How Much Does it Cost to Develop an On-Demand Beauty Application?

On-demand is that gold bond that guarantees high returns to all entrepreneurs who plan on adding the technology to their business models – irrespective of their idea.

No matter where you look – be it Uber or Grubhub – the success stories of some of the most renowned app businesses contain the formula of instantaneousness that on-demand offers.

One high-on-profit numbers on-demand domain, popularized by the Glamsquad application, is the on-demand beauty app.

Now, one of the greatest conundrums you might have when considering a beauty app for your business is the on-demand beauty service app development cost and the factors that affect it. Well, this article will help you understand that and much more.

The simple fact that beauty and wellness is an ever-growing sector poised to always be in demand is keeping the domain at a steady growth rate trajectory to date.

But when you inject the power of on-demand into the already flourishing domain, the growth spike it gets on increases manifold. And seeing this very growth, several businesses have started entering the field.

First, to answer your question, the beauty app development cost can vary from around $20,000 to $200,000. The price can vary according to the increasing number of feature lists and the overall complexity. Simply put, the more the beauty service app’s complexity, the more its associated cost.

Before diving deep into the factors that affect the overall cost, let us first look at industry statistics of on-demand beauty apps.

As per statistics, the global spa and beauty salon market is expected to reach a valuation of $190 billion by the end of the year 2024. Also, a recent survey shows females spend around $3,756 annually, an average expense over beauty services.

With an increase in the trend of Uber for on-demand beauty services, there has been an upsurge in demand for on-demand beauty apps. The most significant role of the on-demand mobile apps is allowing freelance stylists, independent contractors, cosmetologists, and hairdressers to do their own business.

Now that you have got an overview of the flourishing on-demand beauty services market, let’s come straight to the main point – how to determine the beauty service app development costs followed by understanding the various factors that affect the costs.

What is the Cost of Making an On-Demand Beauty Service Mobile App?

As highlighted above, on average, the cost of a beauty service mobile application varies from $20,000 to $200,000, depending on the number of features, the tech stack, the location of the app development company as well as various other factors like UI/UX design, wireframing, the hourly rate of developers, etc.

Here is the sure shot formula to determine the on-demand beauty services app development cost:

Beauty service app development cost = Total number of development hours X hourly rate of developers

Also, the total number of development hours = Hours taken to complete wireframe + Hours taken for UI/UX Design + Hours taken to code + Hours for maintenance + anonymous development hours.

Estimating the mobile app development cost is a complex process that goes beyond the feature set and tech stack. So, let us move ahead and look at the various factors that affect the overall cost of an on-demand beauty app.

Factors affecting the beauty on-demand app development cost

Under-discussed is the list of factors that ultimately affect the overall cost of an app for beauty services. Besides the tech stack and the feature list that will be explained in detail in the later section, the several factors that affect the cost include:

1. Wireframe

Wireframe costs for the on-demand beauty app can be added to the total price if you wish your development team could create one. A wireframe is usually an architectural map of the software development process that is carried out for the app. Usually, creating an adept wireframe requires tools like Figma, PhotoShop, and more, which can ultimately add to the total cost. Generally, the wireframing cost for an app for beauty services varies between $1,000 and $4,000.

2. UI/UX design

Another factor that affects the overall beauty app development cost is the UI/UX design of the app. An aesthetically pleasing design that is easy to navigate for the users while offering a seamless response usually goes through multiple testing stages, thereby adding to the total cost of the mobile app. Choosing an interactive user interface design is generally preferred considering it encourages user retention and ensures better engagement.

3. App platform

The underlying platform is one of the most significant factors that affect the cost of beauty on-demand app development. For instance, the cost of the mobile app may vary slightly when you have to choose between an Android or iOS platform. It is advisable to first develop an app for a single platform, and when it takes momentum in the market, you can switch to a cross-platform application that serves users at its best.

4. App development process and location of the beauty app development company

The app development process usually varies as per the beauty app development company chosen to create the app—the time taken to write the app’s overall code further affects the app’s overall cost. In addition, the app developer’s location is one factor that determines the hourly rate of the developers. For instance, the hourly rate of developers in regions like Asia is comparatively low compared to the hourly rate of developers in the UK or the US.

5. Team Size

Another notable factor that affects the overall cost of beauty service mobile applications is the team size required to create an app. For instance, if you hire a freelancer, the overall cost of developing an application will be much less than hiring a full-fledged team of project managers, developers, and designers. Even though the latter can increase your overall app budget, considering the quality of work and guaranteed professionalism, it is worth it.

A standard team for on-demand beauty app development includes the following:

• 1 Project Manager

• 2 Backend Developers

• 2 iOS/Android Developers

• 1 Designer

• 1-2 Quality Analysts

6. Maintenance

Maintenance is another factor that affects the overall cost of on-demand beauty apps. The maintenance costs can sneak up when the app requires an upgrade or needs to meet new industry standards and requirements. It can vary according to the maintenance cost of a dedicated organization or the overall maintenance required.

Now that you have a creative insight into all the factors that affect the overall cost of the beauty on-demand app development let us move ahead and discuss the features of the beauty services app. The comprehensive feature list of the app further affects the overall app budget. In short, the more features associated with the app; the more its underlying cost.

A well-defined app with an extensive feature list can put your app at the technological forefront and get you that much-needed success.

Must-Have Features of On-Demand Beauty Services App Development (App Version Wise)

When we talk about the top performers of the on-demand beauty application market, there is something that they all have in common – the must-have set of features.

Let us look into the features that have been there in the success story of all the top leaders of the on-demand beauty application market.

But before that, it is essential to understand that when you invest in an on-demand beauty service app development, you invest in three versions of an app – Users, Beauty Experts, and the Admin side.

The app versions you would be developing for all your stakeholders will stand some points different from each other regarding feature sets. The set that would go into deciding beauty service app development cost.

User Side of the Application

Designing an easily navigational and attractive user app for any salon app development project is essential. Only an interactive user panel ensures the success of your beauty salon app.

Several standard features operate around user onboarding facilities like easy login and sign-up screens, which are present in almost all the applications, irrespective of the category type.

Besides those, many other features must be present on the user side of the on-demand beauty service application. Some of those features are listed below:

View and Schedule the Services

Irrespective of the types of beauty salon apps, the view and schedule service functionality should be presented to the users as one obvious must-have.

View Beauty Package

There should be a dedicated beauty package section within your application – an area where users can view the details of the services in a package format instead of an individual set.

Book Appointment

Once users view the services inside the application, they should be directed to the screen where they book the appointment as per their chosen schedule and, select the address, choose the payment module.

Integrated In-App Payment

In-app payment should be the first facility of your customized on-demand beauty salon mobile apps. You should give users the ease to pay for the appointment in advance. Also, users should be given the feature to make digital payments once they have availed the services.

Rating and Review

The power of rating and reviews holds as true in the case of the beauty service app business as it does for other app categories. And the user should be given the facility to benefit from the power. They should be allowed to provide ratings and reviews on the service they received, along with viewing how others rated the experts.

Booking History

Using this feature, users must be given the feasibility to view their booking history – date, service availed, price, etc. They should also be allowed to repeat the booking and re-contact the same beauty expert.

Contact the Stylists and App Team

Users should be given the feasibility to call and message the beauty service providers to inquire about their offerings and the app support team in case of discrepancies.

To place your offering apart from the competitors, you can even give the users the option to place calls inside the app – saving their call minutes.

Being present for your users when they need you is one of the most workable factors of mobile app success.

Beauty Experts’ Side of the Application

A service provider or beauty expert’s side of the application allows salon owners to confirm and manage their bookings, receive payments, make promotions, launch offers, and more.

Here are the features specific to beauty experts’ stakeholder’s side of the app:

View Bookings

The first must-have feature of the beauty expert side of the application is that they can view the bookings they have received.

Manage Calendar

The feature gives beauty experts a chance to get more organized. It helps them schedule appointments for any specific date and time before they hit the confirmation button.

Accept or Reject User Request

Using the feature, beauty experts can accept, reschedule, or reject an appointment in real time.

List Service and Prices

This would be their profile screen. Here, they can list the services they are offering and the prices they charge for the specific service.

Receive Payments

Just like making payments is a user-centric feature, the corresponding part on the beauty experts’ app version would be one where they receive money and invoice.

Service History

Under this feature, the beauty experts will be able to take note of the services that they have offered to date and the amount that they have earned against their services to date.

Admin Side of the Application

Any top-notch beauty app development company can build an admin panel with eye-ball-grabbing features, giving complete control of the application to the admin. With this side of the panel, the admin can work over the backend and manage user requests and salon profiles.

Here are the features specific to the admin side of the application:

Manage Users and Beauty Experts

This section of the feature surrounds the management of a number of beauty experts and users who are active on the application. It contains all information and communication that has happened between them and between them and the app support team.

Approve or Decline Registration Request

The app admins will hold the right to approve or decline the registration request of the beauty experts on the basis of their own credibility check.

Generate Reports

The app should come with algorithms that help admins generate reports related to their app booking, performance, and overall profit that the app is making.

Manage Payments

In order to solve all the different payment-related issues that crop up, admins should be given the feature to get on top of all the payments being made inside the application.

[Bonus Read- Payment Gateway Integration: The Process and What Next]

Marketing Collaterals Management

In the case of apps that are at the beginning of their lifecycle, it is recommended that the admins handle content that goes inside the app.

The same should apply in the case of on-demand beauty services app development. The admins should be given the provision to upload all the marketing collaterals on the application and edit them as and when needed.

These elements are one of the absolute must-have features of an on-demand beauty app. Ones that go into the finalization of the on-demand beauty app development cost.

But on the business front, to make these features work in your favor, you will have to pay equal attention to the technology stack you employ to develop these features. So let’s move ahead and discuss the tech stack required to develop the mobile app for a salon.

Tech Stack That Determines the Cost of On-Demand Beauty Service Mobile App

Choosing a technology stack is considered one of the most challenging parts of the whole mobile app development process. After all, the choice is exactly what everything rides on – the end quality of the app, the scope of scalability, and simply the entire future of an app.

Noting how crucial the choice of technology stack can be, we won’t send you down the rabbit hole. Let us give you insight into the technology stack we follow in the on-demand beauty services app development so that you have a strong starting point.

Now that you have a clear understanding of the technologies required to create a beauty-services app let us now tell you a beauty salon app works.

How Does a Beauty Salon App Work?

The on-demand beauty services app development has given individual stylists, hairdressers, and makeup artists a great opportunity to expand their business. It has now become a source of employment as there is a strong demand for this on-demand industry. If you are wondering how the beauty services app works, then it simply works like Uber but is only limited to offering beauty services.

After a particular user downloads the app, they can easily book a local stylist from the options that are listed within the on-demand beauty app. Once the booking is confirmed, a stylist will visit at the chosen time and execute the services the users require. The mobile app for salons thus enables the users to get their beauty treatment done in the comfort of their homes.

Types of Apps for Beauty Services you Must Look Upon

In order to build an intuitive app for beauty salons, you must first be accustomed to the different types of salon apps. There are multiple on-demand beauty salon apps that you can look forward to exploring this year. Here is the list:

Salon and Spa App

This kind of beauty services app is meant to offer a wide range of beauty services, including hair spas, haircuts, body spas, pedicures, manicures, and others. These are best for those clients who just need the extra pampering.

Booth Rental Hair Salon App

This kind of app is specifically meant for hairdressers or hairstylists who want to expand their hair salon services. Here the stylist rents out a particular space to offer salon services to their clients. This helps increase the customer base and gives a great opportunity to individual stylists.

Specialty Salon Apps

These salons mainly operate in a few specific locations. If a user wants to have or utilize a particular service, he or she can find a stylist as per their salon needs.

Commission-Based Salon App

In this type of application, the standard pay of the salon is mainly paid on a commission basis, which is decided on hourly services. The standard commission is often pushed by product selling.

In-House Salon

These are the home salons that are mainly set up inside the homes of the specialist having a cosmetologist license.

Mobile Salon App

The mobile salon apps offer individual stylists to offer their services to clients. The stylist visits the client’s home by carrying the salon station kit in their own vehicle and wearing their service apparel.

Boutique Salon App

The boutique salon app is not just limited to salon services related to hair, nail, and skincare. This type of app also offers retail items for sale, like clothes, jewelry, handbags, and many more.

Bonus Read- How to build a Boutiqaat-like eCommerce app

Now that you have understood the market and technical aspects that give you an idea on the on-demand beauty app development cost, it is time to look at multiple ways to monetize your beauty-services app.

Monetizing the On-Demand Beauty App: Various Ways to Earn Money From the App

There are quite a few approaches that you can look into in order to increase the revenue that you earn on your on-demand beauty application.

But there are a few that would fit in like a glove with the specificity of your business model. Here they are –

1. Commission

The monetization model used by brands like GlamSquad works around taking a percentage of the income that the beauty expert earns through your application.

You can follow the process as well to get a steady income flowing in your business.

2. Sponsorship

You can even earn money by showing one or a few of your associated partners as the top service providers or advertising them separately inside the application under your sponsorship program in return for payment.

3. Advertising

The last time-tested monetization approach that you can follow to get revenue for your application is showing an in-app advertisement and then charging the advertised app an amount in return for a click.

Wrapping it up

With this, you now know not just the amount of money you would have to pay to get your dream of owning an on-demand beauty app developed but also how you can earn the invested amount back in the least possible time.

With a little dedication and effort, you can boost your salon business. Giving it an online platform will directly expose you to a larger audience that will automatically give your revenue steps the much-needed boost. To give a head start, getting into a detailed discussion with a beauty on demand app development services company is crucial.

Partnering with a beauty application development company is the only step left. Our experts are skilled enough, and with their years of experience, they can help turn your idea into a working, on-demand beauty app.

Fill out the contact us form and get in touch with our team of on-demand app development experts.

FAQs

Q. Is it possible to create a customized salon app according to my business requirements?

A. Yes, our salon app developers can assist you with a robust on-demand beauty app. We offer you a customized business solution that would meet the requirements of your salon business at the right moment with a unique set of features.

Q. How long will it take to create an on-demand beauty salon app?

A. It mainly depends on the features and complexity of your hair and beauty products selling mobile apps. Creating an application that has an extensive feature list can take around 3 to 9 months. Each stage of the process has a different timeframe for completion.

Q. How much does it cost to make a beauty app?

A. The average cost of developing any type of app for beauty services could anywhere range from around $20,000 to $200,000 or more depending on the type of features and functionality, and complexity in the design of the beauty salon app. So, you can consider that the overall idea and cost of beauty and salon app development would actually depend upon your business budget and needs.

Q. What are the key benefits of developing an on-demand beauty service app for your business?

A. Here are a few key benefits of developing an on-demand beauty service app for your business:

• 68% of customers get to know about your brand online and visit your store by checking reviews on the search engine. Therefore, it is essential to build an app so your customers can leave positive reviews that create a long-lasting relationship with your brand.
• An average smartphone user utilizes 90% of their mobile time on applications. Launching your mobile app for salons customized with your logo and name for various platforms can seamlessly grow your customer base.
• If your beauty salon app is integrated with high-end features, then it can dramatically boost your sales as the customer would know more about the USPs of your business.
• An application with an excellent and appealing UX/UI design would keep the users glued to your app, pushing your business to new heights.

Q. What are the different types of salon apps that I can get developed?

A. There are various types of salon apps that you can choose to develop by hiring a reputed software development company.

• Hairdresser App
• Hair and Beauty Salon App
• Beauty And Wellness Application
• Beauty Salon Mobile App
• Complete Beauty Service Solution
• Hair and Beauty Product Selling App
• Salon Appointment Booking App
• Beauty and Hair Salon Solution

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director