Become A Freelance App Developer - Business Ideas

Updated: September 15th, 2022
Become A Freelance App Developer

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

A freelance app developer is a programmer who creates mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. Freelance app development business targets creating various apps that give a user-friendly experience.

To become a freelance app developer, first, touch up on your skills. There are several courses available online. Once you obtain the certification, choose your niche and focus on your skill set.

Then the best way to showcase your work is to build a portfolio website where you will display your skills, projects, and testimonials. Another way to promote yourself is to create your brand and blog. This will, in turn, build a network, and you will be able to connect with people and attract more clients.

Becoming a freelance app developer requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.

If you're interested in how to sell app development services, or selling app development services online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.

Want to learn more? You can check out our full guide on how to become a freelance app developer ➜

Key Stats

revenue (monthly)
$75.3K
starting costs
$19.6K
gross margin
23%
time to build
240 days
growth
Word of mouth
business model
Consulting
time investment
Full time

Startup Costs

Min Startup Costs Max Startup Costs

Office Space Expenses

$0

$7,000

Employee & Freelancer Expenses

$151

$352

Website Costs

$223

$7,215

Business Formation Fees

$5,600

$20,400

Training & Education Expenses

$0

$1,000

Software Expenses

$162

$3,094

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$0

$50

Total Startup Costs

$6,136

$39,111

Successful Businesses

Business URL Rank

Moovit

moovitapp.com

8,408

DevExpress

devexpress.com

9,345

Truelancer.com

truelancer.com

9,683

Cash App

cash.app

9,955

Glide

glideapps.com

23,604

Chetu

chetu.com

31,693

Como

como.com

32,639

Hire the best IT & Marketing companies

appfutura.com

32,870

Android Creator

appcreator24.com

34,850

Corporate Website of Orange

orange.com

36,723

Arc: Hire Remote Developers & Engineering Teams

arc.dev

40,149

Pros & Cons

Pros Description

Ability to start your business from home

It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!

Little startup costs required

The cost to start a freelance app developer costs significantly less money than most businesses, ranging anywhere from 62 to 39,111.

Rewarding work

Starting a freelance app developer can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

High customer retention rates

Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer.

Quick build time

The average time it takes to build your product is quick - typically around 8 months. This will allow you to bring your product to market faster.

Pick & choose the clients you work with

Freelance App Developeres have the ability to choose the clients they work with. You have the freedom to work with only a few loyal clients or with hundreds of clients!

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your freelance app developer, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Security Issues

With any Saas business, data loss and security issues may arise throughout your process of building your product. It's critical that you understand exactly what you're responsible for and how to avoid potential issues down the road.

Work can be inconsistent

As a freelance app developer, the amount of work assigned to you and schedule tends to be more inconsistent, which may make your income less stable. It's important to set boundaries and budget accordingly based on the amount of work you plan to have.

Lack of benefits

With a freelance app developer, you are typically self-employed and responsible for finding your own insurance, which can be quite costly and time-consuming.

Isolation

Often times, as a freelance app developer, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members.

Taxes

As a freelance app developer, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.

Marketing Ideas

  • 1

    Affiliate Program

    Affiliate marketing is a great way to bring in a new revenue stream, especially when you don't sell products or services.

    Simply put, an affiliate program is an agreement where a business pays another business or influencer ("the affiliate") a commission for sending traffic and/or sales their way.

    The affiliate typically gets a unique link where clicks and conversions can be tracked.

    Learn more about affiliate program ➜

  • 2

    Direct Sales

    Direct sales strategy implies a direct contact between a seller and a consumer without the involvement of any third party. Direct selling is popular in sectors where sellers communicate with their clientele personally. The sales technique occurs at non-store locations which include at home, work, or online.

    For direct selling to succeed, hire a few (or many) salespeople to support the sales conversion process. It's critical that you assign them specific roles and responsibilities to nurture the client and provide excellent support.

    Learn more about direct sales ➜

  • 3

    Word of mouth

    Word of mouth is when a consumers reflects their interest in a company’s product or service in their daily dialogues.

    Therefore, word of mouth advertising is essentially a free advertising triggered by the customers experience.

    According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family.

    Therefore, in today’s hyper-connected world, a single recommendation through a word of mouth can have a huge impact to your business.

    Learn more about word of mouth ➜