Dec 26, 2023 07:00:00

If you develop and sell an app for macOS, what percentage of the sales will you receive?

Alin Panaitiu, a member of `

`the Low-Tech guys '' who develop various macOS apps, explains the sales and profits obtained from developing apps for macOS.

Costs of running a macOS app studio business — Alin Panaitiu
https://notes.alinpanaitiu.com/Costs-of-running-a-macOS-app-studio-business

The Low-Tech guys are selling apps for macOS on the App Store for a fee, such as `` rcmd '', an app switcher that uses the right command key, `` Grila '', a calendar app that can be operated with the keyboard, and `` Gamma Dimmer '', a screen brightness adjustment app. doing. Of these, rcmd, which is the most developed and reflects feedback, seems to have the highest sales.

The total sales of these three books in 2023 will be $ 14,900 (about 2,120,000 yen), the revenue will be $ 11,500 (about 1,640,000 yen), and the fee paid to the App Store will be $ 2,300 (about 328,000 yen). ), VAT (value added tax), consumption tax, and foreign currency exchange fees were apparently $1,100 (approximately 157,000 yen).

The App Store has strict restrictions on what can be done within the app, and some apps are published outside the App Store. Outside of the App Store, the Low-Tech guys use

Paddle.com , a British-born payment service, as well as Lunar , a monitor brightness optimization app, and Clop , an image/video/PDF optimization tool. ', but since Clop was recently released, most of the sales on Paddle.com come from Lunar. In 2023, app sales on Paddle.com will be $93,500 (approximately 13.3 million yen), revenue will be $73,300 (approximately 10.4 million yen), and fees paid to Paddle.com will be $4,700 (approximately 670,000 yen). , VAT, consumption tax, and foreign currency exchange fees were $15,500 (approximately 2.2 million yen).

While the App Store charges approximately 15% of sales, Paddle.com charges only 5% of sales. However, with Paddle.com, VAT is charged, and Panaitiu commented, ``It's the price of convenience and peace of mind.''

Also, since the Low-Tech guys are a company incorporated in Romania, they are subject to Romanian corporate tax. Panaitiu says, ``We have to pay $13,000 (about 1.85 million yen) to enrich the greasy pockets of Romanian corrupt politicians.''

In addition, when distributing macOS apps, it costs $600 (approximately 85,000 yen) per year to maintain the server that hosts the website, API, analytics, etc., and $140 (approximately 85,000 yen) per year for the IPStack subscription used in Lunar's location mode. Approximately 20,000 yen), Apple's developer membership costs $100 (approximately 14,000 yen) per year. In addition, it is also necessary to purchase the latest MacBook or iPhone to check hardware support, as well as light sensors and tools necessary to check monitor optimization. And, after deducting all expenses, Mr. Panaitiu's monthly income will be about 5,800 dollars (about 826,000 yen).

Panaitiu says, ``While $5,800 is not a bad monthly income, it is far from what you can earn as a consultant.However, in consulting, you have to spend every day doing Slack chats, Zoom meetings, creating daily reports, and doing things you don't think are necessary. Whereas I had to spend 8 hours a day doing work that would make me happy, with personal development I have time to play with my dog, have a quiet morning drinking coffee, and have a quiet meal with my wife without having to rush into a meeting. ” and then have time to sit down and discuss home projects, or have weeks off from my laptop without having to ask someone to take my time back.” said.