By Rachel Roberts
Don’t waste money building the wrong thing too soon.
You have a great idea for an app.
Maybe it’s something to streamline your operations.
Or a customer portal that would save your team dozens of hours a week.
Or maybe it’s a product you think could sell on its own.
But before you start calling developers or sending RFPs, stop and take a breath.
At Rogue Valley Technology Consulting, we’ve seen too many smart people waste tens of thousands of dollars building apps they didn’t need, didn’t finish, or couldn’t maintain.
Here’s what you really need to do before you commit to code.
1. Clarify the Real Problem You're Solving
You might be excited about features, buttons, and screens, but what job will your app do?
Ask yourself:
Who will use this? (Staff, customers, vendors?)
What are they struggling with right now?
What would this app make faster, easier, or better?
Could the same thing be done without an app?
Sometimes a simple automation or tool you already have (like Google Forms or Airtable) can solve 80% of the problem.
Start with the problem, not the app.
4. Ask If It’s Re-Marketable
If you’re thinking of turning your app into a product that you can sell or license to others, it changes the game.
Before you invest heavily, ask:
- Is there a market beyond your business?
- Would other businesses pay for this tool?
- Do you want to run a software company, or just fix a problem in yours?
We’ve worked with clients who thought they were building an internal tool, but later realized they had a sellable product. And vice versa.
This is where talking to a strategic partner early on can save you a lot of time (and money).
3. Understand the Real Cost of Building an App
Hiring a developer isn’t like buying a website. Even a simple custom app can cost $25,000 to $100,000+ to design, build, and launch… and that doesn’t include maintenance, updates, or user support. Most developers charge hourly. If you’re unclear on the scope, hours can balloon fast.
And if you skip upfront planning? You might spend half your budget building things you don’t need, or worse, miss the things you do.
4. Explore Low-Code and No-Code First
Here’s the good news: You might not need custom code at all.
There’s a growing ecosystem of low-code and no-code tools that let you test your idea or even fully launch it, without hiring a full dev team.
Examples include:
- Glide, Softr, or Thunkable for mobile/web apps
- Airtable, Zapier, Make, or Trello for internal workflows
- Outsystems or Bubble for more complex applications
These tools can get you 80–90% of the way there for a fraction of the cost. And if you outgrow them, you’ll already have a validated prototype for your developer to improve.
5. Talk to a Tech Strategist Before a Developer
A developer will ask: “What do you want me to build?”
A strategist will ask: “Why do you want to build it?”
That one question can save you tens of thousands of dollars, and months of wasted time.
Because a developer builds what you tell them.
A strategist helps you figure out what’s worth building in the first place.
Start with Sprint Zero Before You Spend a Dime on Development
At Rogue Valley Technology Consulting, we champion a Sprint Zero process for business owners like you who are experienced, thoughtful leaders who are finally ready to step into tech, but want to do it the right way.
Sprint Zero is a structured, low-risk starting point to help you clarify your goals before committing to building anything.
During Sprint Zero, we’ll help you:
- Define the problem you're solving
- Decide if your idea is internal-only or marketable
- Explore automation, low-code, or no-code options
- Map out user needs and must-have features
- Explore automation, low-code, or no-code options (And if low-code or no-code solutions don't fit the bill, our architects can design a fully bespoke, enterprise-grade solution for you.)
- Create a simple, realistic budget and timeline
Think of it as blueprints before construction.
No jargon. No guesswork. Just clear direction from a team who’s been doing this for 25+ years.
Why Businesses in Southern Oregon Trust RVTC
We’re not here to push code.
We’re here to help businesses make smarter decisions about technology, especially those just starting the digital shift.
As a Veteran-owned, family-run team, we work with businesses across Grants Pass, Medford, Ashland, and beyond, helping them go from stuck and overwhelmed to clear and confident.
Start with Sprint Zero – Book your free consultation
Pull up a seat, we’ll meet however works best for you.
Hop on a quick video call, or meet at our cozy company cottage in Grants Pass.
We’ll talk it through, plain and simple.
