. What determines time and cost?

Mobile app projects are usually completed within 6–12 weeks, but this varies with the scope. The main factors that drive time and price:

• The number of screens and features,
• User roles (one type of user, or different roles such as member and administrator?),
• The need for a server and admin panel,
• Modules such as payments, notifications, maps or video calls,
• Integration with other systems.

Questions to ask when getting a quote

• Is the app cross-platform or native?
• Are the server and admin panel included in the quote?
• Is the App Store and Google Play launch included, and in whose name will the accounts be opened?
• Will the source code and accounts be handed over on request?
• How do updates and support after launch work?

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a mobile app?

It depends on the scope; as a general guide, think of 6–12 weeks. Keeping the first version small shortens the timeline.

What should I prepare to have a mobile app built?

A short note on who the app is for and what it does, apps you've seen that are similar and the features the first version absolutely needs are a good enough start. We work out the screen design together with you.

Will the app work on both iPhone and Android?

With cross-platform development, both platforms are released from a single codebase.

Are updates needed after launch?

Yes. As operating systems are updated, the app's compatibility needs to be updated too; new features are also added based on user feedback.

Conclusion

Having a mobile app built starts with being clear about what the app is for, keeping the first version small and asking the right questions. In our mobile app development service we run the process from idea to App Store and Google Play launch, including the server and admin panel, with a single team. Share your idea and let's define the scope of the first version together.