Having gone through this multiple times either in new startups or for side projects, here is how I would approach turning your idea into an app.

1. Defining the Minimum Viable Product

Your first goal with any new idea should be about proving the idea and finding a market that wants the app you want to build. Achieving that quickly is probably one of the most important thing.

To achieve that, you will need to write the specifications that will constitute your MVP. The MVP is basically the simplest expression of your idea to prove it.

This step should not cost you much as you can do this on your own.

2. Design the app

Before starting any development work, I would suggest you work with a good UX/UI designer to create wireframes and mockups of the app based on the specifications you came up with in step 1.

You can find good designers in meetups & hackathons or on website like Dribbble or 99designs.

If you want to reduce your costs, you can give shares in the project to the designer. Otherwise, it really depend on the size of the MVP but I would say it will probably cost between $5K-$10K.

3. Develop the app

Once you have the specifications and the design of the app, you now need to find a good developer that will build it.

Again, you can find good developers in meetups & hackathons or on sites like Github.

If you want to reduce your costs, you can give shares in the project to the developer. Otherwise, it really depend on the size of the MVP but I would say it will probably cost between $10K-$25K.

For this part however, I would recommend the developer becomes part of the project as his engagement will most likely be higher.

4. Test the app

This step is not only about making sure the app is bug free, it's also making sure the app does what was intended in the specifications.

To test the app, you can use platforms like BrowserStack or SauceLabs which gives you access to multiple devices/browsers.

You can do this step on your own so the cost will be for the subscription to the test platform which would be around $100/month.

Hope this helps and good luck with your project.

That's great!
You know I work with a few startups, some in app development. There is a company that does apps for relatively cheap. They are however about $30k cheaper than most.

When I first got an app done, it took me so long to find a good team that I figured that time could have been used in learning. The sad thing is that app development is seen as a commodity, so I doubt you'll see 'cheap' developers... I suggest learning or networking with developers if you are comfortable with that.
Before you spend in development, analyze your idea and create simple mocks up to judge the use and feasibility of things.

My first app was done in 30 days...
Check out the class here http://mbsy.co/c6bPT

Best of luck!

Hi..

I 've done consulting for multiple startups before.. They all have a common scenario..

They start with an idea and end up doing something else ( but in the same context) ..

So...

To make sure you are in the right track :-
Do research on your market and target audience. Make sure that they believe your idea is really brilliant just like you see it.

The more you talk to people the better you will know where you are going. Coz, if you have a great idea that no one understands or can't see it as you see you have a problem.

You may ask people to sign NDAs before talking to them ( which i don't recommend coz some find it offensive) . Or start conducting interview with predefined questions, which will lead you in the right direction.

Use surveys and see comments form people with the same life experience , hypothetically, if they have your solution.

Start a pilot project and MPV ( Minimum Viable Project) as a demo to show people , and give them free trial or something to get you their feedback .

This is your first step which will define all that comes next.

Will show you if you are right so you proceed.

Or ( not necessarily ) wrong, so you know what to fix, to do the right thing before loosing a lot of money .

Let me know if you have more questions.

Good Luck..

You've received some brilliant Answers and advice.

My approach is different: Confidentially (or with a formal non-disclosure agreement, your choice), I will listen to your app idea pitch and then do my best to convince you to NOT proceed. My introductory service is Risk Management -- That means I start out as a professional "wet-blanket", and I believe that every idea and dream requires a thoroughly wrapped soaking. I take no pleasure in destroying dreams; to the contrary, my job is to save you from a hopeless endeavor, or to harden your resolve to prove me wrong. I love being proven wrong.

If you or your dream can't survive my cross-examination and possible suggested pivots, then that's a sign you will fail, even with substantial personal commitment and investment. You could be among the 92% of *funded* technology startups that fail within 3 years. It is estimated that far fewer than 5% of active Apps earn more than $1000 USD per month in revenue. Other statistics may be more or less pessimistic; one example states that the average *total* revenue for an app is well under $10,000 (i.e., after sales of the app have petered out).

A brilliant idea is a good start -- if it truly is "brilliant" and leads to a sustainable ongoing revenue stream. Execution consists of far more than getting the app "developed". App development cost is only a fraction of what you will need to spend to build a potentially profitable venture. The key to success, as low as that chance may be, comes from partnerships, marketing (very limited value from "social media", by the way), and a *lot* of luck and perseverance.

An app developer that charges a set fee to complete the app is taking no risks. Most such developers earn below the poverty line. The others will expose you to tremendous up-front costs while just trivially increasing your chance of success. An app developer that will work for an equity percentage in your venture, is only worth considering if they have no or very few other such arrangements to fall back on. In my opinion, these latter type of developers are the ones that are the best choice. They are dedicated to your idea and will be partners in your success or failure. They will invest in the iterative, incremental process required to prove the viability of your app to investors. Indeed, I could be *that* developer for your idea -- if and only if I share your dream.

Give me a call and I will let you know if you have a chance at success. And then, IF you are really cut out to make your dream come true, you will firmly resolve to overcome or ignore the pessimistic conclusions I usually reach.

Good-luck!

App development cost varies widely depending on the features you want. A more specific answer would require a list of all the product features. It's like trying to find an answer to "How much would it cost to build a house?" If your app has a social enterprise or charity aspect to it though, you may find success through crowd funding platforms where you might either find people to contribute funds or development expertise.

There are many mobile app builders out there, but often they aren't great at creating custom native apps.

Contracting a developer to build a custom app can be pretty expensive, up to 200k in some cases. I know of companies who have created a joint venture to share profits, etc., but this is when the company getting the app built already has a massive following.

An idea alone may not be much of a bargaining chip, but, add some funding to it, and some hard work, and we've seen the basement start-ups that have followed and become wildly successful.

It might be worthwhile to search for "mobile app developer" groups on LinkedIn, Facebook etc. to pose the question to see what kind of feedback you get.

Let's me answer you question by question.

Q1. How do you take an app idea and turn it into an app?
A1. This article will help you : http://www.abbacustechnologies.com/steps-follow-before-building-mobile-app

Q2. Who will help make the app?
A2. Consultants like http://www.AbbacusTechnologies.Com

Q3. How do you connect it through social media?
A3. Social media API are there.

Q4. How much does it cost?
A4. Check out this Infographic : http://www.abbacustechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/how-much-does-it-cost-mobile-app-590x1024.jpg

1. Turning an app idea into an app involves several steps:

a. Define your idea: Refine your concept, identifying your target audience, features, and functionality.

b. Design: Sketch wireframes and user interfaces (UI) to visualize the layout and user experience.

c. Develop: Choose a development platform (native or cross-platform) and programming languages (e.g., Java, Swift, React Native). You can hire a developer or build it yourself.

d. Test and iterate: Conduct alpha and beta testing to identify bugs and gather feedback.

e. Publish: Release your app on app stores (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play Store).

1. To connect your app through social media:

a. Integrate social media APIs (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to enable sharing, login, or other features.

b. Implement social media authentication to allow users to log in or share content.

c. Use social media SDKs (Software Development Kits) for seamless integration.

d. Add social sharing buttons to encourage users to share your app's content.

e. Utilize social media analytics to track user engagement and app promotion.