Skip to main contentAccessibility statement

VeloWeb by VeloLinx · App development

App development for businesses: from scoping and MVP to store launch

VeloWeb, the VeloLinx development studio, builds apps for businesses: web apps and PWAs, cross-platform apps for iPhone and Android, or native apps when the product calls for it. Every project starts with a specification, moves through design and an MVP, and continues to launch and maintenance. Pricing is set by specification: after a short call you get a detailed quote.

Book an intro call on WhatsApp (opens in a new window)Which app is right for you

Three types of app, and when each one fits

The first decision in app development is not the design but the type of app. It determines where users will find it, which device capabilities it can use, and what development and maintenance will cost.

Web app and PWA

An app that runs in the browser on any device, with no store download. A PWA is a web app that can be added to the home screen, send notifications and keep working on a weak connection. One codebase, and updates reach users immediately without waiting for store approval.

Especially good for:

  • Customer portals, booking systems and dashboards
  • Internal tools for your team and field staff
  • Testing a new idea quickly on a measured budget

Less suited when:

  • Store presence is part of the product
  • The app needs deep access to device capabilities, some of which are limited on iPhone

Cross-platform app

A single codebase that produces an iPhone app and an Android app, with technologies such as React Native or Flutter. The app appears in the stores, sends notifications and uses most device capabilities, at a lower development and maintenance cost than two separate apps.

Especially good for:

  • Loyalty clubs, ordering and appointments
  • A service app for existing customers
  • Most business apps that need a store presence

Less suited when:

  • It is a game or relies on heavy graphics
  • The whole value of the product rests on unique device hardware

Native app

Separate code for each operating system, in Swift for iPhone and Kotlin for Android. It is the way to get maximum performance and full access to device capabilities such as Bluetooth, sensors, augmented reality and background work. The price is two codebases to develop and maintain.

Especially good for:

  • A product whose core is hardware or performance
  • Connecting to external devices
  • An experience that needs the newest operating system capabilities

Less suited when:

  • The budget is limited and the app is a standard business app
  • You want to launch fast and test demand
Comparing the three types of app
FeatureWeb app and PWACross-platformNative
Where users find itIn the browser, with the option to add it to the home screenIn the App Store and Google PlayIn the App Store and Google Play
CodebaseOneOne for both systemsSeparate for each system
Access to device capabilitiesPartialBroadFull
UpdatesImmediate, with no store approvalThrough the storesThrough the stores
Relative costThe lowest of the threeMediumThe highest of the three

The development process: from specification to maintenance

Five stages. How long each one takes depends on the scope, and it is set in the quote after the specification.

  1. Specification

    We define the business goal, the users, the screens and flows, the systems to connect, and what goes into the first version versus later ones.

    What you have at the end

    A specification document and a detailed quote

  2. Design

    We design the user experience and the screens for every flow, following your brand and Apple's and Google's design guidelines.

    What you have at the end

    Designs of every screen for your approval before development

  3. MVP

    We develop the first version with the capabilities the product cannot do without, connect it to your systems and test on real devices.

    What you have at the end

    A working version you can put in front of real users

  4. Launch

    We prepare the store listings and submit to Apple and Google for review, or put the web app live.

    What you have at the end

    An app available to download or use

  5. Maintenance

    We update for new iOS and Android versions, fix issues, monitor and build the next versions based on the data.

    What you have at the end

    An app that keeps working and improving

Why start with an MVP

An MVP is the smallest version of the app that still solves the users' core problem. Instead of spending the whole budget on a long feature list, you launch the core, see how real users work with it, and decide what comes next based on data rather than guesses.

This approach shortens the road to launch and reduces the risk of building features nobody uses. During specification the idea is split into layers: what must exist on day one, what comes in the next version, and what stays on the wish list until the data justifies it.

How much app development costs

There is no fixed price list for apps, because a simple booking app and a system with users, payments and an admin panel are completely different projects. Just like business website development, the price is set by specification. These are the factors that affect it:

  • The type of app and platforms: web, iPhone, Android or all of them
  • The number of screens and flows, and the complexity of the design
  • Users, permissions and account management
  • Payments, subscriptions and a payment gateway connection
  • Connections to existing systems, such as a CRM, inventory or WhatsApp
  • An admin panel for your team, content management and reporting

After a short intro call you get a detailed quote: what is included in each stage, what goes into the MVP and what is deferred to later versions. The quote separates the one-time development cost from ongoing costs such as maintenance and hosting, so you know in advance what you pay and for what.

Book an intro call on WhatsApp (opens in a new window)

An app connected to your business

A business app is worth more when it talks to your other systems. We connect it to your CRM, payment gateway, calendar and WhatsApp, and where it fits the business, to a WhatsApp AI agent that answers customers on your behalf.

Frequently asked questions about app development for businesses

Message us on WhatsApp (opens in a new window)
How much does it cost to develop an app for a business?

The price is set by specification, because it depends on the type of app, the number of screens and flows, connections to existing systems and the admin panel. After a short intro call you get a detailed quote that separates the one-time development cost from ongoing costs.

How long does it take to develop an app?

It depends on the scope, so the timeline is set after the specification and appears in the quote. The fastest way to reach users is an MVP: a first version with the core only, launched and then expanded based on the data.

Which is better for a business: a PWA or a store app?

A PWA fits when the app serves existing customers or a team, when you want to launch quickly on a measured budget, and when store presence is not needed. A store app fits when discovery in the stores, notifications and advanced device capabilities are part of the product. We check this against the business goal during specification.

What is an MVP and why start with one?

An MVP is the smallest version that still solves the users' core problem. You launch it, learn from real use, and then invest only in what the data shows is working. That way the budget is not burned on features nobody needs.

Do you handle publishing to the stores?

Yes. We prepare the store listing, the screenshots and the information the stores require, and submit to Apple and Google for review. We build the app to the stores' guidelines from the very start, so it goes into review ready.

Can the app connect to systems we already use?

In most cases, yes: CRM systems, payment gateways, calendars, inventory and WhatsApp. In the intro call we go over your existing systems and check how to connect to each one.

What happens after launch?

An app needs maintenance: updates for new iOS and Android versions, adjustments to changing store rules, bug fixes and monitoring. After launch we keep supporting the app and build the next versions based on what users actually do.

What should I prepare before the intro call?

It is enough to know what problem the app solves, who the users are, and which systems the business already uses. If you have examples of apps you like, a sketch or a feature list, bring them. The rest we build together during specification.

From the blog

In-depth guides on this topic

Have an idea for an app?

Tell us on WhatsApp what the app should do and who it's for. We'll set up a short intro call, and then you'll get a detailed quote.

Message us on WhatsApp (opens in a new window)Business website development by VeloWeb