iOS App Development in Philadelphia
StarFire Labs designs and builds native iPhone and iPad apps for small businesses, founders, and organizations. We handle the whole job: planning what the first version should do, designing the screens, writing the code, and getting the app approved on the App Store.
We've been through that process with our own product. FlashKiosk, our event check-in app, is live on the App Store today. Our studio is in Philadelphia, and we work with founders and business owners across the city, from University City and Old City to Fishtown and the Navy Yard.
Who it's for
- Founders with an app idea who need a team to turn it into a working first version.
- Small businesses that want an app for customers, such as booking, ordering, or loyalty.
- Organizations that need an internal tool on iPhones or iPads, such as check-in, inspections, or field data.
- Owners of an existing app that is outdated, crashing, or abandoned by its original developer.
What's included
- Product planning: We work out who the app is for and which features belong in version one, so you don't pay for things nobody uses.
- UX and UI design: Wireframes and a clickable prototype you can try on your own phone before development starts.
- Native iOS development: An app built for iPhone and iPad that follows Apple's interface conventions and feels at home on the device.
- Backend and integrations: User accounts, databases, iCloud sync, push notifications, payments, and third-party APIs as your app requires.
- Testing: Builds delivered to you through TestFlight throughout the project, so you see progress on a real device.
- App Store submission: We prepare the listing, screenshots, and privacy details, and work through Apple's review with you.
Our process
- Discovery: We define the problem, the users, and the smallest version of the app worth launching, then send a written scope and quote.
- Design: We design every screen and build a prototype for you to test and revise.
- Development: We build in short cycles and send you a new TestFlight build at the end of each one.
- Testing: We test on a range of iPhone and iPad models and fix what you and your early users find.
- Launch: We submit to the App Store, respond to any review feedback from Apple, and release.
Timeline
A first version of a custom iOS app typically takes 5 to 6 months from kickoff to App Store release. Apps that need a custom backend, payments, or several user roles take longer. Apple's review happens at the end and is outside our control, so we build time for it into the schedule.
Pricing
Starting at $10,000
The number of screens, whether the app needs accounts and a server, and the integrations involved are what move the price. You get a fixed quote for the first version after discovery. You'll also need your own Apple Developer account, which Apple bills at $99 per year, so that the app is published under your name and stays yours.
Recent work
iOS AppFlashKiosk
Our own event check-in app for iPhone and iPad. It works offline, syncs through iCloud, and is available on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an iOS app?
Our iOS projects start at $10,000 for a first version. Accounts, a backend, payments, and the number of screens are the main things that raise the price. You get a fixed quote after discovery.
How long does it take to build an app?
A typical first version takes 5 to 6 months from kickoff to release on the App Store, including design, development, testing, and Apple's review.
Can you build an Android version too?
Yes. We also build Android apps and convert existing apps between platforms. Many clients launch on iOS first and add Android once the product is proven, and we plan the project so that step is straightforward.
Who owns the app and the source code?
You do. The app is published from your Apple Developer account, and the source code is handed over to you when the project is paid in full.
Will Apple approve my app?
Nobody can guarantee approval, because Apple makes that decision. We design to Apple's guidelines from the start, flag anything in your idea that is likely to cause a rejection, and handle the back-and-forth if a reviewer asks for changes.
What happens after the app launches?
Apps need updates for each new iOS release, along with bug fixes and new features. We offer ongoing maintenance and support so the app keeps working as Apple's platform changes.
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Philadelphia, PA 19102