I would very much like to hear any suggestions on how to earn some money from app development. Where to find work etc. I have a dream that in next couple of years i may be able to give up day job and devote more time to app building and learning code more. Any suggestions welcome thanks

Stick with BT! OK, that's a given. Moving onto more sensible answers.... Build up a portfolio of apps in Play and App Store an then start pitching your wares to a few local businesses. You have a very marketable knowledge now and people pay good money for apps.

Thanks Macapple. I still very much at the shallow end the pool compared to others on here like yourself. My biggest fear is not being able to implement features a client asks for. I feel in a catch 22 situation as I just can't find the time between juggling the dayjob and finding time to learn more about coding. Got loads to learn but no time to do it. I have few good ideas to make money and i have all the info on how to learn it but need to break away from day job to do it but can't quit as need to earn money to live. Its a problem but every problem has a solution and i need to find it. Thanks for the input. Perhaps i am under estimating myself.

I have heard the best way is to have many apps with advertisements and it adds up slowly.

You are totally underestimating yourself mate, trust me. Think of all the things you, average Joe web designer would kill to be in your shoes and engrained in the app dev world. Now is the time to monetise those skills. Don't worry about prospective clients looking for something you can't do, show them what you can do. The plugin market is growing daily and you are ahead of the pack. How many folk (outside of BT) do you know that can find their way around Xcode/eclipse like you can? You've got this.

ohh yea and by the way if a high school student can sell apps to clients, made via buzztouch then im pretty sure you can too!

In our recent Meetup. We talked a little about this. Your app will sell more if it is free. This sounds obvious but developers always think about selling, instead of downloads. One guy from the Meetup said his paid app got 700 downloads while his free app got 9,000 downloads. So the smarter thing to do is to put ads on a free app. And then maybe make a pro version later without the ads. Also, he said that you're more likely to get more cash if you sell your skills than sell apps. When you sell your skill, you can get thousands of pounds each app. The average cost for developing an app cost £6500 ($9000 roughly). This is huge. But don't tell the client about Buzztouch.

Thanks. Words like this only strengthen my resolve to make this work. I have some stuff i really need to make time to accomplish. Thanks buddy. Getting late here and sleep calls. Will post again tomorrow.

How exactly do you mean sell skills?

@Mr Stuck. Skills, you got 'em! People want to be in the app store - and play - you can make that happen. As mentioned above people will pay good money for the knowledge you now possess. I don't worry about telling people about Buzztouch, more than happy to say I am part of a community that is ahead of the curve. 1. xcode - Go do a 6 month college course and you won't learn what you have learned on here. 2. Eclipse - See above. It's a beast and you can navigate it. 3. Friends and knowledge base - Where else can you come across a problem and have folk like GoNorthWest, PSMDanny, David et al jump in to help you make money. 4. There is no 4. 5. Something about Obama. YOU KNOW A LOT! DO NO UNDERESTIMATE WHAT YOU KNOW, YOU GOT DA SKILLZ. Folk pay good green folding dollars (and pounds and Euros) for what you can do. It happened with Websites, blogs, social media but nothing out there matches BT. It is similar to WP and DNN and the likes in the sense that the early adopters will make bank. If you ever need a hand putting together a proposal or a pitch drop me a DM.

'Sell skills' as in making apps for clients and selling the app to them. Basically, they'll pay you for the skills you have.

fwiw, apps have been my sole income for nearly 18 months, all free apps with advertising. As Mac says, build a portfolio of apps. There's a near unlimited amount of open source/creative commons licensed material on the net, you just need to dig. I'm about 150k short of 1m installs without hardly spending a penny. I love apps! There was a good business plan to pitch to clients posted just a day or so ago: https://www.buzztouch.com/forum/thread.php?tid=22D762299CD75AB4CC9282A

Nice one my man in 'Pool (or thereabouts) Can't watch Suarez without you springing into my mind now. My boy is heading to Highbury next weekend to see boring boring Arsenal, cross your fingers that they win.

MacApple, love your list. Mr Stuck, my advise, build a portfolio. Make some apps and get them published. Sure there will be ones you want to make to get them out there, but try to push yourself with each one. Work with a designer, or ask for feedback. When they say - "It should do this", try to make it do that. If you don't understand how to do that, see if you can learn. (this is how plugins are born) A few thoughts, If you make an app free and plan to have adds on it, remember that you will need to have a substantial amount of page view to make any money. Where is your tipping point? fill rate of ads vs. download $ This is different for each app and developer. As far as working with clients. In my experience it is easy to get caught up in the discovery phase and agree to more then you can do. Like has been stated, show them what you CAN do. Show them examples of BT apps, and explain how the process of screens (plugins) work. This will help with building a flowchart of the app and really seeing if your skills (yes you have them) matches what the customer is looking for. Jim

Thanks for all the words of encouragement folks. Maybe i do underestimate myself. I do have a free app that is running revmob popup and is nearing 1000 downloads but its on android and has generated zero revenue from revmob ads so far. It appears reading the forums that IOS is the way to go in order to generate any revenue. I am unsure if my apps would be accepted to app store as most of the content is dynamic. Perhaps I need to look at ios in order to start making any money. I will save some cash after xmas and purchase a Mac. Then go looking for some clients. Any suggestions on the best type of clients to go after in regards to making a basic app setup and generating some income. Would like to start with some basic apps that I can't really make a mess of and build on from there. Thanks to all

On a plus note I just released this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scottishbagpipes And seeing some sales. Think i will also release a free version to encourage sales of it.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement folks. Maybe i do underestimate myself. I do have a free app that is running revmob popup and is nearing 1000 downloads but its on android and has generated zero revenue from revmob ads so far. It appears reading the forums that IOS is the way to go in order to generate any revenue. I am unsure if my apps would be accepted to app store as most of the content is dynamic. Perhaps I need to look at ios in order to start making any money. I will save some cash after xmas and purchase a Mac. Then go looking for some clients. Any suggestions on the best type of clients to go after in regards to making a basic app setup and generating some income. Would like to start with some basic apps that I can't really make a mess of and build on from there. Thanks to all

@Mr stuck, This might be the best post ever! Great advice everyone. I can't give advice on making money with apps but I can encourage you. Go with your heart. I know you care and put your heart in when you create your apps just by us talking on here. I have looked at each App you have in Google Play and they are great and very informative. Also, don't count Android out when making money compared to IOS, they are still rising and will continue to rise in phone sales and revenue. In sum, go with your heart and what you love to create. LA

Here's a breakdown of App Revenue @MrStuck some good info. http://m.guardiannews.com/technology/appsblog/2012/dec/04/ios-android-revenues-downloads-country

Interesting read @MacApple. I will put a Mac at the top of my new year shopping list as I can't wait to have a crack at the app store. I think it will also put in a better position if i can offer any potential clients both platforms. I am not greedy and simply being able to find enough work and generate £150 or so per week in income would be enough for me to cut back working hours and spend more time making apps and learning loads to make better apps. Very thankful for all responses. Got a few pointers to think about now.

Sorry to but in but I'm also keen to give software developing a go. I'm currently looking at studying full time. Wise choice or avoid paying fees of over ten thousand dollars and use Buzztouch?

Sorry to but in but I'm also keen to give software developing a go. I'm currently looking at studying full time. Wise choice or avoid paying fees of over ten thousand dollars and use Buzztouch?

If you want to develop apps then you are in the right place. This site is the best around and backed by the best community around. Don't be afraid to ask anything. No one will shoot you down in flames for asking any questions regardless of what they may be.

Cheers mate. I would also like to save the lessons onto my tablet. Any ideas of the best software to use? Ta