App developers must price projects based on feature complexity, platform (iOS/Android), design requirements, and ongoing maintenance. Set rates that reflect technical expertise.
Optimize your pricing strategy with AI-powered insights
Enter your shop name for a personalized PDF report with your business name.
How many items do you expect to sell each month?
💡 Why needed? Fixed costs (Rent/Labor) must be split by each item. Lower sales = Higher cost per item. We need this to calculate your min break-even price.
Percentage of items that are wasted or unsold.
✅ Price is above break-even $18.35. You are making profit!
How much will you charge for one item?
Net Profit
$3325
per month
Margin
26.6%
profit margin
Break-Even
312
units/month
✓ Margin Detected: Your 26.6% profit margin is healthy for the cafe industry. You need to sell 312 units to break even, currently projecting 500 units.
Required Volume Growth ≥17% to break even
Current Expectation: 30% ✅
App development is priced hourly ($50–200+/hr by skill and region) or as fixed-bid projects — and fixed bids carry real risk if scope isn't nailed down. Cost scales with feature complexity, platform (iOS, Android, or both), design needs and ongoing maintenance. Price for discovery, testing and post-launch support, not just coding, and protect fixed-price work with a tight spec and change-order terms.
An open scope on a fixed price means you eat every change. Nail the spec and use change orders, or fixed-bid apps lose money fast.
Discovery, design, testing, deployment and project management are real hours. Quoting only development time underprices the whole project.
iOS and Android (or native vs cross-platform) materially change effort. Price the platform decision explicitly rather than assuming one number fits.
Apps need updates for OS changes, bugs and features. Skipping a maintenance retainer leaves recurring revenue — and ongoing obligations — unpriced.
Once your pricing works, these are the tools small operators use to take payments, keep books, and market.
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Charge hourly ($50–200+/hr by skill and region) or as a fixed-bid project scoped by features and platform. Include discovery, design, testing and maintenance, not just coding. The calculator above helps you build the estimate.
Hourly protects you when scope is uncertain; fixed-bid suits well-defined projects but only with a tight spec and change-order terms. Open-scope fixed bids are the fastest way to lose money on an app.
Building for both iOS and Android, or going native versus cross-platform, significantly changes the effort. Price the platform decision explicitly rather than assuming a single number covers it.
Yes. Apps need ongoing updates for OS changes, bug fixes and new features. A maintenance retainer creates recurring revenue and sets clear expectations for post-launch support.
Discovery, UX/UI design, QA testing, deployment, and project management are often underbilled. They're real hours — price the full lifecycle, not just writing code.
Many small business owners use the "3x material cost" rule or simply match competitor prices. The problem? This ignores your unique cost structure. Your rent might be higher, your waste rate different, or your labor costs vary by location. This calculator reveals your true break-even point and ensures sustainable pricing.
Download a clean, shareable PDF of your pricing breakdown — cost structure, break-even point, and profit scenarios — completely free, with no sign-up. Useful for partners, lenders, or your own records.