Quick answer
An app quote covers more than the screens people see. Accounts, server-side logic, administration tools, payments, integrations, testing and releases may all be needed. Two apps with similar interfaces can have very different amounts of work behind them.
Practical scope
Break your requirements into must-have, useful later and experimental features. Ask whether the quote includes design, the backend, both operating systems, content entry, analytics, security testing and store submission. Clarify who pays for cloud hosting, messaging, map services, payment processing and licences.
Plan for maintenance: phones and operating systems change, and user issues need attention. A proposal should state what happens after launch, how defects are distinguished from new features, and how change requests are priced. If budgets differ widely, ask vendors to show assumptions against the same written brief rather than choosing solely by the total.
What to define before requesting proposals
- Number of platforms and device coverage
- Backend, accounts, payments and integrations
- Custom interaction, offline use and notifications
- Testing, release, analytics and ongoing updates
Questions to ask service providers
- Which server-side services and usage fees are included?
- What assumptions determine the estimate?
- How will later operating-system updates be supported?
How to assess the answers
Compare the total product, including backend and operational tools. Similar-looking screens can conceal very different logic, integration and testing effort.
Separate the app from the supporting service
Request separate lines for mobile interfaces, backend rules, staff administration and external connections. Ask whether payment status, notifications and booking changes need extra server work. This breakdown explains scope; it does not establish a standard price for an app.
Ask for the cost of operating it
- Who pays third-party subscriptions and usage charges?
- What testing is included for the intended devices?
- Which defect fixes and compatibility updates are included?
- What changes need a fresh estimate, and who approves them?
Does one codebase mean one maintenance cost?
Do not assume it. Ask vendors to explain testing, releases and platform-specific work for each supported channel, even where code is shared.
App delivery and recurring-cost worksheet
Copy these items into your brief, adapt the requirements and assign an owner and status. Examples illustrate planning decisions, not customer case studies. Fill cost fields with HKD quotations you obtain and state the billing period.
| Decision / item | Information to provide | Acceptance / comparison check |
|---|---|---|
| Initial product — HKD | App, backend, administration, integrations and migration | List what is included for each supported platform |
| Release — HKD | Device tests, store submission, training and accounts | Distinguish vendor work from third-party account charges |
| Ongoing — HKD/billing period | Hosting, messages, maps, monitoring and compatibility work | Document usage assumptions and price-change responsibility |
Download the editable worksheet (CSV)