Mobile app reselling is a booming business, offering opportunities for freelancers, agencies, and entrepreneurs to tap into the lucrative and growing app market.
Whether you’d offer apps for small businesses or high-profile clients, reselling apps can generate steady, scalable income.
But how much money can you actually make, and what are the different options available to you as a reseller?
Let’s explore.
Is Reselling Mobile Apps Profitable?
Yes! Despite market saturation, mobile apps continue to thrive due to their versatility and consumer demand.
You can create apps with lower production costs and without coding skills thanks to No Code App Builders like Choicely.
Apps are seen as a premium product so you can charge, and earn a lucrative margin on apps.
The demand for mobile apps is higher than ever before. The mobile app development market is expected to grow from 281 billion dollars in 2024 to 626 billion in 2030.
This goes to show there is more demand for mobile apps, for more use cases, in more price points than ever.
Why Resell Mobile Apps?
Mobile app reselling allows you to bridge the gap between businesses and the technology they need. By leveraging No Code app platforms like Choicely, resellers can create and sell apps tailored for their specific use case – without the complexity of coding.
Key Benefits of Mobile App Reselling:
- Increased Revenue: Resellers can earn commissions through the reseller program of their choosing. In Choicely’s reseller program, resellers can earn monthly recurring revenue, a commission of the monthly SaaS fee of the app.
- Scalability: Resellers can serve multiple clients with streamlined processes. Value-Added resellers can build apps using tools like No Code App Builders.
- Sell your services: Resellers can bill for their expertise, whether it’s app building and design, custom development, content creation or consulting services.
What Does It Mean to Resell Mobile Apps?
Reselling mobile apps involves selling custom apps to clients. The resellers can also create the apps themselves using No Code app platforms. This way they can develop apps without coding them from scratch, and streamline their processes, reduce costs, save time and maximize profits.
Reseller programs vary in structure, but they generally fall into three categories:
- Value-Added Reseller (VAR): Create and sell custom apps for clients while earning commissions on monthly subscriptions.
- Bulk Purchase Reseller: Buy a set number of app licenses upfront and resell them to clients.
- Revenue Share Reseller: Partner with a platform that develops the apps while sharing a percentage of the revenue.
Option 1: Choicely’s Value-Added Reseller Program
Choicely’s Value-Added Reseller program stands out for its flexibility and high earning potential. Here’s how it works:
Provided by:
Choicely
Key Features:
- No upfront investment: Start reselling without buying licenses or incurring development costs.
- Scalable earnings: Earn monthly recurring revenue based on the subscription fees paid by your clients.
- Commission tiers:
- 20% commission when you start.
- 30% when your total monthly billing reaches €3,000.
- 40% at €10,000 or more.
Earnings Example:
- You create and sell 5 apps to clients, each with 2,500 monthly active users.
- Combined monthly billing for these apps: €5,000.
- At 30% commission: €1,500 in monthly recurring revenue.
- Additional service revenue: Design, setup, and consulting fees charged directly to clients.
Advantages:
- Recurring Revenue: Unlike one-time sales, earn a steady income every month.
- Flexibility: Bill clients for additional services to enhance your earnings.
- Native Apps With High Quality: Build scalable, high-quality native apps that satisfy demanding clients.
Drawbacks:
- Not the Cheapest: With the monthly SaaS price starting at 199€/month, you won’t reach the price floor in the market.
Option 2: Bulk Purchase Reseller Model
The bulk purchase model involves buying a fixed number of app licenses upfront. Resellers then sell these licenses to their clients at a markup, generating profit.
Provided by:
Several No Code App Builders besides Choicely. This is the most common reseller model on the market.
How It Works:
- Purchase 10 app licenses for €1,000–€2,000.
- Resell these licenses to clients, charging €300–€500 per app.
Earnings Example:
- Cost of 10 licenses: €2,000.
- Selling price per app: €400.
- Total revenue: €4,000.
- Profit: €2,000.
Advantages:
- Low Price: You can reach very low price points with apps that typically fall into this category.
Drawbacks:
- Upfront Investment: Requires capital to buy licenses.
- Quality Concerns: Apps in this model are often cross-platform apps or progressive web apps (PWA) with limited features and customization options.
Option 3: Revenue Share Reseller Model
In a revenue share model, the platform develops apps for your clients, and you earn a percentage of the revenue generated. This is a low-effort option, suitable for those focusing on lead generation and client management.
Provided by:
Choicely, other app builders, and app development companies.
How It Works:
- Refer clients to the platform.
- The platform handles app development and maintenance.
- Earn a percentage (typically 10% to 20%) of the app’s revenue.
Earnings Example:
- Client app generates €1,000/month in revenue.
- Average revenue share for the first 36 months: 20%.
- Earnings over 36 months: €7200.
Advantages:
- Low Effort: No need to create or maintain apps.
- Passive Income: Earn from ongoing app subscriptions.
Drawbacks:
- Lower Earnings Potential: Limited to a smaller percentage of the total revenue.
- No Control Over Development: Rely on the platform for app quality and delivery.
Comparing Reseller Models
|
Model
|
Investment
|
Earnings Potential
|
Control
|
Quality
|
|
Value-Added Reseller (VAR)
|
None
|
High (up to 40% commission)
|
Full (design & pricing)
|
High
|
|
Bulk Purchase Reseller
|
€1,000–€2,000 on average
|
Moderate (€2,000 profit for 10 apps)
|
Full (design & pricing)
|
Low
|
|
Revenue Share Reseller
|
None
|
Moderate (up to 20% commission)
|
None
|
Low to High
|
How to Make Money Reselling Apps
Step 1: Calculate Your Costs
The cost of creating and maintaining apps varies based on:
- The cost of the app, and who pays for it
- Features and customizations
- Your work
Choicely’s pricing is transparent, starting from just €199/month for apps with up to 200 users. Use Choicely’s pricing page or the free Google Sheet calculator to estimate costs and potential profits.
Step 2: Set App Prices
A reasonable price for an app depends on its functionality and user base. For instance:
- An app for a local sports club might be priced at €300-1500 /month.
- A high-traffic app for a media company could fetch over €3,000-10 000/month.
Step 3: Focus on Your Strongest Segments & High-Value Clients
Reselling apps becomes more profitable as you scale.
- Target industries with high app adoption rates, such as media, sports, and entertainment. These clients often require scalable, feature-rich apps that command higher prices.
- Select your niche markets to focus on (e.g., sports teams, event organizers)
- Use Choicely’s No Code builder to quickly deliver high-quality apps.
Step 4: Maximize Your Customers’ ROI
Help your customers make money with their apps, and they will stick with your app longer. You can use revenue streams like:
- In-App Advertising: Generate ad revenue within your clients’ apps (guide).
- In-App Purchases: Enable premium features for end-users (calculator).
- Sponsorships: Partner with brands to sponsor apps (guide).
Read more about app monetization.
Step 5. Offer Additional Services
In the Value-Added Reseller model, you can:
- Charge for app setup and customization.
- Provide ongoing maintenance and updates.
- Offer consulting services for app strategy.
How Much Money Can You Make?
Beginner Reseller:
- 2 apps sold, each with 1,000 monthly active users.
- Monthly billing: €1,500.
- Commission (20%): €300/month.
Intermediate Reseller:
- 5 apps sold, each with 2,500 monthly active users.
- Monthly billing: €5,000.
- Commission (30%): €1,500/month.
Advanced Reseller:
- 10 apps sold, each with 3,000 monthly active users.
- Monthly billing: €10,000.
- Commission (40%): €4,000/month.
- Additional revenue from services: Variable.
Tools to Help You Succeed
Choicely provides resources to streamline your reseller journey:
Final Thoughts
The amount of money you can make from reselling mobile apps depends on the model you choose and your ability to scale. With Choicely’s Value-Added Reseller program, you can:
- Start earning without upfront costs.
- Scale your business for higher commissions and recurring revenue.
- Leverage additional services to boost profitability.
Are you ready to unlock your earning potential? Start your journey with Choicely today and turn mobile app reselling into a sustainable, profitable business.
Get Started: