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Struggles and the subsequent hard work made what we now know as a widely accepted buying and selling app, OfferUp. What started with a small story of Nick Huzar selling belongings on the arrival of his newborn eventually turned out to be a pioneering business-centric app that built massive livelihood for the general masses. In the interview with Authority Magazine, he narrated the story of Patricia, who started her upcycling hustle to support her family and ended up managing her slightly used items business in Las Vegas worth millions. A story worth recognizing the significance of buying and selling apps like OfferUp.
As CEO Nick Huzar emphasizes, such out-of-the-box customer-to-customer apps bind the audience and present a community worth the investment. As soon as the marketplace apps struck the cord significant to the audience, they became contributors. This accentuates the importance of solid and tamper-proof business ideas that are still not our their for basic people-based issues. Huzar picked on a basic issue and built an app out of it. Inventive business idea-holders must also act on their instincts to redefine the community norms.
A question that stirs the conversation among decision-makers before finalizing buying and selling apps like OfferUp is the shopping app development cost. Often, businesses find themselves in turmoil trying to find the exact figure, but that is tricky. To build a buying and selling app like OfferUp, it is preferable for the C-suite to contemplate different factors that weigh in during the development and influence the OfferUp app development cost. As we are well-prepared and hold valuable insights, we are going to assist you with the bifurcated guide.
How Does Buying And Selling Apps Like OfferUp Work?
Finding out the marketplace app development cost is among the last sections that should come in linearity after the rudimentary functioning. Among the many rudimentary elements, the first one that defines the basis of buying and selling apps like OfferUp is the processing. How does the buying and selling app work and concentrate on keeping the audience intact? A question that often marketplace businesses fail to comprehend and later regret. To bring you an ecommerce business on cost lookout, our focus is to highlight the segmented assessment to build buying and selling apps.
The peer-to-peer transactions bolster the community and keep the interaction running. Some people might need used goods, while others might want to run an upcycling business, marketplaces like OfferUp are always open for users. Often, businesses determine ecommerce app development services to build buying and selling apps that have the core functionalities instilled. To jump straight at the work, we are bringing the phases and functionalities that make it viable for users to navigate through.
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Sign Up
The buying and selling app’s work begins with the basic features of signing up. Either users build their accounts or log in with their email addresses immediately. Regardless of the nature, the buyer, the seller, and the user have to log in to access the community and surf through it.
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Create Listing
With ecommerce app development, marketplace businesses instill the listing creation feature. This feature allows the seller to create a listing of their goods and make it available for users to assess the rate according to quality parameters.
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Search and Browse
Once the product listing is up in the community, anyone looking for the product can search through the filters, browse, and locate the listing that fits their requirement. This listing contains the details of the product name, model, years of usage, and approximate selling price.
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Connect With Seller
As the buyer makes the decision, the next in-the-line step is connecting with the seller to have a conversation about the product’s details that may not have been mentioned. These details can consist of anything that is in the mind of the buyer in the context of the product.
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Make an Offer
As soon the buyer makes his decision, he can ask the seller to lower the prices, or the seller can stay still in the figures. Their negotiation is allowed with the assistance of a chatbox or call to streamline and immediately make the decision. Once the deal is finalized, the buyers transfer the money via the payment gateway integrated into the app, and the seller receives it. Subsequently, the seller dispatches the product, and within days, the buyer receives it.
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Ratings and Review
Upon the interaction, the buying and selling app like OfferUp brings forth the buyer and seller’s satisfaction through the app. Both parties can rate and review each other based on their interaction.
The above is the simplified functioning of a buying and selling marketplace app like OfferUp, which can help clarify things for you. Considering our primary comprehension is settled, with the bifurcated guide, we must head onto the OfferUp app development cost factors.
Cost to Develop a Buying and Selling Apps Like OfferUp Based on App-Based Factors
Buying and selling app development costs are among the tricky sections that require full-fledged factor-based apprehension. As no two buying and selling apps cost the same, there are factors that contribute to this distinction. For starters, the app size may fluctuate the OfferUp app development cost, let alone the platform used, the technology chosen, and the features included. As this section alleviates, it is better to clarify that this section focuses on the app-centric factors that address the cost difference based on the features and functionalities.
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Marketplace App Development Platform
The intended audience is the factor that ultimately decides the marketplace app development platform. Those who intend to target the United States-based audience often choose iOS because of its relevancy. However, those who prioritize a global audience choose Android. This often creates confusion for those who are focusing on targeting both markets, but they eventually go for React Native app development services for cross-platform services.
| Development Platform (Simple App) | Duration | OfferUp App Development Cost |
| iOS App Development | 1100-1400 hours | $38,000 to $100,000 |
| Android App Development | 1000-1300 hours | $35,000 to $80,000 |
| Cross Platform Development | 1200-1500 hours | $30,000 to $70,000 |
The table represented above poses the OfferUp app development cost difference based on the platform choices that marketplace businesses choose.
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Ecommerce App Size
The overall ecommerce app size depends on the intricacies of the buying and selling app. The marketplace app’s size is influenced by the included features and functionalities that ultimately affect the ecommerce app development cost. For instance, a basic with singular functionality may cost less than an advanced app with extensive features and functionalities. This decision is entirely important in the context of the business owners and must be defined prior to the app development process. The table below brings forth the figures that are affected based on the size-centric decisions.
| Online Marketplace App Development Size | OfferUp App Development Cost |
| Basic App | $30,000 to $65,000 |
| Medium App | $65,000 to $100,000 |
| Advanced App | $1000,000+ |
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OfferUp-Like App UI/UX Design
Proceeding onto the next factor on the list, we have the UI/UX design. Businesses are left with two options: they can either choose pre-existing templates or go for custom UI/UX layouts. Both options serve the purpose of bringing engagement through the layout design and visual appearance, but they have a distinction that affects the marketplace app development cost. Custom designs are often mediated through the owner’s vision, while the templates are available to all with zero distinction. Templates are less expensive than getting a custom UI/UX design.
| Designing Stage | Duration |
| Planning and Analysis | 2-3 weeks |
| Wireframing and Prototyping | 1-3 weeks |
| Low-Fidelity Wireframe | 2-3 weeks |
| High-Fidelity Wireframe | 3-4 weeks |
| App Designing | 1-2 weeks |
| Prototype | 4-5 weeks |
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Features Affecting Marketplace App Cost
As mentioned, the app size is directly proportional to the features, and these features are also OfferUp app development cost influencers. For instance, the types of features are different when it comes to app development. A search bar is straightforward to build, but a search bar with categorization capabilities is among the advanced features. The selection of your features and their intricacies define the conclusive cost of building buying and selling apps.
| Basic Features | Advanced Features |
| Search Bar | Search Bar with Categorization |
| Registration Process | Product Listing Feed |
| Push Notifications | In-Build Chat |
| Payment Integration | Review and Ratings |
OfferUp App Development Cost Based on Ecommecerce App Development Company-Based Factors
As we have summarized the app-based factors that affect the cost of developing buying and selling apps like OfferUp, it is time to move on to the location-based factors. The OfferUp app development cost ultimately also relies on the elements of the app development company. Location and experience create a huge quotation gap based on these factors.
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Hire Dedicated Mobile App Developers Based on Location
As we have mentioned above, the location of the marketplace app developers holds value in bringing a drastic change in capital investment from different locations. For instance, if you hire dedicated mobile app developers from a United States app development company, the expense would be higher than that of a company based in Asia. The marginal gap between the cost of building a buying and selling app like OfferUp for two regions comes from political distress and economic situations.
| Location | Cost (Per Hour) |
| North America | $120 per hour |
| Australia | $60 per hour |
| UK | $60 per hour |
| South America | $35 per hour |
| Central Europe | $35 per hour |
| Asia | $25 per hour |
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Online Marketplace App Development Hiring Model
The other cost difference arises from the hiring model of marketplace businesses and enterprises choose. The obvious option for choosing online marketplace app development specialists is often determining the freelancers. However, the lack of accountability and prior expertise directs businesses to choose a marketplace app development company. The quality of the app builds the preceding reputation among the potential users.
| Hiring Model | OfferUp-Like App Development Cost |
| Freelancers | $40,000 |
| In-House | $70,000 |
| App Development Company | $65,000 |
Conclusive Cost to Build Buying and Selling Apps Like OfferUp
As we have summarized all the factors consequently affecting the ecommerce app development cost, the significance of the project definition might have been highlighted. However, to still bring forth a conclusive idea of the range, we must assist you in defining the assumptive cost.
The OfferUp app development cost ranges from the lowest of $30,000 to the highest of $150,000 based on the required app intricacies and the corresponding factors. These factors, as mentioned above, can be the app’s size, platform, and the intricacies involved in building a full-proof, robust buying and selling app.
Often stated, buying and selling marketplace businesses and enterprises must make the decision keeping all the requirements and needs aligned. While doing so, businesses should also contemplate the marketplace app development company’s charges.
Step-By-Step OfferUp-Like Buying and Selling App Development Process
As we have concluded the OfferUp app development cost, the next in line is the process that businesses must abide by without second thoughts. Systematically planning the entire becomes the core of the flow. With the approach that covers all the stages, you must align everything as per the Agile methodology while encircling all the necessary research.
- Define your business requirements and needs
- Conduct market and user research
- Hire a marketplace app development company
- Designing visually appealing UI/UX layouts
- Ensuring a smooth development process
- Validating product with quality assurance
- Ensuring the app deployment and Maintenance
The entire flow is beneficial for the ecommerce app development process and every milestone that will be achieved. You must abide by it and conduct all the necessary research, and once you are done with it, the app development company can take over to provide ease.
How Do You Monetize Ecommerce Buying and Selling Apps like OfferUp?
The last concern we must raise while understanding the buying and selling app development process is monetization. A factor that brings in returns after the investments. Channeling the proper revenue streams becomes significant during the app development process and further thriving nature of the app. You must choose iOS or Android app development for this phase, where they will set up your monetization streams.
- Subscription Model — Buyers or sellers must be charged to utilize the additional features or functionalities.
- Transaction Fees — The Offerup app platform charges the user for trade expenses such as service payments or shipping expenditures.
- Merchant Fees — Instill merchant fees on every sale made by the buying and selling app sellers.
- Advertisements — Allow advertisements on the OfferUp-like app to monetize through them.
The above-mentioned are the ways you can ensure that your buying and selling marketplace is making money and getting you returns on investment. Brainstorm ideas to align the monetization techniques of your buying and selling app like OfferUp.
AppsChopper as Your Trusted Marketplace App Development Company
Throughout the process of building buying and selling apps like OfferUps, the assistance of an ecommerce app development agency with extensive experience. It is imperative to move through with the aid of professional experts with valuable insights.
AppsChopper, as a marketplace app development company, brings forth a decade-long proficiency in building OfferUp-like apps for businesses. Be it small ventures, mid-sized businesses, or established enterprises, we present our marketplace app development services to all industries.
