5 Shopify App Developer Success Stories [2024]
Have you thought about a career building Shopify apps?
Shopify is a Canadian e-commerce company that provides an online platform for entrepreneurs to set up their own online stores and sell products. Shopify is now valued at over $45B (as of 2022) with over 1.75M merchants using the platform worldwide.
To be able to build a plugin for Shopify, you need to know how to code. If not, then at least have some knowledge of HTML and CSS. You also need experience in the Shopify API and some basic knowledge about the Liquid template language for Shopify.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a shopify app developer:
1. ByteStand ($780K/year)
Todd, a serial entrepreneur, came up with the idea for ByteStand after experiencing the limitations of selling on Amazon and wanting to diversify his business. He saw a gap in the market for a tool to automate the process of moving inventory from Amazon to Shopify and decided to create one himself, despite having no software development experience. With the help of a team of independent developers, he built the app and launched it on Shopify, quickly attracting paying customers and generating revenue.
How much they make: $780K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 1
ByteStand, a software development company run by ecommerce experts, created Shopify apps, including FreshCredit and FBA Shipping, which generate approximately $17,000 per month in revenue, with over 2,000 shops using their software.
2. Mokool Apps ($1.8K/year)
Mukul Verma, the founder of Mokool Apps, came up with the idea for his Shopify app business after running a successful app development company. After realizing the potential in the Shopify App Store, Mukul saw an opportunity to help store owners create successful businesses by providing them with easy-to-use, problem-solving apps. Since launching his first app, Translate Pro, Mukul has focused on listening to customer feedback, making adjustments, and building a strong foundation for his business.
How much they make: $1.8K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 1
Mokool Apps founder Mukul Verma shares his journey of expanding into the Shopify App Store, including how customer support is critical, and the importance of planning for the unexpected when launching a business.
So... can you actually make money with a shopify app developer?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Bonify ($504K/year)
Dan Pepin and John Carbone came up with the idea for Bonify while working as programmers at a digital agency and being frustrated with how things were being done. They left the company and started Bonify with a focus on building SAAS products. Their first app, Custom Fields, was launched in April 2016 and initially made little money, but they continued to improve it based on customer feedback and have since built a successful Shopify app business, with their apps bringing in $15,000 per month and a goal to double that revenue by the end of the year.
How much they make: $504K/year
Current team size: 0
Bonify co-founders successfully transition from a small web development agency to a lifestyle SAAS company by building Shopify apps, reaching $15,000 monthly revenue and planning to double it by year end through improved marketing and new features.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
