What does a mobile app cost?
Small jobs start at $50: a fix, a screen, a change to a flow. A full app is quoted as one fixed price after a free call, because the number depends on how many screens there are, whether people sign in, whether money moves, and how much admin sits behind it.
What I will not do is guess a price before I understand the job. You get the number in writing before I write a line, and it does not move unless the work does.
How long does an app take?
Anything from a day for a small fix to a few months for a full product. The fastest complete rebuild I can point to shipped to iOS and Android in 7 days, where the repair had been estimated at 100+ hours.
You see the app working on your own phone early and often, so the timeline never depends on faith.
Do I need an app, or is a website enough?
For one shop or one trade, a fast website with booking is usually cheaper and easier to find on Google. An app earns its cost when you have regulars, a field team, or something that has to work offline.
I will tell you which on the first call, and if the answer is a website I will say so.
| What matters | A website | An app |
|---|---|---|
| Found on Google | Yes, and that is most of its value | No, only in the app stores |
| Cost to start | Lower | Higher, plus two store accounts |
| Reminders and notifications to regulars | By text or WhatsApp | Straight to the phone |
| Working offline or out in the field | Rarely | Yes |
| Bookings and card payments | Yes | Yes |
| Camera, scanning and location | Basic | Full access |