Don't forget to do your homework.

Getting Started · 6 min read

Everyone's got an app idea. Most people have had one rattling around in their head for months, sometimes years. And look, that's fine. But before you spend a cent on a designer, a developer, or anything else, you need to be honest with yourself about something: have you actually done your homework?

Because here's the thing. Your idea has probably already been built. I don't say that to be harsh. I say it because it's true more often than people expect, and finding out after you've spent fifteen grand is a lot worse than finding out now.

Have you actually looked?

This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people come to me with an app idea they've been thinking about for two years, and they've never once searched the App Store for it. Go to the App Store. Go to Google Play. Type in what your app does. See what comes up.

If something similar exists, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It means there's a market. But you need to understand what's already out there and why your version would be different or better. And if nothing exists, ask yourself why. Sometimes it's because no one's thought of it. More often, it's because someone tried and it didn't work, or the market isn't big enough.

Are you actually an expert in this space?

This is the big one. If you're a business owner who's been working in your industry for ten, fifteen, twenty years, and you keep seeing the same problem every day, and you keep thinking "there should be an app for this," you're in a strong position. You know the users. You know the frustrations. You know the workarounds people are currently using. That's incredibly valuable.

But if you've just had a random idea for an app in an industry you don't work in, an idea that popped into your head in the shower, you're probably not ready yet. You need to go deeper before you invest real money.

Talk to people who've actually done it

If you're a business owner or a high-net-worth individual, you almost certainly know someone who's built an app before. Find them. Buy them a coffee. Ask them what the experience was like, the good and the bad. Ask what they'd do differently. Ask how much it actually cost, not just the design but the development, the marketing, the ongoing maintenance.

Their hindsight is worth more than any article you'll read online, including this one.

If you genuinely don't know anyone who's been through it, that's fine. Jump on an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude. Tell it your idea. Ask it to challenge you. Ask it to find competitors. Ask it to poke holes in your thinking. It's free and it's available right now. Use it.

Read The Mom Test

If you haven't heard of it, The Mom Test is a book about how to talk to potential users without accidentally getting them to tell you what you want to hear. It's short, it's practical, and it'll completely change how you think about validating your idea.

The core lesson: don't ask people "would you use this app?" because everyone says yes to be polite. Instead, ask about their actual behaviour. When was the last time they had this problem? What did they do about it? How much time or money did it cost them? If they can't give you specific, recent examples, your problem might not be as big as you think.

Jump on Reddit. Find communities where your potential users hang out. Read what they're complaining about. See if your app idea solves a problem people are actually having, not just a problem you think they're having.

Be honest with yourself about commitment

Building an app isn't just money. It's time, attention, and energy over months, potentially years if you include development and launch. It helps to know that going in.

If you've done the homework, looked at competitors, talked to people, and validated that the problem is real, you're in a great spot. Let's talk.

And if you're someone who's just genuinely excited about your idea and ready to make it real, that's great too. Not everyone needs to have it all figured out before they start. Some of the best projects come from people who simply have a vision and the drive to see it through.

That's where I come in. I'll walk you through the entire process step by step. From making sense of your idea, to scoping what needs to be built, to getting it designed and ready for development. From a prototype you can see and feel, all the way through to a launched product. You don't need to know how apps work. You just need to show up with your idea and I'll guide you the rest of the way.

If you haven't done the homework yet, that's fine. Do it now, or book a call and we'll work through it together.

Related blog posts:

How to validate your app idea before spending a cent →

What is an MVP and why should your first app be one? →

How to prepare for your first app design project →