Search
Close this search box.
Blog » Business Tips » 3 Ways to Build an App If You Can’t Code

3 Ways to Build an App If You Can’t Code

programmer language

Apps are the way business gets done in the 2010s. But building them takes a special skill set that many entrepreneurs don’t have. If you have a great idea for an app but don’t know how to build it yourself or where to start, follow along with this guide to build an app even if you can’t code.

Hire a coder

The first place to look when you need to build an app but don’t know how on your own is a coder who already knows how to build an app. There are a few routes you can take here depending on your budget, timeline, and goals. The cheapest place to start is an online marketplace like Fiverr or UpWork, but sometimes you get what you pay for.

I have worked with about a dozen developers on UpWork over the years. I generally find the best results come from developers in Eastern Europe. Think countries like Ukraine, Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, and Croatia. Online freelancers in this region are more likely to speak English and deliver a high quality product. These workers tend to be much cheaper than the United States, but more than places like India and Philippines.

Indian and Filipino developers are best when you have a very limited budget, but expect a lot of handholding, some fixes, and very detailed instructions if you want to see a successful result. Of course, you can always hire a US based worker where you are likely to get the best results, but you’ll pay a lot more for an American than most foreign locations.

I am using this strategy currently to build the app Community Sharer, a new platform for curated sharing on social media from a list of trusted, community sites. We are still adding features and putting the polish on, and I have budgeted 5 hours per week of developer work from the team in India to keep the project going. My Kosher Fish apps for iOS and Android were built similarly, though by a team in Ukraine.

Build a team

If you want to build a long-term business, hiring workers for one-off projects on an hourly basis across the world isn’t the most sustainable or logical way to go. Instead, you can bring on a partner to build the app while you focus on the parts of the business where you can contribute to success.

This is the strategy I am using for my financial technology startup, Money Mola. We are a dispersed team with a developer in Michigan, a marketing leader in Chicago, and me here running the show from Southern California. By partnering with a great team, I don’t have to pay a developer out-of-pocket. However, the developer owns a meaningful share of the business, and a stake of future profits. This costs me less personally in the short-term, but possibly quite a lot more in the long-term.

But in exchange for handing over a percentage of the business, the developer has some skin in the game. If the business succeeds, he succeeds along with it. Because his ownership stake is worth more if the app is a hit, he is motivated far more than an hourly worker to build a high quality product.

Finding a co-founder is not always easy, however. I found the original co-founder for Money Mola on a site called Founder Dating. He eventually dropped out, and I found a new developer through my network (friend of a friend). I’m also working on some new projects like Mastermind Hunt and Podtuber with co-founders who share a portion of the equity.

Learn to code

Last but not least, there is always a do-it-yourself method. I self-taught myself how to code in HTML, CSS, and PHP and built a successful WordPress theme development and support business out of it. At one point, it was generating 20% of my income with no formal training. I have since walked away from the business to focus more on writing, but I couldn’t have quit my old day job without it!

You can learn to code for free through sites and apps like Codecademy, SoloLearn, and W3 Schools. For PHP apps, I’m a huge fan of Laracasts as well. But if you really want to boost your skills to professional level, you may be best served by an online course, like one from Udemy, or an in-person coding bootcamp.

Once you know how to code, there is no limit to what you can build. These are hugely in-demand skills for freelancers, plus you can build your own projects that may just turn into a lifestyle supporting income. If you can make money from your app when you sleep, you’re doing it right.

Build your app

If you want to build an app, there is nothing holding you back other than some time and your own self-doubt. Just give it a try. The worst case is you invest in something that doesn’t earn a profit, but teaches you valuable lessons. The best case is a new path to sustainable income. If you can do that, you are a winning online entrepreneur!

About Due’s Editorial Process

We uphold a strict editorial policy that focuses on factual accuracy, relevance, and impartiality. Our content, created by leading finance and industry experts, is reviewed by a team of seasoned editors to ensure compliance with the highest standards in reporting and publishing.

TAGS
Personal Finance Expert
Eric Rosenberg is a personal finance expert. He received an MBA in Finance from the University of Denver in 2010. Since graduating he has been blogging about financial tips and tricks to help people understand money better. He is a debt master, insurance expert and currently writes for most of the top financial publications on the planet.

About Due

Due makes it easier to retire on your terms. We give you a realistic view on exactly where you’re at financially so when you retire you know how much money you’ll get each month. Get started today.

Categories

Top Trending Posts

Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes

To ensure we’re putting out the highest content standards, we sought out the help of certified financial experts and accredited individuals to verify our advice. We also rely on them for the most up to date information and data to make sure our in-depth research has the facts right, for today… Not yesterday. Our financial expert review board allows our readers to not only trust the information they are reading but to act on it as well. Most of our authors are CFP (Certified Financial Planners) or CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certified and all have college degrees. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice and take the correct steps towards financial freedom and knowing exactly where you stand today. Learn everything about our top-notch financial expert reviews below… Learn More