10 Questions to Answer Before Building Your Mobile App
The Essential Checklist for App Success
Before investing $10,000 to $80,000+ in mobile app development, answer these critical questions. They'll help you avoid costly mistakes and build an app that actually succeeds.
1. What Problem Does Your App Solve?
Every successful app solves a specific problem or fulfills a clear need. If you can't explain the problem in one sentence, your app idea needs more focus.
Tip: Complete this sentence: "My app helps [target user] to [solve problem] by [unique solution]."
2. Who Is Your Target User?
Define your ideal user with specifics: age, location, income, behaviors, pain points. The more specific, the better you can design for them.
Tip: Create 2-3 user personas with names, photos, and detailed backgrounds.
3. What's Your Competition?
Research existing apps that solve similar problems. Download them. Use them. Note what they do well and what frustrates you.
- Who are the top 3 competitors?
- What do their reviews say?
- What's your unique advantage?
4. How Will You Make Money?
Choose your monetization strategy early - it affects your entire design:
- Freemium: Free basic version, paid premium features
- Subscription: Monthly/yearly recurring payments
- One-time purchase: Pay once to download
- In-app purchases: Buy virtual goods or features
- Advertising: Free app, revenue from ads
5. What Are Your Must-Have Features?
List every feature you want, then ruthlessly prioritize. Your MVP should include only features essential to solving the core problem.
Tip: Use the MoSCoW method: Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have (yet).
6. iOS, Android, or Both?
- iOS first: Higher spending users, AU/US/UK markets, premium brands
- Android first: Larger global reach, emerging markets
- Both: Maximum reach but higher initial cost
7. What's Your Realistic Budget?
- Simple app (cross-platform): $10,000 - $20,000
- Simple app (native): $15,000 - $25,000
- Medium complexity: $20,000 - $40,000
- Complex app: $40,000 - $80,000+
Tip: Keep 20-30% of your budget in reserve for unexpected changes.
8. What's Your Timeline?
- Simple MVP: 2-3 months
- Medium app: 3-6 months
- Complex app: 6-12 months
9. How Will You Acquire Users?
Building the app is only half the battle. Consider:
- App Store Optimization (ASO)
- Social media marketing
- Content marketing / SEO
- Paid advertising
- Referral programs
10. What Does Success Look Like?
Define measurable goals:
- Downloads in first 3 months?
- Monthly active users after 6 months?
- Revenue target for year one?
- User retention rate goal?
Quick Checklist
- Clear problem statement defined
- Target user personas created
- Competitive analysis completed
- Monetization strategy chosen
- MVP features prioritized
- Platform decision made
- Budget allocated (with reserve)
- Realistic timeline set
- Marketing plan outlined
- Success metrics defined