Mobile Apps for Businesses are essential to have these days. However, the mobile app development cost in UK is very high. Learn how you can reduce development costs and negotiate.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Negotiate Mobile App Development Cost in UK
Mobile App Development in the UK is a rapidly growing industry these days. Especially, after the pandemic, drastic changes in people’s lifestyles and over-dependency on smartphone apps have compelled every business to provide products and services 24*7 through a mobile application for business. However, this necessity is burning holes in the pockets of businesses.
This blog post is for those businesses seeking mobile app development services. In this blog, we will share some tips and tricks on how to negotiate mobile app development cost in UK with mobile app development companies. So, stay hooked and scroll down to become a smart negotiator!
Mobile App Development for Businesses: Need and Importance
Before directly jumping to the cost, it is important to understand the need and importance of mobile apps for a business. So that, a business may figure out why it is spending a budget on mobile app development services. Here is how a mobile application improves your business overall-
Elevated Brand Image
When your business owns a professional and smooth-functioning mobile application, it elevates your brand image. Your business stands out among your competitors and people develop more faith in your existence.
Workflow Optimization
Mobile applications streamline business processes and thus optimize workflows. When the day-to-day tasks are scheduled in advance, it removes chaos and gives a clear picture of daily targets and objectives.
Workforce Optimization
When some minor manual tasks are automated, the workforce is free to utilize their decision-making and business analysis skills. This way, workforce optimization is also a favourable outcome of mobile app development for businesses.
Data Insights
Mobile apps also collect insightful data about the users and present the same to the app author (business owner) in the form of graphs and reports. This user data can be related to employees (office timings, leaves taken, leaves pending etc) and customers (orders, preference, cart items etc). These insights help develop business strategies.
Enhanced Revenues
When a business is able to utilize the workflow and workforce both in an optimized way and when it has relevant data insights for business planning, the revenues are also optimized. Therefore, mobile apps also enhance the revenues for businesses.
Mobile App Development Cost in London
Let us now come to the main concern- “How much does it cost to create an app for business?” To be Straight forward Mobile App Development Costs in London, or any other big city in the UK can start from ￡7,500 and can go up to ￡700,000 depending upon the following factors-
- App Complexity
- No. of Features
- Type of UI/UX Design
- Technologies Integrated (AR/VR/AI)
- Chosen Launch Platform (Play Store/App Store)
- Development Type (Web App/Native/Cross-Platform/Hybrid)
- The brand name and Location of the Developer Company
- Type of Development (Custom or Non-Custom)
All these factors contribute towards the mobile app development cost in UK or anywehre. However, if you are not aware of these factors, then no worries! In the next section, we will give a brief yet comprehensive explanation of these factors. Also, we will discuss how you can negotiate and plan your business mobile app development cost judiciously.
But before that, let us have a brief overview of the Mobile App Development Cost Estimate in the UK as per the features above.
Mobile App Development Cost in UK Calculator
Here is a detailed Mobile App Development Cost Breakdown for your reference that helps you calculate the approximate cost of your business application
| Mobile App Type | Basic (Calculator/Notes/Reminders) | Education/Business Communication(Chat/Message/Calling) | FinTech(UPI/Banking Apps) | Travel(Cab/Bus/Flight Booking) | ECommerce(Shopping/Food Delivery) | Gaming Apps | Healthcare |
| Minimum Cost* | ￡7,500 | ￡10,000 | ￡15,000 | ￡18,000 | ￡30,000 | ￡4,500 | ￡22,000 |
| Operating System Type | Web Apps | Android | iOS | Cross-Platform (iOS and Android) | Hybrid(iOS+Android+Website) | – | |
| Minimum Cost | ￡6,500 | ￡7,500 | ￡10,000 | ￡15,000 | ￡20,000 | – | |
| UI/UX Type | Menu Driven | Touch Screen | Voice Control | Gesture-Based | – | – | |
| Minimum Cost | ￡14,000 | ￡18,000 | ￡30,000 | ￡40,000 |
Mobile App Development Cost UK
The above table shows the minimum cost as per Application type, operating system type, and UI/UX (or features) types. Now you can have an average cost idea with the table above. For example, suppose you need an e-commerce app (￡30,000) for your customers that runs on iOS and Android devices (￡15,000), the minimum cost will be ￡45,000.
Furthermore, if you also wish to integrate Voice Control Command (￡30,000) in the App UI, then the App might cost you up to ￡70-￡75,000 on an estimate. Likewise, you can estimate the cost of other mobile apps too.
How to Reduce Mobile App Development Cost?
Let us now learn how we can negotiate on the mobile app development cost in UK with the mobile app development company. When it comes to mobile app development for business, IT companies often tend to charge very high! However, if you ‘look’ and ‘act’ smart before the developer company, then you will surely not get bluffed. Also, you will be able to optimize the business app development cost. So, check out the tips below
- Plan Your Business Needs Carefully
Always list your business goals, vision, and mission and decide the type of mobile application you require carefully. For example, if you are a new startup in the Healthcare and Fitness Industry, it is not necessary to launch an advanced application immediately.
First start with basic features such as heart rate monitor, BP check, Step-Counter, and Period Logs. If your startup succeeds, you can plan ahead to go for more advanced features like online doctor consultations, VR Appointments and more.
- Choose only Bespoke Mobile App Development Company in the UK
Also, do not forget to make a checklist of features that you want in your business application. If you have very limited feature requirements then always choose Bespoke Mobile App Development which is a custom app development service. It helps you eliminate unnecessary app features and optimise the mobile app development cost.
- Decide on Mobile App Features Smartly
While choosing the business application features, always be smart and avoid temptations to opt for fancy features unnecessarily. For example, if you are a new online salon booking business, then it is perfectly okay not to integrate that online artist tracking fancy map feature into your business app.
Instead, you can opt for a time estimate feature that lets the user have an estimated time at which the artist will reach her/him. Likewise, you may avoid any fancy features during the beginning and later with business growth can introduce advanced features in app updates.
- Understand Native, Cross-Platform, Web Apps, and Hybrid App Development
Understand your target audience and always keep in mind that only 30% of Smartphone users on an estimate have iOS devices, while 70% have Android Devices. However, professionals from the IT and Healthcare industry often prefer iOS devices only. Therefore, if you need a mobile application for employee management and your employees are iOS users on a majority basis, then certainly go for Cross-Platform app development.
However, if you need a mobile app for a segment or Target Audience which is majorly Android users, then Android Development is the best option. So, understand your TG and choose wisely from the following options- (refer to the table above to get a cost estimate)
- Web App Development:
If you have a website and need a web page on your website that works like an app. Choose this option if this can work for you! For example, employee management can be automated through your business website with web app development.
- Native App Development:
When you need a business app either for Android or for iOS devices.
- Cross-Platform App Development:
When you need a mobile application for both Android as well as iOS devices. In this case, the app developer will code the mobile app in a way that it runs on both devices in a single time development.
- Hybrid App Development:
When you need a single application that runs as a web app and on the iOS and Android Devices.
So, choose the development as per your Target Group and optimize the mobile app development cost. In the UK, you will find all kinds of development options.
- Don’t Go Fancy, Focus on Simple App UI/UX
Do not be tempted to highly animated applications with AI, AR, and VR-driven User Interfaces. You might find it really fancy to develop a business app with voice commands and an interactive bot that engages the app users.
However, a simple yet comprehensive menu-style user interface is a perfect option for almost any kind of business. Additionally, the menu-style user interface best elevates the user experience and due to being popular is also pocket-friendly.
- Ask Developers to Use Open-Source Code Libraries
These days, mobile app developers have access to open-source code libraries which reduces their coding and programming efforts and time. When the development time and effort are reduced, so does the mobile app development cost in UK. Say, for example, you need any mobile application for your business that requires a login and user profile creation feature.
Today, most applications have this feature. Therefore, the developer already has ‘codes’ to make these features. Also, they can find many such codes in the open-source code libraries. So always ask the developer companies to use open-source code libraries and reduce the cost accordingly.
- Check Mobile App Developers Location: Yes It Matters!
Choosing London Developers over Aberdeen Developers will certainly make a difference. The more well-off location a mobile app development company belongs to, the higher will be the mobile app development cost. So, also do some research location-wise. Collect business app development cost estimates from different locations and see the difference.
Final Thoughts
So, Mobile Apps are very important for a business. Moreover, they are not even costly if seen as an investment and if the app development type and features are planned smartly. Business apps are simply a boon for organizational management and business growth. And when it comes to mobile app development cost in UK, a smart client always has room to negotiate.
Software Development Company in UK | Ezulix Software 
Leave a comment