You have got an idea for a mobile phone app, but now what? When approaching an mobile apps developer, do you know what information to give? 

This guide will help you organise your thoughts and make it easier for the mobile apps developer to give you an accurate cost.

Your idea will need to be thought about in a logical way, with the user of the app always kept in mind. Questions to think about:

• Who will use the mobile phone app?
• Why will they want to use the mobile app?
• Do you want the mobile app to be downloaded for free (with the chance to upgrade to the full version for example). If not, how much will the mobile app cost to buy?
• How will the user interact with the mobile phone app, once it has been downloaded?
• How will the user navigate through the screens?
• Do you have an idea about what each screen might contain or look like?

Once you have thought through your idea in more detail, your next question is ‘What is your budget?’
How much do you want to spend on getting the mobile phone app designed and developed?   How important can a mobile app be?

A mobile app could become an essential part of marketing / advertising for your business and a very worthwhile investment. It will allow your customers to access and find out about your business wherever they are. If you can’t be found when your customer is looking for you, they may find your competitor instead.

Do you want people to access your mobile phone app on the iPhone and android phones?

This decision can affect the cost to develop your app. An experienced mobile apps developer will be able to suggest the best way to develop your mobile phone app. This will depend on the complexity of your idea. Some apps will have to be developed separately for the iphone and android phones. Other mobile apps can be developed using cross-platform programs, this means the app will only need to be built once. It can then be used on an iPhone and android phone. However, cross-platform development tools do have their limitations as to what they can do.

Also bear in mind the design costs associated with some types of mobile phone apps. Just like a website, some apps also need to be designed before development can begin. If for example, your idea is for a game, the look of the game will be important, therefore a slick design will be needed. If your app has a more functional role e.g. for inputting data onto a time sheet, then the app can have a simple design, thus costing less.

What next? Time to talk to an experienced mobile apps developer!