Starting a business app means giving potential customers the opportunity to discover and interact with your brand through their phones, tablets, and laptops. An app might handle booking services, help sell products, take payments, or do something entirely different that fits your specific vision. With smartphones accounting for over three-quarters of retail site visits in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2024, it’s clear that having an app can help you better serve your customer base.

When you’re creating your app, you need to figure out how it will make life easier for you and your customers—whether you run a dentist’s office that needs an easy booking function or a retail store that wants to accept digital payments on the go.

Below, we’ll discuss how to shape your vision into a product, the reasons why business apps matter, how to plan and design them, how to handle marketing and common challenges, and how Stripe can help.

What’s in this article?

• What is a business app and why create one?
  
• What types of business apps are in demand?
  
• How do you plan and design a business app?
  
• How does Stripe integrate with business apps?
  
• What are the challenges of launching a business app?
  
• How do you market your business app?
  

What is a business app and why create one?

A business app is software developed for a specific use that ties back to a company’s primary goals. Maybe you need to schedule client appointments, or perhaps you want to sell your product in a more direct way. An app can be significant, such as a fully equipped commerce platform, or more modest, such as an interface for customers to schedule appointments. What’s important is that it gets work done and connects you to the people you need to reach.

The decision to build an app often starts when you spot an opportunity to serve customers in a way that a standard website or online form can’t match. Maybe you sell coffee beans and want to give shoppers a simplified subscription process that they can access from their phones. Or your day spa might need a scheduling solution that quickly shows availability and sets up automatic reminders. Building an app for your business means offering a digital product that feels more direct and personal to customers.

An app can also be part of a longer-term strategy. Even if you already have a website, an app might deliver a different experience—one that feels more immediate for people who prefer a mobile layout. An app can also accomplish certain processes faster than a web browser can. For example, if you run a tutoring service, an app could handle scheduling, payment, and progress tracking all in one place, which your students and tutors might find more convenient than juggling tabs on a computer.

Another reason why businesses create apps is that they sense a gap in the market. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your customers repeatedly ask whether there’s a faster way to do something, such as managing returns, applying store credits, or reordering supplies. When you address that gap with a well-built app, they’ll have a strong reason to keep coming back.

What types of business apps are in demand?

Every industry has its own needs, but a few types of apps have proven especially appealing across different segments.

Scheduling and booking

Service-based companies might need ways to handle appointments without manual back-and-forth. An app that shows availability, confirms bookings, and sends automated reminders can help keep staff and clients on track.

Ecommerce

Traditional online stores can be accessed via a website, but many brands have moved to app-based selling. Mobile apps are sometimes faster, and they can add extra features such as push notifications and loyalty programs to keep customers informed about new products.

Payment and billing

Payment apps, or apps that handle billing, let businesses receive money through credit cards, digital wallets, or other methods. A dedicated app might also integrate refunds or manage recurring payments for subscription-based products, which can be simpler than juggling email forms and clunky gateways.

Project management

Some small businesses create apps to manage internal tasks more effectively. These tasks include tracking projects, logging hours, and generating invoices. While many platforms are available, an in-house app can be customized to your specific processes.

Customer support

An app that facilitates easy communication (e.g., live chat, trouble ticket submissions) can help you address customers’ questions. This is especially helpful if you handle a large volume of inquiries and need to respond quickly.

What’s popular in one industry might not make sense or be necessary in another. The priority is figuring out the genuine needs of your customers or internal team. A well-targeted app can quickly become a valuable piece of your company’s overall plan.

How do you plan and design a business app?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to launching your app.

Identify your primary goal

Start the process by identifying your primary goal, whether that’s letting customers purchase your goods with a couple of taps or making it easier for employees to track inventory from anywhere.

Brainstorm your features

Think of the core tasks your app needs to perform, such as scheduling, collecting payments, and letting users browse a gallery of items. If your business is a small bakery, for example, your must-have features might be a menu display with prices, a simple online ordering portal, and a quick payment process. Consider polling your customers or asking your staff which functions would help them the most.

Sketch wireframes

Wireframing means making a rough visual layout of how your app will look. You could use boxes for buttons, placeholders for text, and some small bullet points about what each screen should do. These sketches don’t need to look professional; they just need to communicate how a user might move from one section to another. You can use pen and paper or software designed for quick mock-ups.

Pick a platform

Do you want your app on iOS, Android, or both? Web apps that run in browsers on phones and desktops are another option. Each platform might call for different coding languages and tool kits, which influence your development path (or the developer you hire). It’s helpful to check where your audience spends most of their time—if 80% of your customers use Android, that could impact your decision.

Plan your budget and timeline

Building an app costs money, even if you handle most of the work yourself. Costs might include developer salaries, design services, server hosting, app store fees, and ongoing maintenance. Setting a timeline helps you avoid the frustration of delaying your launch date again and again. Break the project into small chunks, each with its own target date.

Create a prototype

Before you start development, consider creating a prototype. This is an interactive mock-up that lets you test navigation and screen layout. Prototypes often reveal clunky workflows or confusing instructions before you spend time and money coding. Make improvements until it feels right, then move on to the full build.

How does Stripe integrate with business apps?

Stripe helps businesses manage in-app payments in a way that’s safe, flexible, and easy to implement. Here’s how.

For apps that accept payments

Whether you’re selling products, collecting fees, or managing subscriptions, Stripe’s application programming interfaces (APIs) let you embed payments directly into your app. That means customers can check out without leaving your platform, which creates a polished experience. For example, a fitness app could use Stripe to charge for class bookings or monthly memberships within the app.

For subscription-based models

Stripe Billing handles recurring payments, which is important if your app relies on a subscription-based model (e.g., a meal delivery service, a software program). You can define payment schedules, offer trial periods, and even support upgrades or downgrades when customers change their plans.

For apps that require security

When your app collects payment details, security is nonnegotiable. Stripe helps by tokenizing sensitive data so that your app doesn’t store raw card numbers. This reduces risk and simplifies compliance with regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

For apps that plan to scale

If your app starts small but you’re planning to grow, Stripe’s infrastructure can handle increasing payment volumes easily. That’s particularly useful if your app supports busy seasonal peaks or expands internationally.

Why Stripe makes sense for business apps

Integrating payments can be one of the hardest parts of app development. Stripe provides a full suite to do the heavy lifting so you don’t need to build every payment-related feature from scratch. If you’re building a business app, this means you can focus on core functions such as scheduling, inventory, and customer interaction.

What are the challenges of launching a business app?

Real projects often include challenges. Bugs, shifting requirements, or user onboarding can all feel like uphill battles. Here are a few common hurdles and suggestions for how to handle them.

User acquisition and retention

No matter how great your app is, getting customers to download it—and keep using it—can be tricky. One solution is to emphasize your app’s value. Present a straightforward reason to install it, such as, “Order your favorite coffee in seconds,” or, “Book appointments around the clock without calling.” Once customers have tried it, keep them interested with small incentives or timely updates. These might include new features, relevant updates and info, or exclusive perks.

Technical bugs

Every app has technical issues. The best way to minimize these is to do testing early in the process. Invite a small group of beta testers—perhaps friends, family, or loyal customers—to try the app. Track their feedback and fix any issues before the app goes public. After launch, continue monitoring user reports. Quick responses to customers who flag bugs can turn frustrated users into loyal ones.

Security and data protection

If your app collects personal data, it’s your responsibility to encrypt sensitive information, use strong authentication methods, and follow local privacy rules. Payment data is particularly sensitive so using a service such as Stripe can be a smart way to stay compliant. Still, it’s a good idea to monitor any new guidelines or legislation.

App store rules

If you publish your app on Apple’s App Store or Google Play, you’ll need to follow specific requirements. Those might include guidelines about content, in-app purchases, or user privacy. Read these thoroughly before you submit your app. A small oversight can lead to rejected submissions and cost you time and money.

Ongoing maintenance

Launching the app is only the first step. You’ll need to roll out updates to fix bugs or add new features. Gather feedback from reviews or direct support channels and prioritize updates that address users’ issues.

Unexpected barriers can appear at any time, so remain flexible. If your original plan isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change course. Keep your end goal in mind to help you stay on track, even if you change some details along the way.

How do you market your business app?

Without a strategy for reaching the right audience, even a great app can go unnoticed. The good news is there are plenty of ways to spread the word—some require a budget, while others rely on creativity.

Use your existing audience

If you already have loyal customers, let them know about your app. Put a banner on your website or send out an email that shares what’s new, perhaps with a quick bulleted list of benefits: “Order in a flash,” “Save your preferences,” or “Schedule tasks on the go.”

Social media outreach

Social platforms can be powerful marketing tools. Share app screenshots, quick demos, or behind-the-scenes videos that show the human side of your team. If you have the budget, try targeted ads that show off the app’s main benefits. Short, visually impressive promos can hook viewers quickly.

Influencer or partner collaborations

If your business has connections with industry experts or local organizations, see whether they’re open to mentioning your app. An honest review from someone respected in your field can spark curiosity. It doesn’t always take a big celebrity to make a difference: a local blogger or a small business partner might have just the audience you need.

App store optimization

When you upload your app to the major stores, pay close attention to the description, keywords, and screenshots. A succinct description that clarifies the app’s purpose can attract more downloads. Eye-catching images help people visualize what it’ll look like once installed.

Ongoing interaction

Once people start downloading the app, keep the momentum going. Push notifications can be helpful if used sparingly. Share updates or new features with customers, but don’t pester them. Think about ways to reward loyal users: maybe special deals, early access to new products, or personal touches such as birthday discounts. If your app solves a real need, word of mouth can become one of your best promotions.

Marketing isn’t just about the initial launch week. It should remain an ongoing priority, through which you can offer steady reminders that your app is worth the space on someone’s phone. Stay active, respond to feedback, and adapt your tactics as you learn what resonates with your customers.