Mobile App Business
In everyone's pocket — and on every revenue report
Mobile app businesses generate revenue through subscriptions, in-app purchases, advertising, or one-time purchases on iOS and Android platforms. Successful apps solve a specific problem or provide entertainment and build habitual usage. The subscription model has become dominant, creating strong recurring revenue.
Avg Revenue
$120K
Profit Margin
70%
Acquisition Multiple
3x - 6x
Startup Cost
$10K - $100K
Difficulty
5/5
How It Works
Build or acquire a mobile app that solves a problem or provides value. Distribute through the App Store and Google Play. Monetize through subscriptions, in-app purchases, or advertising. Growth comes from ASO (App Store Optimization), paid user acquisition, and word of mouth. Retention is the critical metric.
Revenue Range
Pros
- +High margins once developed — minimal marginal cost
- +Subscription revenue compounds with user retention
- +Global distribution through app stores
- +Strong acquisition multiples for growing subscription apps
Cons
- -High development and maintenance costs (iOS + Android)
- -App Store takes 15-30% of all revenue
- -Extremely competitive — millions of apps available
Best For
Technical founders or funded teams who can build and iterate on mobile products
Operating Costs
App Store fees (15-30% of revenue), hosting/backend infrastructure, development costs for updates, user acquisition spend, and customer support.
Where to Buy
- Acquire.com →
Buy mobile apps and SaaS businesses with verified metrics
- Flippa →
Browse mobile apps for sale across iOS and Android
- Empire Flippers →
Buy established mobile app businesses with verified revenue
Quick Facts
- Category
- digital
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Acquisition Price
- $360K - $720K