Android App Development for Small Businesses

Android apps for businesses with regular customers

Android phones are used by a large share of people across the UK, Europe and the US, and in many local customer bases they are the majority. If you only build for iPhone, you may be leaving part of your customer base out. Android app development covers designing, building and testing an app for Android devices and publishing it on Google Play.

Apptavio builds Android apps for small and medium-sized businesses — garages, salons, groomers, restaurants, gyms, shops and service providers — usually alongside an iPhone version from the same codebase.

Who this is for

Android development is worth considering when:

• your customers return regularly to book, order or check on something;
• your website analytics or your own experience suggest many customers use Android phones;
• you want reminders, updates and loyalty to reach customers directly;
• you want the app available on both major platforms without paying for two separate builds.

How we build Android apps

We build with React Native, Expo and TypeScript. React Native draws real native Android interface components, and Expo's build and submission services help us produce and ship reliable builds. TypeScript makes the code safer to change over time. Where a feature needs Android-specific behaviour, we can add native modules.

Because the same codebase also produces an iPhone app, most of the investment serves both platforms. The React Native development page covers the trade-offs.

Designing for Android

Android users expect certain things, and we design for them:

• navigation and components informed by Material Design;
• correct behaviour of the system back gesture and button;
• layouts that adapt to many screen sizes, including smaller and larger phones;
• support for system font size and accessibility services such as TalkBack;
• sensible dark theme support;
• touch targets that are comfortable to tap.

See your Android app before you buy

Before you commit, we can prepare a free, personalised, interactive concept built from your website. Open it in the browser on your Android phone and it behaves like an app, showing your business name, colours and real services or products.

1. Share your website address through our request form.
2. We analyse your public content and branding.
3. We design a concept suited to your type of business.
4. A person reviews it before sending.
5. You receive a private link.
6. If you want to go ahead, we agree the scope and send a quote.

The concept is a browser-based prototype with simulated features. It is not the finished app and is not published on Google Play.

From build to Google Play

1. Play Console account. Your business registers its own Google Play Console account. Google charges a one-off registration fee and may ask for identity and organisation verification.
2. Testing. We use Google Play's internal and closed testing tracks so you can install test builds on your phone. Depending on your account type, Google may require a period of closed testing before you can publish to everyone — we check the current rules for your account.
3. Store listing. We prepare the description, screenshots, content rating questionnaire and the Data safety section.
4. Review and release. Google reviews the app against its Developer Program Policy. Once approved, you can release to everyone or roll out gradually.

Notifications on Android

Since Android 13, apps must ask for permission before showing notifications, so customers decide whether to receive them. We design the request to appear at a sensible moment — for example after a customer books — with a clear explanation of what they will receive. Important information should never rely on notifications alone.

What affects the cost

Our indicative starting price is from €1,499. The final price depends on screens, features, integrations with your existing systems, backend needs, customer accounts, payments, notifications, native capabilities such as camera or location, and ongoing maintenance. Supporting a broad range of Android devices adds testing effort, which we include in scoping.

Honest limitations

• Google decides. Approval and review timing on Google Play are Google's decisions.
• Device variety. Android runs on many devices; we test on a representative range, but cannot test every model.
• Notifications are opt-in on recent Android versions.
• Policy changes. Google regularly updates requirements, such as the minimum target Android version for updates, so apps need periodic maintenance. See mobile app maintenance.
• Fees go to Google. The Play Console registration fee is separate from our price.

Next step

Request your free app preview and open your concept on your Android phone. We will email you when it is ready.