3,646 Abibisika (Black Gold) Points

Rank: Unranked Newbie

I’m working on an app, and here are some things I wish I knew or did before I started:

– Sketch out to the best of your ability the concept of the app. If you don’t have an idea of how the app should look, be clear and concise (on paper) of the purpose and functionality of the app. Moreover, if you have an artistic friend or relative, utilize their talents to help you bring your thoughts to life.

I made a mistake and spent $3,500 on a consultant to produce wireframes for me. The wireframes weren’t what I had in mind, nor was it pleasant detailing every little design change needed to be made, so I shelved the project for six months. One day, I was thinking about people I knew that could help me with the project, and I realized my younger cousin was a techy and artistic, so I brought him on to handle the design. I gave him a percentage of the company, and he worked with a UX designer to develop the frames, and the frames are beautiful.

– When searching for a UX Designer to develop frames, seek referrals, and also look for someone overseas so you could save money. After blowing $3,500 on a design I didn’t like, I found a designer on upworks.com in India that cost me roughly $1,500. I could’ve saved $2,000 had I done more research.

– Now that I have the wireframes, the next stage was to get people to review and play with the wireframes for feedback. According to 25 people I surveyed, most gave me excellent reviews.

The next stage was to create the application. All quotes received from developers were around $25,000-$50,000. $25-50K is expensive for an app that I haven’t fully validated, so I sought assistance from two Engineers I know. The Engineers recommended that I make a Progressive Web app (PWA) instead of an IOS or Android App. Their suggestion of a PWA brought the project cost down from $25-50K to $4,800. Moreover, a PWA was a cheaper way to get the product in the hand of BETA testers. From the feedback of the BETA testers, I could then create a roadmap of features to be added or subtracted for the app.

– CAUTION Before people BETA test the app, make sure your app includes a BETA testing agreement to avoid potential legal issues relating to the app. Sample BETA testing agreements are easy to find on the net, so find one and modify it to fit your app.

– Other minor tidbits, if you have a name that you like, it’s a good idea you trademark it. Trademark searches and filings cost around $750 – $1,000. Lastly, you may not be at a stage to file a Corporation/Entity, so I suggest you create a Founders agreement with all of your partners to establish assets, ownership, and compensation, etc. Sample Founders Agreements are readily available online.

– Lastly, I’ve jotted down the names of people I feel can help me at various stages with this business. It’s a great idea to map out your centers of influence and to build rapport now if you haven’t in a while, so when you need them, it won’t be as awkward or challenging to get their assistance.

I’ll post updates on raising capital once I’m at the stage.