How to Make Money With White Label Apps

Do you want a fast and easy way to enter the mobile app development market? 

Whether you have an existing agency and want to expand your service offerings or you’re a solopreneur starting from scratch, white labeling apps is the fastest and simplest path to revenue. 

In this post, we’ll reveal the secrets to making money with white label mobile applications and provide tips for getting started in the white label app development game. From adding custom branding to charging for app maintenance and updates, we’ll show you the numerous revenue streams available with white label apps. 

We’ll even share success stories from businesses that have found great success with white label app development. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to streamline your app development process and start generating income. Keep reading to learn more.

What Are White Label Apps?

White label apps, also known as private label apps, are pre-made mobile applications that can be customized and rebranded by businesses for their own use. 

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For businesses, white label apps offer an affordable and efficient solution for creating a mobile presence. Not only can they save time and resources, but they also allow companies to enter the app market quickly and start generating revenue.

One of the main advantages of white label apps is the ability to fully customize them to fit the branding and style of your business. This means you can add your own logo, color scheme, and other design elements to make the app feel like it was created specifically for your company. This level of customization can help you stand out in a crowded app market and give you a professional image.

Another benefit of white label apps is their cost-effectiveness. Building a custom app from scratch can be a time-consuming and costly process, especially if you don’t have in-house development resources. With a white label app, you can purchase a pre-made app and simply customize it to fit your needs, which can save you a significant amount of money. This makes white label apps a great option for small businesses and startups that may not have the budget for a custom app.

In addition to saving time and money, white label apps also allow businesses to enter the app market quickly. Custom app development can take months or even years to complete, but with a white label app, you can be up and running in a matter of weeks. This means you can start generating revenue from your app much faster and take advantage of the growing mobile market.

How White Label Apps Generate Revenue

There are several ways businesses can use white label apps to generate revenue. We’ll cover the most common options in greater detail below.

Selling the Apps to Clients as a Finished Product

One of the most straightforward methods is by simply selling the app to clients as a finished product. This can be especially effective if you have a unique or high-demand app that addresses a specific need in the market.

If you have a white label app that you think has broad appeal, you can sell it directly to clients as a finished application. This could include small businesses, enterprise organizations, or even individuals who are looking for a specific type of app. To sell your app, you’ll need to set up a website or online marketplace where people can purchase it. You can also consider selling your app through app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store.

To make your app more appealing to potential buyers, you should highlight its key features and benefits and provide detailed descriptions of how it can solve problems or improve the user’s experience. You can also consider offering demos or free trials to give potential clients a taste of what your app can do.

Adding Custom Branding and Reselling the App to Clients

Another way to generate revenue with white label apps is by adding custom branding and reselling the app to clients. This can be especially useful for digital agencies or software companies that work with multiple clients and need to create a unique app for each one.

To customize the app for each client, you’ll need to add their branding elements, such as their logo, color scheme, and any specific design elements they want included. You’ll also need to customize the app’s functionality to fit the needs of each client. Once you’ve customized the app for a particular client, you can sell it to them as a finished product.

One of the benefits of this model is that it allows you to create a unique app for each client without having to start from scratch. This can save you a significant amount of time and resources, which can help you turn a profit more quickly.

Charging a Recurring Fee For App Maintenance and Updates

Another way to generate revenue with white label apps is by charging a recurring fee for app maintenance and updates. This can be especially effective if you have a large number of clients using your app and want to ensure it stays up-to-date and bug-free.

To charge a recurring fee for app maintenance, you’ll need to set up a billing system that allows you to bill your clients on a regular basis, such as monthly or annually. You can also consider offering different pricing tiers based on the level of support and updates your clients need.

A significant advantage of this model is that it provides a steady stream of income for your business. By charging a recurring fee, you can ensure you have a predictable source of revenue for the future.

In-App Purchases and Subscriptions

You can also generate revenue with white label apps by offering in-app purchases or subscriptions. This can be especially effective if your app provides a valuable service or content that users are willing to pay for.

To offer in-app purchases or subscriptions, you’ll need to set up a billing system within your app that allows users to purchase additional features or access to content. You can also consider offering different pricing tiers or subscription plans to appeal to a wider range of users.

This model allows you to monetize the app beyond the initial sale. By offering in-app purchases or subscriptions, you can continue to generate revenue from your app over time.

Case Studies and Examples of Successful White Label App Businesses

To showcase how easy it is to make money with white label apps, we’ll quickly highlight some success stories from real agencies and entrepreneurs who chose this path to revenue. 

Example 1 — Social Connection Marketing

Social Connection Marketing provides digital marketing services like web design, SEO, and videography to local clients in their region. Historically, Social Connection Marketing stood out from the crowd by focusing strictly on digital promotion methods. 

The agency almost exclusively works with small businesses. These businesses don’t have the resources or budgets to hire developers or development agencies—even though they all recognize the need for having a mobile app. 

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To address the needs of their clients, Social Connection Marketing used BuildFire’s white label service to make app development more affordable and attainable for small businesses. 

In addition to fulfilling client needs and making app development more accessible to local businesses, Social Connection Marketing has used white labeling as an additional source of agency revenue. 

You can read more about the Social Connection Marketing case story here

Example 2 — Inspire U Mobile Apps

Inspire U Mobile Apps was founded by Sabeina Harris after she recognized a significant opportunity in this space. 

Harris spent her career as a marketing consultant and branding strategist. In her time working with so many businesses across a wide range of industries, she realized that they all needed a mobile app for one purpose or another. However, these businesses couldn’t afford to spend $10,000 or $15,000 on a custom app.

She ultimately created Inspire U Mobile Apps after discovering BuildFire’s white label program.

This gave Harris the ability to bridge the affordability gap for her clients. 

Thanks to the versatility of BuildFire, she was able to offer mobile app development to existing clients and new prospects alike. She saw immediate success, and the demand for her services skyrocketed. 

Restaurants turned to Inspire U Mobile Mobile Apps for curbside pickups, deliveries, and mobile to-go orders. Retailers wanted new ways to drive mobile commerce sales. One client even gained over 1,000 subscribers on the first day of launching the app. 

Check out the full Inspire U Mobile Apps story here

Tips For Getting Started With White Label App Development

If you’re interested in starting a white label app development business, there are a few key things you’ll need to consider to ensure your success. In this section, we’ll provide some tips to help you get started.

Choose a Reliable App Builder and White Label Platform

One of the first things you’ll need to do when starting a white label app development business is choose a reliable app builder or white label platform. There are many options available, and it’s important to choose one that is easy to use, has a good track record, and offers a wide range of features and customization options.

To find a good app builder, you should do some research and compare the different options available. Look for one that has a good reputation and is well-supported by the developer community. You should also consider the specific needs of your business and choose an app builder that offers the features and customization options you need.

When choosing a white label platform, it’s important to look for one that is scalable and able to grow with your business. A platform that is too basic or limited in functionality may not be able to support your needs as your business expands. On the other hand, a platform that is too complex or expensive may be difficult for you to use or may not provide a good return on investment.

One platform that stands out as a reliable and effective option for white label app development is BuildFire. BuildFire’s white label platform offers a wide range of features and customization options, making it easy for businesses to create professional and highly functional apps. With BuildFire, you can create apps for a variety of industries and offer limitless functionality. 

In addition to its robust feature set, BuildFire also has a strong reputation in the app development industry and is well-supported by the developer community. Its team of experienced professionals is always available to help you with any questions or issues you may have, making it easy for you to get started with white label app development. 

Overall, BuildFire is a top-rated white label platform that can help your business succeed in the competitive world of app development.

Find Your Niche

Another important tip for starting a white label app development business is to find your niche. While it’s possible to create white label apps for a wide range of industries, it’s often more effective to focus on a specific niche and become an expert in it.

For example, you might specialize in creating white label apps for restaurants, or you might focus on creating apps for small businesses in a particular industry. By specializing in a specific niche, you’ll be able to better understand the needs of your clients and create apps that are tailored to their specific requirements.

Market and Promote Your White Label App Services

Once you’ve set up your white label app development business and have a few apps under your belt, you’ll need to start marketing and promoting your services to potential clients. There are many different ways you can do this, including:

  • Creating a website to showcase your apps and services
  • Using social media to promote your business
  • Attending industry events and networking with potential clients
  • Partnering with other businesses to cross-promote your services

To be effective, your marketing efforts should be focused and targeted. Consider what your ideal client looks like and tailor your marketing efforts to reach them.

Upselling and Cross-selling to Existing Clients

Another way to generate revenue with a white label app development business is by upselling and cross-selling to your current clients. Once you’ve developed an app for a client, you can offer them additional services or products that complement their app. For example, you might offer app maintenance and updates, custom branding, or additional features as an upsell.

You can also consider cross-selling to your clients by offering related products or services. For example, if you’ve developed an app for a restaurant, you might offer to create a website or social media marketing services to help them promote their business. By offering a range of related products and services, you can increase the value of your business to your clients and generate additional revenue.

Final Thoughts

White label apps offer a cost-effective and efficient way for businesses to create a mobile presence and generate revenue. With a white label app, you can save time and resources, enter the app market quickly, and customize the app to fit the branding and style of your business. 

There are several ways to make money with white label apps, including selling the app to clients as a finished product, adding custom branding and reselling the app, charging for app maintenance and updates, and offering in-app purchases and subscriptions.

If you’re interested in starting a white label app development business, there are a few key things you’ll need to consider to ensure your success. Choosing a reliable app builder and white label platform is essential to your success, and BuildFire is a top-rated option that offers a wide range of features and customization options. With BuildFire’s white label service, you can get started with white label app development quickly and easily, and start generating revenue for your business. 

Overall, white label app development is a profitable and easy way to enter the mobile market and grow your business.

Nic Hughart

Nic is the VP of Sales at BuildFire. He's a proven sales leader with 20+ years of experience in SMB, MM & ENT level sales markets, with more than a decade in the SaaS segment. Nic specializes in leadership, hiring, training, developing, and optimizing growing sales teams.