Pricing
Custom app pricing for small businesses
Short answer
Synctuary Works LLC is a small Minneapolis software studio that builds custom iOS and Android apps for small businesses at fixed starting prices, without agency overhead. A one-week discovery sprint is about $1,000 (credited toward your build), a starter app begins at $4,500, and a full business app begins at $9,500. We also ship and run our own apps, MyFishNavigator and VerveHQ, so you’re working with people who build products, not pitch decks.
Packages
| Package | Starting price | Typical timeline | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery sprint | ~$1,000 (credited toward a build) | ~1 week | Scope, core screens, technical plan, written estimate for the build |
| Starter app | From $4,500 | ~3–4 weeks | One platform (iOS or Android), a few core screens, login, one integration, App Store submission |
| Business app | From $9,500 | ~6–10 weeks | iOS + Android, payments or a backend, an admin view, an AI feature if it earns its place |
| Monthly support (optional) | Quoted per project | Ongoing after launch | Updates and fixes after launch |
Packages are fixed starting prices. Discovery ends with a written estimate for your specific build, so you see the expected cost before the build starts.
What’s included
- Design of the core screens and flows
- Development of the app (native iOS and/or cross-platform)
- Login/accounts and the integrations in your package
- Testing on real devices
- App Store (and Google Play, for Business app) submission and release process
- Handoff: you own the source code and app accounts at final payment, unless another agreement is made
What’s not included
- Apple Developer Program ($99/yr) and Google Play developer fees — paid by you, in your name
- These fees can be waived if Synctuary Works contractually owns the app and publishes it through our existing developer accounts.
- Hosting and third-party service costs (payment processing, AI model usage, SMS/email), which are passed through to you unless otherwise agreed
- Features beyond the agreed scope (quoted separately before any work)
- Ongoing support after launch, unless you add a monthly plan
How it works
- 01
Free intro call — tell us what you’re trying to replace or launch.
- 02
Discovery sprint (~1 week) — we map screens, data, and integrations and give you a written estimate.
- 03
Build — we build in stages and share progress with you along the way.
- 04
Launch — we handle App Store / Google Play submission.
- 05
Support (optional) — monthly plan for updates and fixes.
Why a small studio instead of an agency
You talk to the people building it. No account-manager layer between you and the code.
Pricing sized for small businesses. Lower overhead means starting prices in the thousands, not tens of thousands.
Scope you can see. Fixed starting prices and a written estimate before the build.
Honest trade-off: we take on a small number of client builds each year, so start dates can depend on availability. Larger agencies can staff very big projects faster; for a focused small-business app, a small team is usually the better fit.
Proof: apps we’ve built and run ourselves
- MyFishNavigator — an AI fishing companion: find water, identify what you caught, and learn what works.
- VerveHQ — membership software for engagement and event tracking, with native AI insights and reporting.
FAQ
- How much does a custom iOS app cost for a small business?
- At Synctuary Works, a starter iOS app begins at $4,500 and a cross-platform business app (iOS + Android with payments or a backend) begins at $9,500. Most projects start with a ~$1,000 discovery sprint that's credited toward the build.
- How long does it take to build an app?
- A starter app typically takes about 3–4 weeks; a business app about 6–10 weeks, after a one-week discovery sprint.
- Do you only build for iOS?
- No. Starter apps cover one platform (iOS or Android); business apps cover both. We also build web apps, internal tools, and APIs.
- Who owns the code?
- You do. At final payment, you own the source code and the app accounts, unless another agreement is made.
- Can you add AI features?
- Yes, when they change the product rather than the pitch — for example, photo identification, smart search, or insights/reporting. We run model-backed AI in our own products, MyFishNavigator and VerveHQ. Model usage costs are billed by the provider.
- Where are you located?
- Synctuary Works is based in the Minneapolis area and works remotely with clients nationwide.
Have an app to ship?
Tell us what you’re building and we’ll let you know whether it fits a package and when we could start. The intro call is free.