Web development
How to Build a Web App: 5 Steps From Idea to Launch
Building a web app well is about sequencing: validate, scope tightly, build in iterations, and instrument learning. This is the path we follow, and the questions to settle before you write any code.
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- Fixed prices in USD
- WCAG 2.2 AA
What you need before you build a web application
To build a web application you need four things settled before code: a clear user and the one job the app does for them, a written scope for the first version, a stack your team can support, and a plan for where the data lives. Miss any of these and the build gets slower and more expensive as it goes. If you are still unsure what counts as a web app, start with what a web application is.
| Decision | What to write down | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Who and what | The user, the task, and how you will know it worked | How to scope a web app MVP |
| Stack | Framework, database, hosting, and who maintains them | Choosing a web app tech stack |
| Budget | The cost drivers for your type of app and what is out of scope | Web app development cost |
| Who builds it | In-house, a developer, or a team with a fixed-scope quote | Web application development |
1. Validate & scope
Confirm the problem with real users, then cut to the single core workflow for the MVP.
2. Choose the stack
Pick a proven framework (e.g., Next.js/React) and a managed database. Favour boring, reliable tools over novelty.
3. Design the data model
The data model is the backbone: get entities and relationships right before building screens.
4. Build in iterations
Ship the core loop first, deploy continuously, and add auth, billing and analytics.
5. Launch & measure
Onboard real users, watch activation and retention, and iterate toward product-market fit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a web app take?
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Free, with no obligation. We reply within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, with a written fixed price or the questions we need answered first.
- Accessibility fixes, small site
- $500 to $2,000
- Small business website
- About $2,000
- Larger site or redesign
- $3,000 to $6,000
- Web app MVP
- $8,000 to $15,000
- Fixed price in US dollars, in writing, before work starts
- Built and fixed to WCAG 2.2 AA, tested by hand
- Code, content and accounts are yours on final payment
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