There’s a tremendous opportunity for profit in the mobile app development field. App builders like Buildfire are perfect for business owners who don’t have the funds to pay a developer.

Maybe you have a built in budget for your app development and you’d like to work with a team of experts to bring it to life. If that’s the case, the Buildfire Agency is exactly what you’re looking for.

Or, maybe you’re keen to go down the DIY route. Create your account, sign up for the subscription that works best for you, and then either use our AI assistant to build out our app structure or use one of our  templates based on your industry and get the features you need pre-loaded.

If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to make money by selling apps to other businesses, take advantage of the white labeling services.

Whichever option you choose on your path to becoming a mobile app developer, we’re here for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best way to start learning coding for free? There are numerous online platforms like Team Treehouse that offer free trials and resources to get you started.
• Can I build an app without coding skills? Yes, app builders allow you to create apps without any coding knowledge.
• What is the advantage of using an SDK for app development? Using an SDK allows for custom features and potentially higher profits.
• Is it better to hire a team or go the DIY route for app development? It depends on your budget and expertise. Hiring a team can be beneficial if you have the budget, while DIY is cost-effective.
• What are white labeling services in app development? White labeling allows you to sell apps to other businesses under your brand.

Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Mobile App Developer

Everyone wants to make the next great mobile application.

It can be an extremely profitable way to make some money if you know what you’re doing.

If you’ve got a great mobile app idea and decided to consult with a developer or an app development company, you may have been surprised to hear how costly it is to outsource development.

So that’s when the thought hit you, “I can just do learn to do this myself.” It’s the reason why I studied code and started building mobile apps.

But where do you start?

Depending on your current situation and intentions, there are a few different routes you can go. I’ll make sure to cover all of these scenarios throughout this complete beginner guide to mobile app development. We’ll even cover topics like how to estimate the cost of building mobile apps.

While the development process for building mobile and web apps may sound intimidating, it’s really just like anything else. If you practice and put the time in, it will get much easier. Plus, it helps to have some guidance from an expert in the field (that’s where I come in).

Here’s everything you need to know to become a developer and make your own apps.

So…why do you want to become a mobile app developer?

OK. So you’re probably aware of how popular mobile apps are. But, just how many apps are there?

Don’t be intimidated by the number of apps available across different mobile platforms. Sure, you’ll have some competition, but the majority of these likely won’t be in your industry. You won’t have to worry about competing against those either.

With that said, it’s important that you have a clear goal before you become a developer.

Here are a few common scenarios:

• You want to build your own startup company
• You’re trying to be a freelancer or run a mobile app development shop (mobile development services are in high demand)
• You are a business owner that doesn’t have the funds to outsource app development
• You’re an aspiring citizen developer

Chances are, you fall somewhere within these examples. Regardless of your scenario, it’s worth noting that mobile app developers come in all different shapes and sizes. Throughout the development world, there’s a high demand for iOS and Android app development, along with development needs for multiple platforms, including hybrid mobile apps. There are Android developers who double as web developers. If you follow this path, you can learn to build a web app and Android apps simultaneously.

Let’s say you have the next big idea. You want to take that concept and build an app to become the next Snapchat or Instagram.

If you fall into this category, I sincerely admire your ambition. This won’t be an easy route, but if you’re successful, it could potentially be the most profitable. In this case, you’ll need to learn how to do everything from scratch. You’ll also want to consider how you plan to make money from your app. Relying on paid downloads might not be your best option. In fact, the majority of mobile applications are available for free.

So before you dive in head first, make sure you think about your strategy for generating a profit.

For those of you that want to be a freelance app builder or start your own app store, this isn’t something you need to worry about. You’ll make money by charging clients to build apps for them.

If you’ve got the marketing skills as well, you can double as a consultant and charge more for your services. In this case, it’s probably not the worst idea for you to know some different strategies to make money. Or, you can just stick to familiarizing yourself with the best tools for mobile app designers.

Let’s talk about the business owners who want to build an app as an extension of their current brand, business, or website. What’s your budget? The majority businesses plan to budget between $250,000 and $500,000 over the next 12 to 18 months.

Those numbers may your jaw drop. (They make mine drop, too.) Keep in mind, your location is relevant to how much it’s going to cost to develop your app. If you’re located in North America, expect to pay roughly $150 per hour if you’re planning to hire someone to build your iOS mobile app.

So, unless you’re planning on working with offshore developers in Indonesia, handling different time zones, language barriers and translation, and lots of rounds of revisions, it won’t be inexpensive.

On average, an app will take about 7-9 months to build and cost you about $270,000. That’s an unrealistic number for some businesses.

So what’s the solution?

Follow my guide, and I’ll show you the most cost effective ways to develop your own app if you don’t have the funds to pay someone else to do it.

Option #1: Just learn how to code everything

If you want to become a mobile app developer, learning to code is your first option. It’s not required for everyone, but for some of you, this will be the best route. I’m speaking to those of you who want to build the next Instagram or Snapchat.

Here’s the good news, you don’t need to go back to school to learn code. There are some great resources online that teach you how to code for free.

• Team Treehouse offers a free trial for a week to new users. You can learn to code from your own computer, anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. They have thousands of videos to teach users the basics of coding. After you watch the videos, you’ll take quizzes to test your knowledge. Then, Team Treehouse gives you Buildfire software development kit. Instead of having our team build the app for you, this kit can teach you how to build it yourself. Once you learn how to add custom features for your clients, you’ll be able to generate more profit.

  There’s a tremendous opportunity for profit in the mobile app development field. App builders like Buildfire are perfect for business owners who don’t have the funds to pay a developer.

  Option	Description
  Buildfire Agency	Work with a team of experts to bring your app to life if you have a built-in budget for app development.
  DIY Route	Create your account, sign up for a subscription, and use AI assistance or templates to build your app.

  Maybe you have a built in budget for your app development and you’d like to work with a team of experts to bring it to life. If that’s the case, the Buildfire Agency is exactly what you’re looking for.

  Or, maybe you’re keen to go down the DIY route. Create your account, sign up for the subscription that works best for you, and then either use our AI assistant to build out our app structure or use one of our  templates based on your industry and get the features you need pre-loaded.

  If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to make money by selling apps to other businesses, take advantage of the white labeling services.

  Whichever option you choose on your path to becoming a mobile app developer, we’re here for you.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the best way to start learning coding for free? There are numerous online platforms like Team Treehouse that offer free trials and resources to get you started.
  • Can I build an app without coding skills? Yes, app builders allow you to create apps without any coding knowledge.
  • What is the advantage of using an SDK for app development? Using an SDK allows for custom features and potentially higher profits.
  • Is it better to hire a team or go the DIY route for app development? It depends on your budget and expertise. Hiring a team can be beneficial if you have the budget, while DIY is cost-effective.
  • What are white labeling services in app development? White labeling allows you to sell apps to other businesses under your brand.