Good morning,

Last week, I told you how I built Revven—an AI app that now has over 2,500 paying users.

The response was crazy.

Probably because you guys enjoyed the detailed format, and I also promised to make a full guide on creating apps with AI.

So here it is.

This isn't some theory I read in a book. This is exactly what I did to build a profitable app without knowing a single line of code. I'm giving you the same process I used, with nothing held back.

By the end of this guide, you'll know:

• Which tools to use (and what they actually cost)

• How to generate profitable app ideas

• The exact step-by-step building process

• How to deploy and monetize your app Let's dive in.

Why You Need to Learn App Creation Using AI For The Sake Of Your Business

Here's what happened when I built Revven.

The build time was less than 10 minutes. What it cost me was under $100. My coding experience was zero—I don't know Python, I don't know C, and I don't even know HTML.

The results speak for themselves. I now have 2,500+ paying members. Thousands more free users are discovering our brand through the app. It's become a gateway that leads people to our other products and services.

The timeline? This all happened in just a few months.

I'm not special. I'm not a tech genius.

I just used AI the right way. And now I'm going to show you exactly how.

Three Ways This Can Make You Money

Building apps with AI isn't just cool—it's a real business strategy. There are three primary ways you can use this skill to generate income.

1. Lead Generation Apps (Free Tools That Capture Leads)
   You can build calculators, assessment tools, or planners that people actually want to use. Give them away for free while collecting emails from everyone who uses them. Now you have a list of people who already know you provide value.Think about tools like a marketing budget calculator for business owners. Or a meal planning tool for fitness coaches.
   

   Maybe an ROI calculator for consultants. These are simple apps that solve real problems while building your email list with people who are actually interested in what you do.
   

2. Subscription Software (Monthly Recurring Income)

   This is the dream scenario—passive income that keeps coming in month after month. You build a tool people pay for every month, creating monthly recurring revenue without trading time for money.

   Examples include client tracking apps, specialized AI assistants, or content creation tools. Once you build them, they keep generating income while you sleep.

3. Offer It as a Service (Get Paid to Build for Others)

   Once you know how to do this, you can build apps for other businesses. You can charge $2,000, $5,000, or even $10,000 per app. They get something that would normally cost $20,000 or more to hire developers for. You make great money in just a few hours of work.

This creates a new income stream using a skill you can learn in a weekend.

What AI Can Actually Build Right Now Here's what's possible today—not someday in the future, but right now, today.

Apps You CAN Build:

✅ Lead magnet calculators (ROI, budget, pricing estimators)

✅ Client tracking apps (fitness, nutrition, progress monitoring)

✅ E-commerce shopping apps with loyalty programs

✅ Booking and scheduling systems

✅ Custom chatbots trained on your business

✅ Quiz and assessment tools

✅ Database management apps

✅ Content generation tools (like Revven Prompt Generator)

✅ Home service calculators with contractor matching

✅ Subscription-based niche AI assistants

✅ Community platforms with user authentication

✅ Admin dashboards for business management

✅ Affiliate tracking systems

✅ CRM integrations and webhooks

Features That Work Well:

The features that work especially well include user logins and passwords. Payment processing through services like Stripe or PayPal integrates smoothly. Email capture and notifications work reliably.

Other reliable features:

Photo uploads and image processing Real-time data updates Mobile-responsive designs that work on any device API integrations (OpenAI, Stripe, etc.) Multi-language support Everything you build works on phones, tablets, and computers automatically.

Apps That AI Still Struggles With

I need to be honest with you about the limitations. AI can't build everything yet, and you should know what's hard before you start.

Technical Limitations:

❌ Complex Real-Time Systems: High-frequency trading platforms, real-time multiplayer games

❌ Hardware Integration: Apps requiring direct hardware control (IoT devices without APIs)

❌ Highly Complex Algorithms: Custom AI model training, advanced scientific computing

❌ Native Mobile Apps: Limited support (web apps work great, native iOS/Android harder)

❌ Massive Scale from Day One: Apps requiring infrastructure for millions of users immediately

Common Issues with Current Tools:

With some AI tools, you'll run into problems like the AI "forgetting" what you talked about earlier in the conversation. Some bugs appear in complicated projects with lots of files. And there are limits on how much you can build in one session.

The Big Mindset Shift Before We Start

Here's what most people get wrong about building apps with AI.

Old thinking: "I need to learn how to code."

New thinking: "I need to learn how to describe what I want."

The skills that matter now aren't about memorizing syntax or understanding programming languages. The skills that actually matter are:

• Spotting problems people have

• Explaining solutions clearly in plain language

• Understanding what users need and want

• Testing and improving based on feedback

• Having a good business strategy that makes money

• You're not becoming a programmer

• You're becoming a product creator.

1. What You'll Need to Get Started 

Let me break down exactly what you need and what it costs. I'm being completely transparent here because I want you to know the real numbers.

Required Subscriptions & Costs:

Lovable.dev - $25/month (free trial available)

• This is where you'll build your app

• Cloud integration included

• One-click deployment

• Voice input capabilities

Claude Pro (Optional) - $20/month

• Great for brainstorming ideas

• You can use the free version initially

OpenAI API (If building chatbots) - About $5-10/month

• Pay-as-you-go pricing

• Only needed for AI chat features

For a more professional setup, consider:

• Domain name: $10-15/year (GoDaddy, Namecheap)

• CRM like GoHighLevel: For lead capture (included in Pro membership)

• Stripe: For accepting payments (free setup, transaction fees only)

Total Startup Cost: $25-50/month to start (vs. $20,000+ traditional development)

Time Investment—Here's what to expect time-wise:

First simple app: 30-60 minutes

Learning curve: 2-3 apps to feel comfortable

Ongoing changes: Just a few minutes

What you actually need is simple:

• A computer (Mac or PC, doesn't matter)

• Internet connection

• Modern web browser (Chrome works best)

That's it. No fancy setup, no coding programs, no technical stuff to install.

Step 2. Coming Up With Your App Idea

This is where most people get stuck. They stare at a blank screen thinking "What should I even build?" Don't worry, I'll show you exactly how to use AI to brainstorm ideas.

Why Start With Claude Claude is really good at understanding your business context and generating ideas that fit. It asks the right questions and gives you options you probably wouldn't have thought of on your own.

The Ideation Process

Sub-step 2.1: Define Your Business Context by telling Claude about your business using this template:

Sub-step 2.2: Review and Refine Ideas

Claude will suggest 3-5 detailed app concepts. You're looking for ideas that check these boxes:

✅ Solves a real problem your customers have

✅ Simple enough to build in one sitting

✅ Provides immediate value to users

✅ Aligns with your business goals

✅ Has clear call-to-action for your main offer

Once you see an idea you like, ask Claude to develop it further:

Sub-step 2.3: Get Your Build Prompt

Claude will generate a comprehensive prompt that includes everything you need:

• Detailed feature specifications UI/UX design guidance

• Technical requirements

• Color schemes and branding

• User flow descriptions

• Database structure needs

Save this prompt. You'll paste it directly into Lovable in the next step.

Alternative Brainstorming Approach:

If you already know what you want to build, skip the brainstorming and tell Claude directly:

Step 3. Building Your App in Lovable

This is where the magic actually happens. You'll watch your app come to life in minutes.

Sub-step 3.1: Access Lovable.dev

• Go to lovable.dev 

• Sign up for free trial (no credit card required initially) - but I highly recommend you get a subscription since the free version has a smaller token limit.

• You'll see the main chat interface

Sub-step 3.2: Paste Your Prompt

• Now you'll use what Claude created:

• Copy the entire prompt from Claude Paste it into Lovable's chat box

• Remove any meta-instructions (like "Copy this prompt:")

• Hit Enter or click Send Sub-step

3.3: Enable Cloud (Claude 4.5)

Lovable will ask: "Would you like to use Cloud for better results?"

Always select Yes.

This uses Claude Opus 4.5 which means superior reasoning, fewer bugs, better overall results. Worth the slightly higher credit usage.

Sub-step 3.4: Watch It Build

Here's what happens next:

Lovable shows "Spinning up preview..."

Multiple files are created automatically

Progress indicators show different components

Takes about 1-3 minutes for initial build

Sub-step 3.5: First Preview

Once complete, you'll see your app running live.

Now it's time to test everything:

• Click all the buttons and features

• Fill out forms and submit them

• Try it on your phone (responsive preview)

• Check for any obvious issues

Common First-Build Issues, don't worry if you see these problems:

• Missing logo (you'll add this manually)

• Colors might need adjustment

• Some text might be placeholder

• Features might need refinement

• This is totally normal and easily fixed in the next step.

Step 4. Iterating and Customizing

Here's the coolest part about Lovable that most people don't realize at first. You just talk to it like you're talking to a friend who knows how to code.

Sub-step 4.1: Use Natural Language to Refine

The beauty of Lovable is that you can make changes in plain English. Here are examples of how to request different types of changes.

For Design Changes:

For Feature Additions:

For Functionality Fixes:

For Content Updates:

Sub-step 4.2: Adding Your Branding

Sometimes Lovable has trouble with logos. Here's the easy workaround:

Then you can manually upload your logo file through Lovable's file system.

Brand Colors & Typography:

Sub-step 4.3: Testing Across Devices

Lovable has built-in responsive preview, but you should also test on real devices:

• Your actual phone

• Tablet Desktop at different sizes

• Different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

Common mobile issues to check:

• Buttons big enough to tap easily

• Text readable without zooming

• Forms easy to fill out

• Images load quickly

• No horizontal scrolling

Important note: Don't try to make it perfect in one session. Instead, break your work into focused sessions:

Step 4. Integrating Essential Features

Now let's add the features that turn your app from interesting to actually useful for your business.

Sub-step 4.1: Email Collection Setup

If you're building a lead gen app, you absolutely must capture emails.

Option A: Built-in Database (Simplest)

Option B: CRM Integration (Recommended for Marketing)

For GoHighLevel or any CRM with webhooks:

Setting up GHL webhook:

• Go to GHL → Settings → Webhooks

• Create new webhook

• Copy the URL Paste into

• Lovable prompt above

Sub-step 4.2: Adding AI Chatbot Functionality

If you want conversational AI features like Revven has, you'll need to set up a chatbot.

First, get your OpenAI API key:

• Go to platform.openai.com 

• Sign up / log in

• Go to API Keys

• Create new secret key

• Copy it immediately (you can't see it again)

Then tell Lovable:

Customize the chatbot training:

Sub-step 4.3: Payment Integration (For Subscription Apps)

If you're charging for your app:

You'll need:

• Stripe account (free to set up)

• Stripe API keys (test keys to start)

• Define what features are free vs. paid

Sub-step 4.4: User Authentication (If Needed)

For apps where users need accounts:

Sub-step 4.5: Admin Panel (For Managing Your App)

This is critical for tracking and management:

Step 5. Deployment & Going Live

Now it's time to take your app from development and put it live on the internet where real people can use it.

Sub-step 5.1: Final Pre-Launch Checklist

Before deploying, verify these items:

✅ All features work as expected

✅ Forms submit correctly

✅ Email collection is working

✅ Mobile responsive on all screen sizes

✅ Images and logo display properly

✅ Loading speeds are acceptable

✅ No console errors (check browser developer tools)

✅ Privacy policy and terms (if collecting data)

✅ Contact information is visible

✅ Call-to-action is clear

Sub-step 5.2: Deploy in Lovable

• Click the "Deploy" button in top right of Lovable

• Select "Deploy to Production"

• Lovable auto-configures everything

• You get a live URL: yourapp.lovable.app 

Your app is now live and accessible to anyone on the internet!

Sub-step 5.3: Custom Domain Setup

To use your own domain (e.g., yourapp.com), you can either use:

Option A: Using Entry (Automatic - Easiest)

Lovable uses Entry for seamless domain connection:

1. Click "Add Custom Domain" in Lovable

2. Enter your domain name

3. Click "Connect with Entry"

4. Log into your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)

5. Entry automatically configures DNS settings

6. Wait 10-30 minutes for propagation

7. Done! No manual DNS work needed

Option B: Manual DNS Setup (If Entry Doesn't Support Your Registrar)

If you need to do it manually:

1. Lovable provides DNS records

2. Log into your domain registrar

3. Find DNS settings

4. Add the A record and CNAME records provided

5. Save changes

6. Wait up to 48 hours for propagation

My note: DNS settings always made me nervous. Entry eliminates that fear completely—you just log in and it handles everything automatically.

Sub-step 5.4: SSL Certificate

Good news—this is automatic:

• Automatically included with Lovable deployment

• Your site will have HTTPS (secure)

• No additional setup needed

Sub-step 5.5: Post-Launch Monitoring

In the first 24 hours after launch, stay alert:

• Test the live URL on multiple devices

• Check email notifications are working

• Verify analytics/tracking (if set up)

• Monitor for any user-reported issues

• Have ChatGPT/Claude ready for quick fixes

Step 6: Marketing Your New App And Getting Users To Pay For It

Building the app is just the start. Now you need people to actually use it, or all that work was for nothing.

Sub-step 6.1: Create Viral Growth Mechanisms

Invite-Only System (Like Revven):

Add an invite-only signup system:

• New users need an invite code to access

• After signing up, give users 5 invite codes

• They can share codes with friends

• Track who invited whom

• Add "Request More Invites" button when they run out

Create a page showing:

• Their unique invite codes

• How many people they've invited

• A "Copy Code" button for easy sharing

Keep in mind that you will need to have an established brand or a solid network to have enough people talking about it so it goes viral.

This is great if you already have a community.

Sub-step 6.2: Integrate Affiliate Program

Add affiliate tracking:

• Users can add their affiliate link

• Track signups from their referrals

• Dashboard showing their referral count

• Automatic commission calculation

• [Connect to your payment system if paying commissions]

People already share things they love. Adding money makes them share proactively and persistently. After two referrals, users are essentially using your product free—this removes all price objections.

You gain leverage at scale. Instead of doing all the marketing alone, you have dozens or hundreds promoting across networks you could never reach. People also refer others like themselves, so quality is high.

Launch Strategy—Your launch should happen in phases, not all at once

• Phase one is a soft launch to your existing audience. Email your existing list first. Post on your social media accounts. Share in relevant communities where you're already active. And ask for feedback from these early users.

• Phase two is an invite-only period if you're using that strategy. Create a waitlist to build anticipation. Tease the features without giving full access yet. Build excitement through scarcity.
  

• Phase three is the public launch to everyone. Make a big announcement. Tell everyone you know. Run paid ads if your budget allows. And look for partnerships or collaborations with others in your industry.

So... What's Next?

You made it to the end.

That means something.

Most people would have skimmed this or saved it "for later" (which really means never).

But you read the whole thing.

You're serious about this.

Now comes the important part.

I have two questions for you:

Question 1: Was this helpful? Did this guide give you what you needed? Did it answer your questions? Did it make building an app feel possible instead of impossible?

Hit reply and let me know.

If something wasn't clear, tell me. I'll explain it better.

If something was especially helpful, tell me that too. I want to know what clicked for you.

Question 2: What's the first app you're going to build? Seriously. Right now. What app idea is brewing in your head?

A calculator for your clients? A tracking tool for your coaching program? A quiz to generate leads? Something completely different? Reply and tell me your app idea.

I'm genuinely curious what you're going to create.

Talk soon,

Brian