Mobile apps are the future, present, and even the past for a while. The fact that global mobile app revenues reached $365 billion in 2018 should come as no surprise. According to Statista, apps are expected to generate more than the US $ 935 billion in 2023.

Indeed, mobile apps are now becoming a part of life that helps pay bills, watch films, order food, book shows, read books, remain focused and coordinated, and much more. This is why many businesses from other industries are looking to break in. They begin with the idea of app development but often fall flat as they don’t know how to hire an app developer.

Apps are typically designed to help end-users quickly perform tasks for them and allow them to display their app presence to consumers. Creating a successful app is not easy, especially when you need the right team on mobile app development or do not know where to find app developers.

• What Are Challenges When You Hire Mobile App Developers?
• What Are The 7 Steps to Hiring Mobile App Developers
• How Much Does it Cost to Hire an App Developer?
• How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Company to Build an App?
• Can I Hire Someone to Build an App?
• How do I Hire a Mobile App Developer?
• Where Can I Get an App Developed?
• How Many Hours Does it Take to Develop an App?
• Can App Developers Steal Your Idea?

What Are Challenges When You Hire Mobile App Developers?

It is crucial to identify how you hire mobile app developers as there are many challenges to it. While hiring a mobile app developer is straightforward, you need to be prepared to overcome the following three challenges.

1. Budget

Budget is the primary concern of many businesses looking to develop mobile apps. It is something that prevents owners from hiring the best mobile application developers. The cost of hiring a mobile application developer is entirely up to you. If your application has a large number of unique novel features, you will need the services of an experienced developer.

Read Also: How Does One Find Great UX Designers For Mobile/Web Apps?

Experienced mobile application developers are costly. So, if your app needs some minor overhaul or quick changes, you can opt for freelancers. This way, you can move things quickly with a less experienced developer at a lower cost.

You may, however, first determine your budget and understand how to hire an app developer. Mobile app developers located in developing countries may charge less, but you must be prepared for quality compromises.

2. Time Zone Gaps

Another challenge IT firms face when hiring a mobile app developer is the time zone difference. This means your remote teams are not always accessible, and ultimately, it delays the project milestone.

IT firms rely on communication tools like Slack, Teams, etc., and project management tools like Jira, Trello, etc. But, this only means updating the remote team members and waiting for them to check those messages or tasks.

3. Lack of In-person Communication

When you hire app developers working in another country, you feel a communication gap. This is true when you cannot see the work in progress or want to share quick feedback when developers are working live on your project.

When you hire remote workers, your ability to communicate is hindered due to language which can be managed if they work in person.

4. Cultural Differences

Businesses in the United States and Europe often outsource their mobile app development requirements to Eastern Europe, Israel, India, China, and other South-Asian countries. This gives rise to cultural and geographical differences due to the physical distance between your organization and the developers working remotely.

The way a company operates and provides its services to customers might also vary depending on the culture and holidays they follow due to different religious preferences. For this reason, your best option is to hire a local app development company that speaks your language, as it were. If your business is in Los Angeles, for example, search “web development companies los angeles” or something similar to find a company local to you. They’ll understand local nuances, meaning you’ll get a better experience and hopefully a better result.

What Are The 7 Steps to Hiring Mobile App Developers

Begin with understanding the purpose of hiring and what sort of developers are required to create your app. This includes identifying whether you need a dedicated resource or a freelance developer for creating a mobile app.

Examine what features you are looking for in your application for the best. If you want your app to be monetized, you will find the one who worked on these ventures accordingly.

Step 1. App development goals

Start with doing extensive research related to your app at the very beginning before you resolve how to contact app developers. This includes the type of app and its revenue model – is it paid or free? A free app is fully free and, in the paid version, also provides unique features to those who pay for it.

You can go for a free app if you are new and want to build your roots with your audience, and you should prepare for monetization by providing in-app purchases after receiving good responses from the users.

You should be very specific about the product concept, design, and functionality when you want to build a mobile app. And then, you will be prepared to describe the same to your app developer and other partners. Draw simple templates and flowcharts for work processes, software functionality you may like, and final items you intend to accomplish with the mobile app, if possible.

Step 2. Knowing the type of app and platform for development

You must be specific on the type of app you want to make, whether you will design the app yourself or hiring app developers.

Since the app development process can get very complicated as it progresses without this clarification.

Step 3. Setting up the App Development Budget

The core of any application business lies in navigating how much it costs to hire an app developer? When you employ an app developer, you need to decide your budget, depending on your app development platform – iOS or Android.

You are strongly encouraged to provide an understanding of the production cost of the app. Once you know how to hire an app developer, it makes sense to set up the app development budget based on their experience and expertise.

Spend estimation is necessary as it helps you determine how much you need to invest in app development and what more is required from your end for its growth.

You need to be sure about your app type, specifications, app design, type of features, developers, among other criteria and choices, to decide on a budget. It is also necessary for the budget to be a little flexible, but the chances are that the cost would be much higher if you are too flexible. A balance needs to be maintained.

Step 4: Finding the app development resources

Whether you employ an individual developer or a full-service organization, you must make sure they are competent and trustworthy.

When you want to know how to hire a mobile app developer, ensure following the below-mentioned tips:

• a. Do your Research

Before handing over your project to another, you must know the ins and outs of the industry. If you’re new to the world of mobile app development, consult a few experts to understand how much it costs to hire an app developer.

Start with learning everything that goes into creating a successful mobile app – programming languages, how much it costs to create an app on average, best countries to find mobile app developers, etc. These things will help you select the right technology partner to address your project needs skillfully and within your budget reach.

• b. Check app developers experience

Learn about your knowledge of designing apps. In specific, ask if you’ve created an app like yours previously? Knowing where they come from provides you with a sense of how much you can expect from them.

• c. Check portfolio

App developers, like physicians, should be screened to ensure they are qualified for the job at hand. Is it a web-based app or a mobile app? Why do you need a certain programming language? Does your mobile app need an exquisite user interface or one that is simple?

Hire app developers only after answering these questions. Don’t simply employ a skilled app developer, but one that has experience with the specific technology you need for your project.

• d. Examining expertise in communication

While communication is not the first thing you should look at, it is not essential to neglect this aspect. If your technology partner doesn’t understand your requirements, they won’t produce anything similar to your needs. And that’s why it is essential to understand how well it is possible to express and comprehend your mobile app development vision.

• e. Set straightforward standards

When you know how to contact app developers, ensure you reach out to them and set your specific expectations in the initial meeting. This will allow you to keep disputes at bay and speed up the development process.

• f. Know their technologies

App developers, like physicians, should be screened to ensure they are qualified for the job at hand. Is it a web-based app or a mobile app? Why do you need a certain programming language? Does your application require an elaborate user interface or one that is simple?

Candidates will be narrowed down by answering these questions. Don’t simply employ a skilled app developer, but one that has experience with the specific technology you need for your project.

• g. Conducting through the interview

Whoever you’re recruiting, interview them rigorously. If required, you can seek assistance from a professional on finding an app developer and setting up an interview once you get in touch. Aside from that, here are a few things you can consider before interacting with anyone.

In your initial meetings, get clarification on these critical areas. This way, you’ll know whether or not hiring an iOS or Android developer suits your project.

• References and prior evaluations
• Industry-specific exposure
• Niche expertise in any of the development department
• Programming tools
• Growth Method
• Supervision of Programs
• Communication

Step 5. Choose one between a Dedicated Resource and a Freelance Developer

Getting the precise answer on how to hire an app developer is tricky as all the different developers have sets of their pros and cons. Therefore, you must have an in-depth business understanding when out for hiring mobile app developers. Different factors can be used to decide, such as the level of competence, dedication, affordability and data security.

The level of expertise is the main thing to consider if you want to know how to hire a mobile app developer as they can come as a full-time dedicated resource and freelancer. The former will offer a more competent approach to growth that will help you under all circumstances.

If you hire freelance developers, you will have a package of skills because these developers have worked with multiple clients and covered various aspects of their job experience.

However, to be noted, in terms of their availability, freelance developers are minimal. They are not so accessible for last-minute changes or quick bug fixes. They should be hired for brief and time-sensitive duties. Otherwise, you should go for hiring dedicated mobile app developers.

Step 6. Consider time to build

Your app development time to market can play a crucial role in deciding the mobile app’s success. No business wants to be deprived of leveraging the first-mover advantage. There is no doubt that the app market worldwide is 3.5 billion users, but once you know how to hire an app developer, try to quickly build the app that launches following the app market compliances.

Therefore, several startups look for an agile and robust team when hiring mobile app developers. They are all bound to follow a brief 3-step app development model, as mentioned in the below image.

Once you agree on the cost of hiring app developers and onboard a decent team, you are bound to get the final product delivery within two to three months.

Stage 1: Design and Mockup
Time Duration: 2-3 weeks

Stage 2: App Development and Testing
Time Duration: 5-7 Weeks

Stage 3: Submission >> Preparation and Submit to App Store
Time Duration: 1 to 2 Weeks

Things to consider when hiring app developers

Social: 1 -2 weeks for social media Integration

Design: Getting the out-of-box UI to gear up the app design process and tailoring the mobile application’s look and feel.

Platform: Mobile app development for iOS will take more time than for Android as there is more App Store compliance to be considered.

Creating a standard, a standalone app with no internet or backend support will take anywhere around 2-3 months for the android app, while the one with a server backend may take 3-4 months. A highly customized and graphics-intensive mobile app for iOS and Android apps will take anywhere around 6 to 12 months.

Step 7: Contact developer or a company

You should know how to hire a mobile app developer while answering the core question of how to contact app developers. Because you need to contact them directly post app developers’ reviews and gauge the competitors.

By talking to them yourself, it will help you give proper judgment. You could inquire regarding their technology, user interface, and design skills, taking into account what you need.

When hiring a mobile app developer, try to go beyond the google reach of “hire mobile developers for near me” for the best results. You have to ensure that you know how to hire an app developer based on interviews and summaries, recruit them, and run a development sprint.

You can ensure that you find the exact skills in a developer that you’re looking for. You should review their previous experience, projects, and referral to the customer before you look to employ a developer to build your app. After the interview process, you can discuss the terms from your end and theirs.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an App Developer?

The app development cost is determined by a variety of different factors. Before beginning work, address these aspects with the developer and the team to get a sense of how they’ll affect your final quotation. Some of these factors are:

• Features of the app: The more features you want to include in your app, the more expensive the development will be. However, certain features are more expensive than others. For example, adding push alerts to your app may cost around $400. Call features, on the other hand, might cost as much as $12000.
• Platforms for devices: As previously stated, building several native apps for various device platforms has a huge financial impact.
• The location of the development company: The cost of hiring an app developer also hugely depends on where the development company is located as the rates may differ due to the cost of living.
• Costs of upkeep: Does your app demand more maintenance than regular? Then the cost of hiring the app developer might be at a higher-end for you.

In general, it’s best to stay away from the developer who offers the cheapest quotation. When it comes to software development, the adage “you get what you pay for” is arguably the most accurate. While getting the most out of your investment is crucial, you should never sacrifice quality to save money. In the long run, badly created software will cost you more.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Company to Build an App?

Many factors influence the price, depending on the complexity of the app development, at 40$ per hour, the average cost will be:

• Simple App Development Cost – $40,000 to $60,000
• Average App Development Cost – $60,000 to $150,000
• Complex App Development Cost – from $300,000

The cost of building an app ranges from $40,000 to $150,000 and depends on app complexity.

App Type	Estimate Cost	Time
Simple App Development	$40,000 to $60,000	2-3 months
Basic App Development	$60,000 to $150,000	3-6 months
Complex App Development	from $300,000	9+ months

The answer to how much it costs to develop an app can quickly go overboard due to the app features.

There are several options to get the estimation of your app project. The most reliable one is to contact the developers. But you can also use the app cost calculator.

If you send a request to the development studio to estimate the typical cost range of custom app development without proper documentation and terms of reference, the cost will likely be very approximate.

In contrast, the proper and precise cost calculator needs to include a wide variety of mobile app development services and the required amount of time:

• the complexity of the design and number of screens;
• development process;
• quality assurance phase;
• number of functions and features;
• the complexity of features;
• the complexity of database;
• number and complexity of 3rd party integrations;
• implementation of security protocols like HIPAA or GDPR;
• size and level of the development team.

The type of application is another important factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Below is a list of the most popular types of apps and the average development cost involved:

App Type	Estimate Cost	Time
Mobile App	$30,000-$300,000	1,200h
iPhone App	$55,000-$300,000	1,200h
Android App	$50,000-$300,000	1,200h
Web App	$60,000-$300,000	1,200h
Startup App	$40,000-$400,000	1,600h
Taxi App (Uber)	$50,000-$400,000	1,600h
Game App	$60,000-$250,000	1,600h
Retail App	$50,000-$150,000	1,200h
Augmented Reality App (AR)	$100,000-$250,000	1,600h
eCommerce App	$60,000-$250,000	1,600h
Social Media App (Instagram)	$50,000-$300,000	1,200h
Business App	$50,000-$200,000	1,200h
Learning App (DuoLingo)	$60,000-$225,000	900h
Video Streaming App	$80,000-$300,000	1,600h
Restaurant App	$40,000-$150,000	900h
Community App	$18,000-$150,000	900h
Shopify App	$30,000-$180,000	900h
Dating App	$50,000-$350,000	1,400h,
Food Delivery App	$40,000-$150,000	900h,
Hybrid App	$40,000-$200,000	1,200h
Healthcare App	$55,000-$300,000	1,200h
Typical App	$40,000-$300,000	1,200h

Besides the type, the cost of app development depends on the country.

Can I Hire Someone to Build an App?

So you google something like “who can create an app for me” or “who can develop my app idea”. Cause Google knows everything. Or, if you’re a bit more familiar with the market, you’ll probably type iOS developers for hire.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of app developers for hire around the globe. Of any possible kind, skill set, and price range. It all comes with certain downsides and cautions too, of course. So before you start your quest, here are 3 chief principles you should stick to.

1. Know the basics. Learn what programming languages are there in use for mobile apps. Find out what the platforms are and what would be your target platform(s) to make an app. Check what the rates are and how much it would cost you to hire an app developer (even approximately). Who would be users of your app? These types of things.
2. Check experience. You wouldn’t want a doctor, fresh out of university, with no experience yet to conduct your knee surgery. The same with your business – if you hire someone, you’d better hire a developer who knows his stuff. He/she does not necessarily need to be a top expert, though should be able to provide a portfolio of past works. You can even ask for samples of his/her code.
3. Build relationship and communication. Seek someone reliable, seek a developer interested in your business and the outcome of your cooperation, not just in development. Sounds all cliche, but it is so. You’ll have to get along, to build a relationship with each other to get your app going. Language or cultural barriers, for example, or many other things may get in the way.

Anything goes here, really. Starting from your personal connections, and friends on social media, to niche job boards, and colleges. Or even making a public contest to win for your project (it has to be truly worth it, though). As you start exploring how to find an app developer, you’ll see the places for finding them as well.

You can find app developers in specialized online directories like They Make Apps, and job boards like Get Apps Done. Looking for an iOS developer? Try iPhoneDevSDK forum. Trying to find an Android developer? – check Android Forums or AndroidPit. Here are more general communities if you need an app developer – Koding, Topcoder, NewAppIdea, Polycom. Also, you may check the official groups of Google, Facebook, Apple, and Windows developers.

Looking for app developers is also possible through web services like LinkedIn, Indeed, Upwork, and even Reddit. Real skills, app projects or code samples of developers could be tested on Gitlab and Github open source repositories. Use Clutch if you want an established software company. Your job is to search everywhere.

How do I Hire a Mobile App Developer?

Hiring an app developer for your project might be tricky. After all, you have a wealth of options at your disposal, many of which are appealing! Allow us to assist you and guide you through the process to hire an app builder. First and foremost, do you require the services of a developer or an app development agency? Yes, it is where you should begin.

If you’re just getting started and have a restricted budget, a freelance app developer will be ideal for your project. However, if you want to develop an enterprise-level software application, you’ll need to employ a full-fledged development team or collaborate with an app development company.

Whether you’re looking for freelance app developers, full-time app developers, or an app development service provider, you need to be sure they’re dependable and trustworthy. Here are our top five suggestions for finding the ideal business partner:

• Well-informed research: Before entrusting your project to anyone, you must understand the industry’s ins and outs. If you’re new to the subject of app development, consult with a few professionals to understand the basics. Learn about the programming languages used, the average costs, and the best outsourcing countries. This will aid you in picking the most appropriate technology partner for your needs.
• Examine their prior experience: Learn about their app development expertise. Inquire specifically whether they have ever created an app similar to yours or any other app concept. Learning more about them will give you a better notion of what to expect from the mobile app developer.
• Examine their ability to communicate: While communication isn’t the most important component to consider, it can’t be overlooked. If your technology partner doesn’t understand your needs, they won’t be able to come close to meeting them. That’s why it’s critical to understand how well they can communicate and comprehend your ideas.
• Establish clear goals: During the early sessions, make sure you have a clear understanding of your requirements. This will help you avoid conflicts and accelerate the development process. So, first and foremost, communicate with them and convey your goals.
• Interview them thoroughly: If you’re going to hire someone, make sure you take a thorough interview. If required, you might engage an expert to help you with the interview. Apart from that, there are a few things to consider before collaborating with another person.

1. Their references and reviews
2. Exposure to the industry in general
3. Expertise
4. Programming technologies
5. Development approach
6. Contracts and legal procedures
7. Management of a project
8. Communication

During your initial discussions, get clarification on these crucial points. This is how you’ll know if an iOS or Android app developer is a suitable fit for your project.

Before you hire an app developer, ask yourself these questions.

• What is the size of my budget for the mobile app development project?

You must first decide your budget before you hire an app developer. You might want your app to include all of the functionality in the world, but that isn’t a practical approach. You can’t and shouldn’t use too many resources in the app. It’s vital to get a basic idea of how much app development will cost. Having a rough idea of how much you want to spend can help you avoid a lot of misunderstandings during the app development process. You must be certain about your mobile application type, needs, UX/UI design, functionality type, software developers, and other characteristics and alternatives before deciding on a budget. It’s also vital to be a little flexible with your budget, but if you’re too flexible, your costs will likely skyrocket. Maintaining a healthy balance is essential.

• Do I want to engage a freelance app developer or avail of mobile app development services?

If your app has a short project with straightforward needs, a freelancer might be able to execute it on their own. It does, however, have certain restrictions, as you will see in the next section. You must seek out and hire the best app programmers available. A professional app development agency, on the other hand, will be required if you want a more adaptable, feature-rich, and complex app. The app development process might be hard, but with good project management, a firm can handle such tasks.

• What are the main obstacles I’ll face in my search for mobile app developers?

This question has four answers –

1. Budget
2. Freelancing websites
3. In house mobile app developers
4. Outsourcing

Where Can I Get an App Developed?

Whether it’s for your business, blog, product, service, or just something totally random, app creation software options are both plentiful and easy to find, if you know where to look.

With a small investment of time and a willingness to learn, you can create and manage your mobile site or application using one of the app-building platforms listed below.

1. Appery.io

Appery is a cloud-based mobile app builder that you can use to create apps for Android or iOS, and it includes Apache Cordova (Phone Gap), Ionic, and jQuery Mobile with access to its built-in components.

Since the builder runs in the cloud, there’s nothing to install or download, and it’s easy to get started quickly. The Appery app builder includes a visual editor using drag and drop components to build the UI. Appery auto-generates the code for any components you drop in. You can connect to any REST API and use it in your app, and instantly add a cloud database and backend to your app if you need to store data.

You can add powerful functionality with the Appery plugin catalog, or create your own custom private plugins to use in your apps. If you’re working with a team, you can easily share your project with them and collaborate in real time for an extra fee.

Price: Plans start at $60/month for Pro, $135/month for Team, and custom pricing for enterprise solutions.

2. Mobile Roadie

Mobile Roadie is an app creator that allows anyone to create and manage their own iOS or Android app. Even better, the building happens in a very visual way. The platform supports all media types, with automatic importing of RSS, Twitter, or Google News keywords, and an auto-refreshing fan wall for real-time communication with users.

You can preview your app accurately via Mobile Roadie’s back end, just as your users would on their devices. They will also guide you through the App Store submission process, with Mobile Roadie checking the quality and appropriateness of your content.

This app builder also gives you the option to send out push notifications. This can be content from your own site or via the platform itself. The platform as a whole is language agnostic, so you can pull data in a variety of formats, including XML, JSON, PHP, CSV and HTML. When you start, you are presented with several layout options, but you can also customize any of them to your liking.

Price: Pricing available upon request.  

3. TheAppBuilder

TheAppBuilder provides a suite of apps to suit employees, clients, events, and brochures, with two different approaches available. This might be the platform to go with if you are designing an app as an intranet for a company. You can build the app using the online toolkit, and either the training provided or TheAppBuilder itself will work with you to define and build the structure of the app and populate it with initial content.

Using the dedicated AppLibrary, you can provide your users with a window into multiple apps and even customize it with your own branding. You can protect both public and private apps with usernames and passwords, and distribute them via the app store, making use of TheAppBuilder’s Active Directory integration to enable login with existing credentials and user groups.

Updating the structure and content of your apps is easy, even after you go live, because you can make unlimited updates and publish on multiple mobile platforms in one click. The platform supports native iPhone, iPad, and Android, with updates going live within 60 seconds of submitting a change. The update timing appears to be unmatched from other services.

Price: Pricing available upon request

4. Good Barber

Good Barber provides a platform to build iPhone and Android apps, along with optimized web applications. For any of the platforms, you can control every detail of the app without writing out a single line of code. Several highly customizable design templates are available to get started, with plenty of beautiful icons and access to Google Fonts.

These progressive web apps could theoretically replace your current website, as they can be optimized for desktop, mobile, and tablets.

You receive immediate visual feedback every time you adjust any parameters in your app. Send unique, actionable push notifications and convert your readers into contributors by letting them submit articles, photos, and videos. You can also organize your app and add sections ranging from videos, photos, sounds, live events, and more.

Price: Plans start at $32/month for Android apps and at $96/month for iOS apps.

5. Appy Pie

Appy Pie is a cloud-based DIY mobile app creation tool that allows users without programming skills to create an app for almost any platform and publish it. There’s nothing to install or download — just drag and drop pages to create your own mobile app online.

Once it’s complete, you receive an HTML5-based hybrid app that works with all platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and even a Progressive app. All revisions are in real time, with the ability to send push notifications, monetize with ads, see live analytics, and track location with GPS. You can also integrate social media feeds, blogs, websites, audio, radio, and more.

How Many Hours Does it Take to Develop an App?

If we compare apps of different complexity and number of features, the average timeline will be:

• Simple App Development – 2-4 months
• Average App Development – 4-6 months
• Complex App Development – starting from 9 months

There can be variations in time due to various reasons, including the complexity of the product, the final structure of the model, partner app development company, and many more.

The development time to build a mobile app can range from 4 to 6 months and depends on app complexity.

App Type	Estimated time
Simple App Development	2-4 months
Average App Development	4-6 months
Complex App Development	9+ months

While developing an app and estimating its development timeline, don’t forget to consider numerous factors. Here we collected some of the factors and calculated their impact on the timeline.

Factor 1. The Complexity of an Idea

The complexity of an app is the prime factor affecting its timeline. It involves the number of screens, features, and roles in the product. The complexity of the app idea defines the required software development and design efforts.

Designing a simple app can take you several weeks, while a complex one requires months. Subsequently, back-end and front-end development, and testing.

The average time to build apps like Uber is about 1100 hours, while apps like Calm can take 880 hours. However, if you look to build something unique, for example, SaaS, it can take more than 1200 hours.

Factor 2. The Precise Requirements

A description of requirements incorporates the core features of an app and what it is all about. Hence, the more detailed the requirements, the less time it will take to build an app.

The functionalities such as backend infrastructure, selecting CMS, third-party service integration may increase or decrease the time to develop an app.

In addition, if you decide to add more features, the overall cost and time will surely shoot up. The indirect costs will grow too. For example, expenses on project management or business analysis.

Below are some features founders look for solutions:

1. Sign up through social media or email
2. Chat or messaging
3. Push notifications
4. Portrait or landscape view
5. Payment integration
6. Maps integration
7. User login and more

There can be additional features, based on the type of application.

The time to build the necessary requirements in the apps like chat applications can take from 80 hours while apps like Ads Manager can take more than 160 hours.

Factor 3. The Accuracy of the Final Result

The documentation is essential to get an idea of the final goal and app development timeline.

These documentations are later used by the design team in the process of wireframing mockups. The latter are digital blueprints displaying how the minimum viable product will look like.

It does two things, primarily:

1. It provides information required to identify potential pitfalls.
2. It includes only essential functionalities.

If the final product requirements are not clear in the beginning, it will lead to more change requests in the middle of the project. Thus utilize agile methodology for product development.

With a wireframe, you look to resolve all customers’ pain points while creating a unique user experience for them. This is what happens during the process:

1. As a team, you create a wireframe
2. Then you present it to the stakeholders for feedback and possible shortcomings.
3. You make changes as per the suggestions.
4. Repeat the process until you get the desired outcome.

Note that depending on the scope of the project, wireframes for a simple app like a meme generator may take 2-3 days to complete.

Factor 4. The Business Expertise

If you are someone who is an expert in coding, then you only need assistance in product and design strategy. But if you are a fresh entrepreneur, you would need help from start to end.

In addition, there are other aspects as well. For instance, if recruiting an in-house team is part of your business model, then consider the time to hire and train the team for the project.

If you already have a team, then only the design and development time frame will be counted. But if you have less time, hire a developer or a product development company and share your mobile app development timeline. You will save a lot of time in this case.

Can App Developers Steal Your Idea?

If you are an entrepreneur in the area of mobile apps, you not only need to come up with a brilliant idea to implement but also endeavor to protect that idea from being stolen. In fact, your mobile app idea can be nicked by anyone who gets the slightest idea about it including your business consultants, developers working on your project, and of course, by your competitors if the word gets to them.

So, how do you project your app’s idea and prevent someone else from basking in the glory that could have been easily yours had they not stolen your idea? Well, many app entrepreneurs have learned the hard way; you don’t have to be one of them.

The following points will help you get a better perspective of putting protective measures in place for your mobile app idea.

1. Share information selectively

The first and simplest way to protect your app’s idea is to share it sparingly.

Although in some cases it is necessary to share your app’s information e.g. sharing technical detail with developers, pitching to clients, and other instances, you don’t have to share every technical detail of your budding brainchild.

The less you reveal of your service or product, the less likely someone will steal it. This may seem like common sense, but the enthusiasm and excitement may drive you to share your game-changing idea with whoever will listen.

2. Carefully choose professional relationships

It’s very crucial to work with reputable companies or individuals. Unless you have the capacity to create your new app without outsourcing design or development, you will occasionally need to hire outside help.

Before choosing who to work with, screen all third-parties carefully. Read their testimonials, review their website and contact past clients. Reputable third-party contractors and developers will have no trouble offering you all the information you request.

By working exclusively with professional service providers built on integrity, you significantly reduce the chance of idea theft and underhanded dealings.

3. Always use non-disclosure agreements

Protect you mobile app idea when revealing it to others. This can be simply achieved by use of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure that all the information that you share is confidential between you and your developers. It essentially protects your idea from being reused or shared by those involved with your project.

Whether it’s consultants, outsourced contractors, associates, potential investors or clients, a NDA offers protection.

This is, however, not an absolute guarantee that your idea will be 100 percent safe.

That’s why a non-disclosure agreement along working with credible companies is important. Some investors may be a little hesitant to sign a non-disclosure agreement, especially before speaking with them.

To woo investors, you may have to offer broad strokes of your app project before requiring a signature on a NDA. Alternatively, you could include a confidentiality agreement in your business plan that you give to potential investors.

4. Non-compete agreements

A non-compete agreement is basically aimed at keeping people from sharing your trade secretes to another rival company. Essentially, it refrains the contracted developers and other professionals working on your project from working on any other app project that directly competes with yours.

The best part is that your developers will not be able to work on your rival’s project for a certain period of time, even after they’re done working on yours.

This also means that they will technically be out of work for quite some time or will be unable to work with clients of their choice.

It may be a challenge finding a reputable developer who is willing to sign such an agreement, but with the right compensation and motivation, you should be able to pull this off.

5. Copyright your app

A copyright is one of the very well-known terms as far as protecting intellectual property is concerned. However, in this context, it comes with a major drawback –you can’t copyright an idea.

Yes, the UI and the code elements of your mobile app can be copyrighted, but this is only ideal if someone copies the entire app with no variation to the original.

The advantage of copyrighting your mobile app is that it costs relatively less than most of the alternative options, and provides the basic protection against direct copiers.

6. Opt for trademarking

Trademarking helps you restrict competitors from using symbols, icons, logos and words associated with your app or service. Apart from just the logo, name and icons of your app, you may also want to trademark the name for all features and services which your mobile app provides.

This goes a long way in restricting your competitor companies from taking the same route.

Think of any of the top-selling mobile apps of all time like Truecaller, WhatsApp, Angry Birds, PokeMon Go and Candy Crush. The brand recognition these mobile apps carry is just incredible. You can identify these apps merely with colors and fonts used, as well as the logo.

Additionally, more often, companies’ names are closely associated with their apps. It’s therefore important to protect your app’s logo and name from being counterfeited by your rivals via trademarking.

The catch here is that trademarks prevent your competitors from copying creations of your products and services with similar sounding names, slogans, logos or other aspects that can be used to trick your potential clients. It also offers added protection against potential legal issues and lawsuits.

7. Apply for a patent

Patenting is a strong form of intellectual property protection that covers the functionality of your app and protects it against independent development, and even against rivals’ developing variations of your app. The functionality you intend to patent, however, needs to be new and non-obvious.

Read Also: Top 5 Mobile App Design Companies In USA

Acquiring patent rights can be a lengthy process involving an application and a thorough examination process, which is why it’s always a good idea to start the process as soon as possible, preferably before making any public disclosures.

Summary

To sum it up, it is not a simple task to hire an app designer. There are several criteria and tactics to consider if you want to choose the finest applicant for your project. Typically, the first step is to identify what type of app you want to create. A mobile app might be native, web, or hybrid, depending on its function. You may now begin your search for the ideal applicant once you’ve decided on the sort of app you want to create.

You must always have a clear idea of your development provider’s experience, whether you employ a freelancer or outsource to a development firm. Ensure that you are aware of their work method and expenses, among other vital elements.

While there is no assurance that a mobile app will be successful in the market, hiring a skilled app developer is a guaranteed method to increase your chances. You may easily avoid the pitfalls that many business owners fall into when choosing a mobile app developer if you follow these guidelines.

It’s not simple to find a qualified mobile app developer, since hundreds of industry-leading organizations compete for a small pool of experienced app developers. Because of the scarcity of highly trained developers, finding the best app developers is a costly and time-consuming procedure. But it is worth the effort.