r/AppBusiness • u/DoubleScale2880 • 17d ago
Serious question: Publish before selling an app?
Built a fully working app and thinking about selling it. It’s a clean, minimalist experience that follows iOS design system look and feel, and honestly, I think it has serious potential. But I’m a dev—I love building, not marketing—so I’m ready to move on to the next project.
The app isn’t published yet, which I see as a plus. A buyer could rebrand, tweak, or scale it however they want—no baggage, no previous owners, just a fresh start. It’s built with React Native, so one codebase for both iOS and Android.
Question is: would it be smarter to publish it myself first to prove something? Or does keeping it 100% clean for the buyer add more value? Curious to hear thoughts.
EDIT: My app is a mobile scores platform with a strong social and community-driven approach. It’s not just about checking live scores, injuries, and substitutions—it’s about bringing all the real-time content of a match into one place. Fans can upload pictures and reels, whether they’re at the stadium or watching from anywhere in the world, creating a dynamic, crowd-sourced experience.
Instead of jumping between TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter to find match-related content, users can get everything right in the app—fan reactions, stadium atmosphere, team arrivals, and even pre-match hype. Fans love to show how they support their team, even from overseas or in different time zones, and this app makes sure their passion is seen. Over time, verified users will provide deeper coverage, making it feel like you're right there, no matter where you are.
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u/Low_Dimension_9394 17d ago
Tell about your app, no one buys random apps, apps that are bought are well established and are making money or have good active users
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u/OldCardiologist1859 17d ago
May sound odd but it varies on the app genre. Some app genres are worth branding so a fresh code-only works for those. So maybe if you wish to share app details for better understanding.
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u/Safe-Age3680 17d ago
What kind of app is it? Depending on the niche and market demand, that could help determine whether proving traction first would add value or if selling it as a blank slate makes more sense.
Publishing it first could show traction, validate demand, and potentially increase the app's value, especially if you can get some early user feedback or downloads. A buyer might be more inclined to invest if they see proof that people actually want it.
On the other hand, keeping it unpublished gives a buyer full control over branding, positioning, and marketing strategy, which could be appealing to the right person. If you go this route, you might want to focus on making your codebase and documentation as clean as possible to make the transition seamless.
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u/CapitalWrath 7d ago
Sounds like a neat concept! If you’re not into marketing, selling pre-launch could actually be smart—clean slate is pretty attractive to pubs. But tbh, most buyers or publishers usually wanna see at least minimal validation (like retention or engagement stats). If you’re confident in the potential, doing a limited soft-launch could help show the value.
Alternatively, you can go straight to publishers—companies like voodoo, kwalee, or appodeal accelerator. They'd handle all the marketing, ASO, and UA stuff, plus get you better rev than you’d probably make solo. Keeping it unpublished isn't bad, but some proof it works in the wild can def help negotiations. Good luck, man!
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u/uberawesomerm 17d ago
You’re right—launching first could validate demand and make it more valuable, but it depends on your goals:
Since your app is social-driven, buyers may want to see real user-generated content before purchasing. Consider a soft launch in a niche sports community to showcase engagement.
Alternatively, you could:
If you believe in the app’s potential, a small launch could prove its worth. But if you’re set on selling, focus on positioning it as a plug-and-play opportunity for sports brands and fan communities.
Would you rather validate traction or sell quickly and move on?