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Need a business plan for projections and scenario planning? This fully customizable Mobile App Business Plan can forecast new business lines, products, or price strategies, whether the revenue model is based on subscriptions, ads, or in-app purchases. Accounts for CapEx, overhead, and sales and marketing costs. We've created this Mobile App Business Plan spreadsheet template in Excel and Google Sheets that you can use to plan your next mobile app.

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While the specific names of businesses that have used this business plan for their mobile apps are not disclosed due to confidentiality, many successful mobile app businesses have used similar strategies. These include subscription models, ad-based revenue, and in-app purchases. Companies like Spotify, Netflix, and Candy Crush have all used these models to great success. Spotify and Netflix use a subscription model where users pay a monthly fee for access to their content. Candy Crush, on the other hand, uses in-app purchases where users can buy additional features or content within the app.

Some alternative strategies to subscription, ads, or in-app purchases as revenue models could include:

1. Freemium model: This is where basic services are provided for free but users have to pay for premium features.

2. Sponsorship: This involves partnering with other companies for mutual benefit.

3. Crowdfunding: This involves raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.

4. Licensing: This involves selling the rights to use your product or service to another company.

5. Direct sales: This involves selling your product or service directly to the customer, bypassing any third-party retailers or wholesalers.

Global companies like Apple and Google can utilize this business plan for their new product lines by using it as a tool for projections and scenario planning. The plan can help them forecast new business lines, products, or price strategies, whether the revenue model is based on subscriptions, ads, or in-app purchases. It also accounts for CapEx, overhead, and sales and marketing costs. This can be particularly useful for these companies as they often launch new products and need to plan their strategies effectively.

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Whether your revenue model is based on subscriptions, ads, or in-app purchases, this Mobile App Business Plan template has everything you need for forecasts and projections with charts and graphs. Best of all, the Mobile App Business Plan spreadsheet is fully customizable and isn't just for mobile apps. Any business can use it to forecast prospective profits and expenses no matter their revenue model. We'll now show how to use the Mobile App Business Plan spreadsheet template for projections, forecasting, and scenario planning no matter what stage a business is in.

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I'm sorry, but as a language model AI, I don't have access to specific real-world examples of businesses using this spreadsheet template for their financial projections. However, many businesses across various industries use similar templates for their financial planning. These templates help in forecasting revenues, expenses, and profitability, which are crucial for strategic planning and decision making.

Some alternative methods for forecasting and scenario planning in business strategy include the use of financial models, trend analysis, and predictive analytics. Financial models can help businesses project future revenues and expenses based on historical data and assumptions. Trend analysis involves examining historical data to identify patterns and trends that can inform future business decisions. Predictive analytics uses statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to predict future outcomes based on historical data. These methods can be used individually or in combination to provide a comprehensive view of potential future scenarios.

Global companies like Apple and Google can utilize this spreadsheet template for their revenue model projections by customizing it according to their specific business models. They can input their data related to subscriptions, ads, or in-app purchases, and the template will provide forecasts and projections. It can also be used for scenario planning, allowing these companies to prepare for different business situations. The template is versatile and can be adapted to any business type, not just mobile apps.

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Define your business mobile apps fields

To begin your mobile app development project plan, start on the Fields tab. First enter any static inputs such as company name, start date, and the horizon in months to be forecasted. This model is hard-capped at 121 months (or 10 years). With macroeconomic factors what they are going into 2023, many variables change rapidly. A forecast of 12 months, three years, and five years is usually sufficient for scenario planning. But as 91% of CEOs are planning for a recession in the next 12 months, it is currently advised to increase the amount of runway startups have saved away from the typical 18 months to 36 months - that's right, three years worth.

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The implications of a majority of CEOs planning for a recession in the next 12 months on the mobile app industry could be significant. It could lead to a slowdown in the development of new apps as companies tighten their budgets and focus on maintaining their current operations. There might also be a shift towards more conservative business strategies, with less risk-taking in terms of innovation and expansion. Furthermore, consumer spending on apps could decrease, affecting the revenue of app developers. However, it could also present opportunities for apps that offer cost-saving or value-adding solutions during tough economic times.

Alternative strategies for scenario planning in mobile app development could include:

1. Agile Development: This approach allows for flexibility and adaptability, with regular iterations and feedback loops.

2. Lean Development: This strategy focuses on developing a minimum viable product (MVP) to test market reactions before investing heavily.

3. Outsourcing: If the in-house team lacks certain skills or resources, parts of the development process can be outsourced.

4. User-Centered Design: This strategy involves designing the app based on user needs and preferences, which can be identified through user research and testing.

5. Cross-Platform Development: Developing an app that can run on multiple platforms (like Android and iOS) can increase market reach and ROI.

6. Security-Focused Development: With increasing concerns about data privacy and security, incorporating strong security measures in the app development process can be a strategic move.

Companies like Apple or Google would adapt their mobile app development project plans in response to macroeconomic changes by adjusting their strategies and forecasts. They would likely increase their focus on scenario planning, considering various potential economic situations and their potential impact on the business. This could involve adjusting their product lines, pricing strategies, or revenue models. They may also increase the amount of 'runway' they have saved, to ensure they can weather any potential economic downturns. It's also likely they would closely monitor changes in the macroeconomic environment and adjust their plans as necessary.

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Next, adjust any income taxes, payroll taxes, or transaction fees such as marketplace or credit card fees due upon transaction. Below that, adjust any inventory and return fees, such as the cost to store any physical goods, any markdowns of resale items, return processing costs, and averaged rate of returns. And at the bottom, the inflation rate is defined as a dynamic input that can be manually entered for each year in your horizon period. This is incredibly important, as inflation is a critical factor that will impact every business for the foreseeable future.

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Inflation can impact a business like Tesla in several ways. Firstly, it can increase the cost of raw materials and components, which can lead to higher production costs. This can either reduce the company's profit margins or force it to increase its prices, which could potentially reduce demand for its products. Secondly, inflation can erode the purchasing power of consumers, which could also lead to a decrease in demand. Lastly, inflation can increase the cost of borrowing, which could impact Tesla's ability to finance its operations and growth strategies.

There are several strategies to manage inventory and return fees in a business. One strategy is to implement an efficient inventory management system that can track and monitor inventory levels in real time, reducing the risk of overstocking or understocking. Another strategy is to negotiate with suppliers for better return policies or discounts on bulk purchases. Businesses can also consider dropshipping, where the supplier handles the inventory and shipping, reducing the need for physical storage. Lastly, implementing a strict return policy can help minimize return costs. It's important to note that these strategies should be tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the business.

Google, like many global companies, has a sophisticated financial infrastructure to manage transaction fees. They negotiate with credit card companies and banks to get the best possible rates. They also have systems in place to minimize fraud and chargebacks, which can add to transaction costs. Additionally, Google has a diversified revenue model, which includes advertising, cloud services, and hardware sales, among others. This diversification helps to offset the costs of transaction fees. However, the specifics of Google's arrangements are proprietary and not publicly disclosed.

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Define revenues for mobile business applications

Next, the revenue for your mobile app can be projected as subscriptions, products sold, or ads displayed. This business plan compares all three streams against each other for analysis: For a subscription-based business, the Subscriptions tab can assess up to ten subscription plans to compare. Define the frequency of the payments, the lifetime period (or how long the average user stays subscribed), lifetime value (or how much they pay over their lifetime), and new monthly subscriptions forecasted for each price tier. The model then projects the new subscriptions per month, active subscriptions per month, and forecasted revenues per month of each of your subscription tiers.

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I'm sorry, but as an AI, I don't have the ability to provide real-world examples. However, many successful mobile apps use a combination of subscription, product sales, and ad revenue models. For instance, Spotify uses a subscription model for premium users and ad revenue for free users. Similarly, mobile games like Candy Crush generate revenue through in-app purchases (product sales) and ads. It's important to note that the success of these models depends on various factors such as the target audience, market trends, and the unique value proposition of the app.

There are several alternative strategies to subscriptions, products sold, or ads displayed for generating revenue in mobile apps. These include in-app purchases, freemium upsell, sponsorships, partnerships, and affiliate marketing. In-app purchases allow users to buy virtual or physical goods within the app. Freemium upsell involves offering basic services for free while charging for premium features or content. Sponsorships involve partnering with advertisers who provide users with rewards for completing certain in-app actions. Partnerships can be formed with other companies to offer bundled services. Affiliate marketing involves promoting other businesses' products or services and earning a commission for any sales made.

Global companies like Apple or Google can apply this mobile app business plan for their new product lines by first identifying the revenue streams for their new apps. These could be subscriptions, products sold, or ads displayed. They can then use the business plan to compare these revenue streams against each other for analysis. For a subscription-based business, they can assess up to ten subscription plans to compare. They can define the frequency of the payments, the lifetime period, lifetime value, and new monthly subscriptions forecasted for each price tier. The model then projects the new subscriptions per month, active subscriptions per month, and forecasted revenues per month of each subscription tier.

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The Products tab assesses up to 10 different product types and sizes, their price, sales per month, and monthly sales growth rate. For a mobile app, this could be in-app purchases or different price-points for the app itself to test against each other. As mentioned at the beginning, this business plan doesn't have to be used for mobile apps alone: any business can use this to scenario-plan different products and price points, like if you need a business plan for a restaurant with a website or a business plan for a trucking company that conducts sales online.

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This business plan model can be applied in various ways in the restaurant and trucking industry. For a restaurant, it can be used to plan different menu items at various price points, assess their sales per month, and calculate the monthly sales growth rate. It can also be used to forecast the revenue from online orders or delivery services. For a trucking company, this model can be used to plan different services like freight, logistics, or transportation at different price points. It can also help in forecasting the sales of these services per month and their growth rate.

Scenario planning strategies can vary across different industries. However, some common strategies include:

1. Trend Analysis: This involves identifying and analyzing trends that could impact the industry in the future.

2. PESTEL Analysis: This involves analyzing Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors that could affect the industry.

3. SWOT Analysis: This involves identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in the industry.

4. Delphi Technique: This involves gathering expert opinions and using them to predict future scenarios.

5. Simulation Models: This involves creating computer models to simulate different scenarios and their potential outcomes.

6. Cross-Impact Analysis: This involves analyzing how different events could impact each other and the industry as a whole.

Remember, the choice of strategy depends on the specific industry and the nature of the business.

Global companies like Apple or Google can use this business plan model to scenario-plan different products and price points by assessing various product types and sizes, their prices, sales per month, and monthly sales growth rate. They can use this model to test different price-points against each other. This can help them in forecasting new product lines or price strategies for various revenue models. It can also help in accounting for CapEx, overhead, and sales.

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The Ads tab assesses up to 10 ad types along with the platform's total starting monthly active users (MAU) and growth. It works to find the total percent, CPM, and revenue of all platform impressions

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Remember, if you want to utilize this Mobile App Business Plan spreadsheet, you can download and customize it right now. Speaking of customization - a critical feature of all these forecast tables is the ability to override any month you want. This override will adjust all the following periods, but to adjust it back to normal, copy and drag the cell to the left of it, and the rest of the formulas will revert.

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I'm sorry, but as an AI, I don't have access to specific real-world examples of companies that have used this spreadsheet for their business projections. However, many businesses across various industries use similar tools for financial forecasting and scenario planning.

One method to adjust the forecast tables back to normal is to copy and drag the cell to the left of the overridden cell. This action will revert the rest of the formulas. If you have made multiple changes and want to revert all of them, you might need to re-download the spreadsheet and start fresh. Always remember to save a backup copy before making changes to your forecast tables.

Businesses like Google or Apple can customize this spreadsheet for their unique needs by utilizing the override feature. This feature allows them to adjust any month they want, which will then adjust all the following periods. If they want to revert it back to normal, they simply need to copy and drag the cell to the left of it, and the rest of the formulas will revert. This allows for flexibility and customization based on the specific needs and projections of the business.

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Financial projections for business expenses

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Next, expenses are assessed across four key areas: CapEx, operations, overhead, and marketing and sales.CapEx calculates any capital expenditure costs based on their frequency, from one-time all the way to every 10 years.

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Operations calculates any expenses tied to the individual subscription tiers or products, and covers cost of goods sold, packaging and shipping fees, and any return costs.Marketing and sales calculates marketing expenses per each subscription and product, followed by sales costs such as transaction fees, which are calculated on the Fields tab. Overhead calculates headcount expenses by role, and salary, bonuses, payroll taxes, equipment costs and amenities per head to find the total cost per employee. The company-specific overhead is listed underneath that, which can be defined by their name, frequency, dollar per unit, and cost per month.

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Mobile app business plan financial projections summary dashboard

All these projections are then summed in the Summary tab. The total revenues table includes filters to highlight a specific subscription, ad type, or product. The expense totals are listed underneath that in the expenses section. At the bottom, the total revenue and expenses are calculated to find the net profit or loss for each month, both before and after taxes, in order to find the IRR of this business plan. IRR is a critical metric to estimate the profitability of potential investments and helps assess if this business investment will be worth it. The higher the percentage, the more desirable the investment.

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The Dashboard then visualizes the data from all these tables to showcase the total revenues, expenses, and difference between revenues vs profit of your business plan. With easy-to-read charts that visualize your financial forecasts, this dashboard is perfect for internal analysis or external pitches.

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For the analysis needed to make better investment decisions, download and customize this Mobile App Business Plan spreadsheet template in Microsoft Excel or Google sheets now. Next, go check out our Sales Pipeline spreadsheet template to visualize and forecast upcoming sales leads and projections, or our other Business Plan template and Ultimate Startup Pro Forma spreadsheet for more business plan examples. For more tools to share your business plan outline with potential investors, check out our Ultimate Pitch Deck (Part 4) pitch deck template. We have plenty of pitch deck examples as part of our library, so if you're interested in more, join our Plus service today.

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Download and customize this and 500+ other business templates

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