Shape the product
What needs to work before your first customer signs in?
Decide what your first version needs to do, check the customer journey, and prepare for launch.
Read the guideGuides for your software business
What are you working out?
Start with the decision in front of you: whether there is a product in your work, what the first version needs, and who could try it.
Start here · Find the opportunity
Could the process you already teach become software?
Look for a recurring customer problem, a method people use, and a useful next step before deciding to build an app.
Read: Turn your method into softwareWork through the next decision
From “what if” to real customers.
Prepare to launch
How can you learn from your first customers?
Choose relevant early users, observe a real task, and use what happens to improve the first version.
Read the guideRun the product
Who looks after the product after launch?
What an ongoing product and technical partnership covers: support, maintenance, onboarding, and decisions about what to build next.
Read the guidePlan the investment
What does it cost to build and run software?
Compare delivery models, understand the work after launch, and plan for the costs around the service.
Read the guideGuide
How to scope an MVP: plan your first app release
Scope an MVP around one customer workflow. Work through a first-release example, decide what can wait, and write acceptance checks before hiring a developer.
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App maintenance costs: what to budget after launch
Plan app maintenance costs alongside hosting, vendor fees, support, and later features. Use a budget worksheet to ask your developer for a scoped estimate.
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Software discovery phase: when do you need one?
Decide whether your app needs a software discovery phase. Learn which questions to investigate, what deliverables to expect, and when a scoping call is enough.
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How to find an app developer you can work with
Find an app development partner through referrals and relevant work. Check their role, delivery responsibilities, references, and approach before committing.
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How long does it take to develop an app?
Understand app development timelines from scope and design through testing and release. See what changes an estimate and how to plan around a customer deadline.
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Prototype vs MVP: which should you build first?
Compare a prototype, proof of concept, and MVP. Choose the deliverable that answers your next product question before paying for a full app build.
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Web app vs mobile app: choose your first platform
Compare web apps and mobile apps for your first product. Review browser access, device needs, offline use, app stores, testing, and maintenance.
Read the guideTemplate
App product brief: a template for your first release
Write an app product brief using a copyable template and worked example. Describe the customer, workflow, budget, constraints, and questions for your developer.
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What to prepare before hiring an app developer
Before hiring an app developer, prepare your customer problem, available budget, existing work, and decision-maker. Use this checklist for your first call.
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How to compare app development quotes
Compare app development quotes on scope, assumptions, testing, ownership, payments, and support. Download a comparison worksheet before choosing a partner.
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