Tech advances over the last few decades have dramatically changed the way people live, and the constant updates continue to affect individuals and businesses alike. This is why working within the tech industry can provide great job security as well as top salaries for those who are the most talented and successful. Companies are always looking for smart ways to increase their brand’s visibility and improving customer service, and one way to do this is via a customized app. The majority of consumers use these to do their shopping, stay connected with friends and family, or even manage their daily schedules. If app development is an area you’re interested in and you want to start a business, here are a few tips to help you get started.
Freelance or Company?
The first thing you need to decide is whether your want to start as a freelancer or hire a team of staff straight away. Testing the waters out as a freelance to build a client base can be beneficial, but as so much work goes into app development, you might find yourself getting overwhelmed or having to turn down great projects because you can’t do it alone. If you are going to hire a team of developers, you will need to register your company with the relevant authorities before you begin trading and putting people onto a payroll.
Business Plan
Once you have decided whether you’re going to start as a freelancer or a small company, you can move onto your business plan. As a freelancer, you will need to cost up things how much a quality computer will cost you, how your income will change, and figure out what else you can put on expenses (internet costs, electricity, etc.) For a limited company, you will need to consider salaries for yourself and your staff, office space rental, computers, phones, cash-flow forecasts. In both cases, you need to develop your professional brand and marketing strategies, and these should also be included in your final plan. If you’re applying for a business loan, your loan provider will want to see your business plan to help them decide on your funding.
DevOps
Creating an app from scratch for a client can be time-consuming and stressful, even if you are working with a team of developers. To make this process easier for all of you, invest in quality DevOps software to help you streamline your workload and complete your project on time. There are plenty of software providers to choose from, but a great example is this Slack competitor. These programs will help ease the pressure and create a more efficient working environment for you and your time.
Portfolio
If you want to attract more clients, you need to have a good portfolio to present to them. On your company website, have a page dedicated to previous work you have done to showcase your team’s talent, and include reviews from past customers. This will help your business look more professional and encourage other businesses to use you for their app development.
There is a lot more that goes into starting a successful app development company, of course, but these are some of the basics that you need to make sure you’re doing if you want to achieve your business goals.
