FAQ
Questions business owners ask us
Everything we get asked about building an app for a small business, answered with numbers: cost, timeline, who owns the code, native versus cross-platform, why maintenance is monthly, and what to do when a previous developer disappears. If your question is not here, call. It is faster than a form.
Cost and timeline
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How much does it cost to make an app for a small business?
With Keepport, a first app for a single-location business costs $18,500 to $35,000, fixed. Industry surveys show 52% of US small businesses spent under $30,000 on their app and were satisfied. Apps under $5,000 are where most quality problems live. Add $495 to $1,250 a month to keep it running.
How long does it take?
Six to ten weeks from kickoff to the App Store and Google Play. Design is approved at week two, and you get a working build on your own phone from week three.
How much does a simple app cost?
A template-based booking or loyalty app for one location costs $18,500 to $26,000 with Keepport. Hourly agencies usually quote $30,000 and up for the same scope.
How much does it cost to put an app on the App Store?
Apple charges $99 a year for a developer account and Google Play $25 once. Keepport creates both accounts in your name and handles submission.
How much does app maintenance cost per month?
Keepport Care Plans are $495, $1,250 or $2,750 a month. The industry rule of thumb without a plan is 15 to 25 percent of the build cost per year.
Ownership and contracts
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Who owns the code?
You do. The repository, the App Store and Google Play accounts and every design file are created in your name. If you ever leave, you take everything with you.
Do I own my app if a company builds it?
Only if the contract assigns it to you. The legal default for contractors is that the author owns the code and you get a license. Get an assignment clause and store accounts in your name.
Can I take my app to another developer later?
Yes, if you own the code and the accounts. With Keepport you do from day one, and we hand over documentation on request.
What should an app development contract include?
IP assignment per milestone, store accounts in your name, a component list, source delivery with each milestone, a handover clause, and no non-compete on maintenance.
Do I need an app?
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Should I build an app or use a no-code app builder?
No-code builders cost $100 to $500 a month and produce a generic app under their terms. They fit very simple use cases. When ordering, payments or integrations matter, a fixed-price custom app from $18,500 owned outright usually costs less over three years.
Is a PWA a good alternative?
For content and simple booking, yes. For push notifications, App Store presence and loyalty features, no.
How do I know customers will use it?
Look at repeat behaviour today. If a few hundred customers return monthly and do something each time, adoption follows when the app is faster than the alternative.
Technology
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Do I need both an iPhone and an Android app?
Yes, and you get both from one codebase. In most US cities the split is roughly 55/45, so a single-platform app turns away nearly half your customers.
Where is your team?
Keepport is a US company. Your project lead and your calls are in US time zones. Engineering is a dedicated team that works only on Keepport projects, which is how a fixed-price build stays under $30,000 without cutting corners.
Native or cross-platform?
Cross-platform (React Native or Flutter) for almost every small business: one codebase, both stores, half the maintenance cost. We use native only when a feature demands it.
Maintenance and rescue
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Why does an app need a monthly plan?
Apple and Google ship major OS updates every year and change store rules several times a year. An app that is not maintained gets removed or breaks. The Care Plan covers those updates, monitoring, fixes and small changes with a named engineer.
Can you take over an app someone else built?
Yes. A fixed-price Rescue Audit ($3,500, credited if you continue) tells you exactly what state the app is in. Then we stabilize it and move it onto a Care Plan.
How often do apps need to be updated?
At least once a year for each OS release, plus whenever a store rule changes or a dependency has a security fix. In practice, several small updates a year.
What is included in an app maintenance retainer?
OS updates, store compliance, monitoring, security patches and a block of engineering hours for small changes. Keepport publishes the hours and response times for each plan.
What happens if my developer disappears?
Your app keeps running until the next OS release or store change breaks it. Keepport's App Rescue audits it for $3,500 and moves it onto a Care Plan.
Restaurants
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How much does a restaurant app cost?
With Keepport, an order-ahead and loyalty app for a single restaurant costs $22,000 to $30,000 fixed, plus $495 a month to keep it running. Multi-location groups with reservations and catering usually land at $30,000 to $40,000.
Can the app connect to my POS?
Yes. We integrate with Toast, Square, Clover and most cloud POS systems so menu changes and orders flow both ways. One integration is included in every build.
How long until it is in the App Store?
Six to eight weeks from kickoff. Design is approved in week two and you test a working build on your own phone from week three.
Do I still need DoorDash?
Many clients keep marketplaces for new-customer discovery and move repeat customers to their own app, where the order carries no commission.
Who owns the code and the customer data?
You do. The repository, the store accounts and the customer database are created in your name from day one.
Gyms & studios
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How much does a gym app cost?
A class-booking and membership app for one studio costs $20,000 to $28,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month for maintenance. Add on-demand video or multiple locations and it usually stays under $35,000.
Can members pay in the app?
Yes. Memberships, class packs and drop-ins bill through Stripe with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Failed payments retry automatically.
Can we migrate from Mindbody?
Yes. We import your members, memberships and class history before launch so nobody has to sign up again.
What about check-in hardware?
Members scan a QR code on an iPad at the desk or tap their phone on an NFC sticker. No proprietary hardware.
How long does it take?
Six to eight weeks from kickoff to the App Store and Google Play.
Clinics & dental
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How much does a dental practice app cost?
A booking, intake and reminders app for a single practice costs $24,000 to $35,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month. Multi-location groups with treatment-plan payments usually stay under $45,000.
Is it HIPAA compliant?
The app encrypts patient data at rest and in transit, logs access, and we sign a business associate agreement. Compliance also depends on how your office uses it, and we document that with you.
Does it connect to Dentrix or Open Dental?
Yes, through their APIs or a certified integration partner. One integration is included in every build.
Will patients actually download it?
Practices that put the app link in reminder texts and at checkout typically see most active patients install it within a few months. We design the onboarding so booking works before signup.
How long does it take?
Eight to ten weeks, a little longer than other industries because of the compliance review.
Home services
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How much does a home services app cost?
A customer booking and tracking app plus a crew app costs $25,000 to $38,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month. Most companies start with the customer app and add crew features in a second phase.
Can it replace Jobber or Housecall Pro?
For booking, tracking, invoicing and payments, yes. If you rely on their accounting integrations, we connect the app to QuickBooks directly.
Do technicians need training?
The crew app shows today's jobs, addresses and notes with one tap each. Most crews are working in it the first morning.
How long does it take?
Eight to ten weeks for the customer app; the crew app adds two to three weeks.
Who owns the code?
You do, along with the App Store and Google Play accounts.
Retail & salons
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How much does a salon app cost?
A booking and loyalty app for one salon costs $18,500 to $26,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month. A shop with product sales adds $3,000 to $6,000.
Can clients pay deposits?
Yes. Deposits, tips and no-show fees run through Stripe with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
What about my current booking tool?
We import your clients and appointments before launch. Most salons switch on a Monday and never open the old tool again.
How long does it take?
Six to eight weeks from kickoff to the App Store and Google Play.
Who owns it?
You own the code, the store accounts and every client record.
Medical practices
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How much does a clinic app cost?
A booking, intake and reminders app for a single practice costs $26,000 to $38,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month. EHR integration and telehealth add to the range; we quote it in writing before you sign.
Is it HIPAA compliant?
The app encrypts patient data at rest and in transit, logs every access, and we sign a business associate agreement. Compliance also depends on how your staff uses it, and we document that with you.
Which EHRs can it connect to?
Athena, eClinicalWorks, DrChrono, Kareo and others through their APIs or a certified integration partner. One integration is included.
How long does it take?
Eight to ten weeks, including the compliance review.
Who owns the patient data?
You do. The database, the code and the store accounts are in the practice's name.
Salons & spas
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How much does a salon booking app cost?
$18,500 to $26,000 fixed with Keepport for one location, plus $495 a month. A product shop adds $3,000 to $6,000.
Can clients pay deposits?
Yes. Deposits, tips and no-show fees run through Stripe.
Can we move from Vagaro or Booksy?
Yes. We import clients and future appointments before launch so the switch happens on one morning.
How long does it take?
Six to eight weeks.
Who owns it?
You own the code, the store accounts and every client record.
Real estate
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How much does a real estate app cost?
A listings, showings and client-portal app for one brokerage costs $24,000 to $40,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month. A tenant app for property management is in the same range.
Can it show MLS listings?
Yes, through your MLS's IDX or RESO Web API feed. Feed approval from your MLS is required; we handle the technical side.
Do tenants pay rent in the app?
Yes. Rent, fees and deposits run through Stripe with ACH and cards.
How long does it take?
Eight to ten weeks.
Who owns it?
You own the code, the store accounts and the client data.
Churches & nonprofits
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How much does a church app cost?
$15,000 to $22,000 fixed with Keepport, plus $495 a month. Multi-campus and kids check-in usually stay under $28,000.
Are there fees on giving?
Only Stripe's processing fee. Keepport takes no percentage.
Can it stream services?
Yes, by embedding your YouTube or Vimeo stream, or a dedicated provider.
How long does it take?
Six to eight weeks.
Who owns the member data?
The church or nonprofit does, in its own database.
Logistics & delivery
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How much does a delivery app cost?
A driver app with dispatch and proof of delivery costs $28,000 to $45,000 fixed with Keepport. A customer booking portal adds $6,000 to $12,000.
Does it work offline?
The driver app queues photos, signatures and status updates when there is no signal and syncs when it returns.
Can it replace Onfleet?
For dispatch, tracking and proof of delivery, yes. We connect to your accounting and existing customer systems directly.
How long does it take?
Eight to twelve weeks.
Who owns it?
You own the code, the store accounts and the delivery data.