Tattoo Artist BooksIf you think "I want to build an app", you need three things before you talk to any developer: a clear problem the app solves, a rough list of screens, and a budget and timeline you can live with. You do not need to code. To get an app built, you describe what it should do, approve designs, and test weekly builds on your phone. This guide walks through how to build an app for your business from the first idea to the app stores.
What you need before you get an app made
People assume the starting point is technical. It is actually a list of decisions:
- The problem: Who has which pain, and can you say it in one sentence?
- The user: Who opens the app, how often, and why would they choose yours?
- The scope: Which screens and features must be in version one, and which can wait?
- Store accounts: Publishing requires an Apple Developer account and a Google Play developer account. They should be registered in your name, because the app will be yours.
- Content: Logo, texts, images and a privacy policy. Part of this gets created together during development.
- Budget and time: You do not have to name a number, but an upper limit helps shape the scope.
Five questions to answer first
- Do you actually need an app? Sometimes a mobile-friendly website is enough. See website or mobile app for how to decide.
- Which platform? iPhone, Android or both. One codebase can serve both stores.
- Do users need accounts? Logins, profiles and a database make the scope bigger.
- Will people pay inside the app? Subscriptions and purchases add store rules and testing.
- How will it earn money? Paid, subscription, ads or free. This decision shapes the design too.
Three ways to work with a development team
Not everyone who wants to build an app for their business has the same budget or risk appetite, so we offer three working models:
| Model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Turnkey | Fixed scope, clear timeline, all source code is yours, a support plan after launch. | You know what you want and want it finished in one go |
| Growth partnership | Lower upfront fee plus an agreed share of the app's revenue. | Limited budget, confidence the product will earn |
| Idea partnership | For a strong idea, we carry the development cost and share the earnings by contract. | A strong idea but no budget |
Whichever you choose, insist on a written scope and written ownership terms. See app development contract for the checklist.
How the process works
A good process tells you what you will see and when:
- Intro call: You explain the idea, the goal and the constraints. An NDA can be signed before the first call if you want one.
- Scope and written quote: What is included and what is not, both in writing.
- Design: You see every screen first. Nothing gets coded without your approval.
- Development: Weekly builds you test on your own phone.
- Testing and launch: Store release happens through your own Apple and Google accounts.
- Growth: The app keeps improving based on user feedback.
The details are in app development process. A simple app takes a few weeks; a larger app with accounts and payments takes a few months.
Mistakes to avoid at the start
- Putting everything into version one. Bigger scope means higher cost and more delay. Build the core first and learn from users. What is an MVP app explains the approach.
- Letting the developer register the store accounts. Accounts and source code should belong to you.
- Starting without a written scope. Work that begins with "can you also add..." tends to run long.
- Skipping design. Seeing screens before code is the cheapest moment to change your mind.
- Ignoring life after launch. Apps age with every OS update, so plan maintenance.
A word on cost
Price depends on the number of screens, features like accounts and payments, whether you target one platform or two, and how custom the design is. We do not quote numbers in articles because every scope is different. The factors are explained in app development cost.
No-code builder or custom development?
No-code app builders can be a fine way to test something simple. Their limits are clear too: you stay tied to templates, store compliance can be harder, accounts and payments are restricted, and once the product grows, moving off the platform often means a rewrite. Custom development takes more effort upfront but leaves every part of the product under your control. If your idea is only an experiment, a builder is enough; if you will sell to users or charge subscriptions, custom development is the healthier path. Either choice is fine as long as you make it knowingly.
What to have ready for the first conversation
You do not need a perfect document; a one-page note is enough:
- A one-sentence purpose and the target user.
- Two or three apps you like and dislike, and why.
- The three most important things a user does in the app.
- Whether payments are involved and where revenue comes from.
- Any target launch date and its reason, such as a campaign, a season or a contract.
With this note the call moves from questions to scoping straight away. If something is missing, we fill the gaps together. What matters is that the picture in your head is on paper.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an app made without knowing how to code?
Yes. You explain what the product does and who it is for; the team recommends the technical choices and you approve them.
Do I need designs before I contact a developer?
No. A rough sketch or a few reference apps are enough. Design is a stage of the process.
Who owns the source code?
Whatever the contract says. In our turnkey model, all source code belongs to the client. Ask for this in writing from any provider.
Do I need a company to publish an app?
Not necessarily, but the type of store account (individual or organization) and how app income is taxed depend on where you live, so ask an accountant.
I am worried about sharing my idea.
That is normal. An NDA can be signed before the first conversation. See how to protect an app idea.
We build apps from the field: our team comes from a tattoo studio and wrote its first app for its own business before offering software services. If you know the feeling of having an idea and no clear path, email us and we will figure out which model fits. You can also see what we built for tattoo artists on the Tattoo Artist Books page.