How to make an app for a mobile shop

A mobile shop has to know exactly which handsets are in the cupboard, by model, colour and IMEI, and who bought which one in case of a warranty claim. An app keeps your stock, sales and exchange phones in one place, and can also show customers a catalogue with an order button on WhatsApp.

Updated 2026-11-09

Who uses the app

Mostly the owner and counter staff. If one phone at the counter runs it, data can stay on that phone. If staff use their own phones too, or customers browse a catalogue, connect your own Supabase database so everyone sees the same stock.

The screens a mobile shop app needs

Stock: Phones by model, colour and storage, each with its IMEI typed in, and how many of each are left
New sale: Pick the handset, enter the customer's name and phone, price, payment mode and any exchange phone
Sales: Sales by day and month, search by customer, phone number or IMEI
Exchange phones: Old phones taken in, their condition, the value given and whether they are resold
Accessories: Covers, tempered glass, chargers and earphones with stock counts and prices
Catalogue: For customers: phones by budget with photos and an order or price-check button on WhatsApp

Features worth asking for

IMEI search to find who bought a handset and when, for warranty claims
A bill as a PDF with the IMEI, to share on WhatsApp or print
A low-stock list for fast-selling models and accessories
A WhatsApp thank-you message after a sale, with your shop's number for help
Exchange phone entries with a photo of the phone's condition
A month's sales by brand and by budget band

Where the data lives

If only the counter phone records stock and sales, data can stay on it. For staff on their own phones or a customer catalogue, connect your own Supabase database from the chat; add your Razorpay account only if you want customers to pay a booking amount in the app.

How to make it with AppCub, step by step

Decide what the app does. List the screens you need, for example: Stock, New sale, Sales, Exchange phones, Accessories.
Describe it to AppCub. Paste the request below, changed to your own business and details.
Check the plan. AppCub shows the screens and features it will build. Change them in the chat until they are right; seeing the plan is free.
Try it on your phone. The app runs live next to the chat. Scan the QR code to install it, and ask for changes.
Share it. Share it as a web link, an APK file, or publish it on Google Play from your own developer account.

Copy this request, change the details to match your mobile shop, and paste it into AppCub:

Make an app for my mobile shop, Sri Lakshmi Mobiles in Coimbatore. Screens: stock, new sale, sales, exchange phones, accessories and a customer catalogue. Stock is by model, colour and storage, with each handset's IMEI typed in. A sale picks a handset, records customer name, phone, price, payment mode and any exchange phone with its value and a photo. Make a PDF bill with the IMEI. Add IMEI search, a low-stock list, and a catalogue by budget with a WhatsApp button to 98XXXXXXXX. Use my Supabase database. Blue and orange colours.

Tips for a mobile shop app

Type IMEI numbers carefully when stock arrives; the whole point of the app is finding the right handset later.
Start with phones only for the first week, then add accessories once the counter staff are used to it.
Keep a photo of each exchange phone's screen and body; it helps when you resell it.
Ask for the bill PDF in the format your accountant already uses, with your GSTIN and address.
Check the stock screen against the cupboard every Sunday until you trust the numbers.

What it costs

Describing your app and seeing AppCub’s plan for it is free.
A new app usually takes 60 to 110 credits. Start with the 2-day trial for ₹99 (150 credits, enough for one app and a few changes) or the one-time App Pack for ₹499. Starter is ₹1,599 a month for 700 credits.
Google Play needs a paid plan (it includes the Play Store bundle and your app’s signing key) and your own Google Play developer account, a one-time US$25 fee to Google.
Work that fails or is rolled back costs no credits.

See all plans

Good to know

AppCub doesn't connect to separate barcode scanners, billing machines or Tally, and can't check EMI approval with finance companies. IMEIs are scanned with the phone's camera in the installed app or typed in, and sales are entered by hand.
AppCub builds Android apps. You can also share the app as a web link that opens on any phone; for the iPhone App Store, AppCub’s team can do it for you.

Questions

Can a mobile shop app scan IMEI barcodes?

Yes, if you ask for it: the installed Android app can scan the IMEI barcode with the phone's camera (not in the web link). It doesn't connect to separate scanner machines. Search by IMEI then works across your stock and sales.

Can the app make a bill for each phone sold?

Yes. Ask for a PDF bill with the customer, model, IMEI, price and your shop details, to share on WhatsApp or print.

Can I track old phones taken in exchange?

Yes. Ask for an exchange screen with the phone's details, condition photo and the value you gave, and mark it when you resell it.

Can customers see which phones I have in the app?

Yes, with a catalogue screen shared as a web link. It needs your Supabase database so customers see the same stock you update.

Does the app connect to Tally for my accounts?

No. AppCub doesn't connect to Tally. You can ask for a monthly sales PDF to give your accountant.

Can my staff use the app on their own phones?

Yes, once you connect your own Supabase database. Ask for sign-in so each staff member has their own login and you can see who made each sale.

Make your mobile shop app

Seeing the plan is free. Building starts with a 2-day trial for ₹99.

Start building