5 Things Every Startup Should Know Before Building a Mobile App

So, you’ve got an idea for a mobile app. Maybe it’s the next big disruptor. Maybe it’s going to solve a problem you’ve faced for years. Or maybe, it’s a new way to connect with your customers and scale your business. Either way, you’re excited—and you should be.

But before you dive headfirst into development, pump the brakes for just a second. Building a successful mobile app isn’t just about a good idea. It’s about strategy, planning, and making smart decisions early on that will save you time, money, and a ton of frustration later.

Here are 5 essential things every startup needs to know before developing a mobile app—especially if you’re aiming to build something that not only works, but works well, gets users, and makes money.

1. Know Exactly Who You’re Building For

One of the biggest mistakes startups make is building a product before clearly defining their audience. Ask yourself:

Who is this app for?
What problem does it solve for them?
How tech-savvy are they?
Are they Android or iOS users—or both?
How much time (and money) are they willing to invest in your solution?

For example, an app aimed at enterprise users in North America may be better suited for iOS first, where in-app purchases and premium features tend to perform better. Meanwhile, a utility app targeting emerging markets might do better on Android, which dominates the global market share.

Understanding your user also informs design, UX, features, marketing, and monetization strategy. It’s not enough to guess—invest in market research, surveys, and user interviews to get clear data.

2. Choose the Right Platform for Your Goals

When it comes to mobile platforms, most startups face a choice: iOS or Android? Or maybe even both?

Here’s what you need to know:

iOS development is typically faster and less expensive. Apple’s ecosystem is more controlled, which means fewer devices and screen sizes to support.
Android is more flexible and has a massive global user base, but development can take 30–40% longer due to the wide range of devices, screen sizes, and OS versions.
Want both? You can either build two separate native apps—or go cross-platform (more on that next).

Your decision depends on your:

Target audience
Timeline
Budget
Feature complexity
Monetization model

Choose wisely, because switching platforms mid-development is expensive and often unnecessary if you make the right call early.

3. Consider Cross-Platform Development (If It Makes Sense)

If you need to reach both iOS and Android users but don’t want to double your development time or budget, cross-platform development might be the answer.

Cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin allow developers to write one codebase and deploy it across multiple platforms.

Benefits:

Faster time-to-market
Reduced development costs
Consistent UI and UX across platforms

Drawbacks:

Limited access to native features (in some cases)
Slightly reduced performance for graphics-heavy apps
Debugging can be more complex

For many startups, cross-platform development is the perfect balance between reach and efficiency—just make sure your app idea fits the framework’s limitations.

4. Prioritize User Experience (UX) and Performance

A beautiful idea means nothing if your app is clunky, slow, or hard to use. User expectations are higher than ever—if your app takes more than a couple of seconds to load or isn’t intuitive to navigate, users will uninstall without hesitation.

Key areas to focus on:

Simplicity: Don’t overload your app with features right away. Start with your MVP (minimum viable product) and expand later.
Speed: Optimize performance from day one. A slow app kills engagement.
Design: Follow platform-specific design guidelines (Material Design for Android, Human Interface Guidelines for iOS).
Accessibility: Make your app usable for everyone—consider font sizes, color contrast, and voice support.

Invest in a good UX/UI designer early. It’ll pay off in user retention, reviews, and ultimately, revenue.

5. Don’t Ignore App Store Guidelines and Approval Processes

Whether you’re targeting the App Store, Google Play, or both, each has its own set of rules for security, content, functionality, and design.

Apple, for example, is notoriously strict. Your app can be rejected for something as small as missing metadata or poor UX. Google is slightly more flexible but still holds developers accountable for user privacy and performance.

Pro Tips:

Review the guidelines before you begin development.
Ensure your app is stable, secure, and doesn’t crash.
Be transparent about data usage and permissions.
Provide clear in-app user flows (especially around purchases or subscriptions).

Skipping this step can lead to costly delays or even complete app rejection, so build your launch timeline with reviews in mind.

The Bottom Line

Building a mobile app is an exciting journey—but it’s not one you want to rush. Whether you’re developing the next breakout consumer app or a tool to supercharge your startup’s internal operations, success comes down to planning, execution, and user insight.

By keeping these five factors in mind, you’re not just building an app—you’re building a solid foundation for your product, your business, and your future growth.

And when it comes to development, don’t settle for guesswork. Choose a team that understands the nuances of app strategy, design, and scalability.

Ready to Build?

At Softkingo, we specialize in creating scalable, enterprise-grade mobile apps for startups and Fortune 500s alike. Whether you’re building for iOS, Android, or both, our experienced team of developers, designers, and industry experts will guide you from concept to launch—and beyond.

Let’s bring your app idea to life—smarter, faster, and more profitably.