Step-by-step guide: Apple Developer Account → Firebase → Expo → App Store
Google's database. Free tier covers up to 50,000 reads/day and 20,000 writes/day — enough for hundreds of dealers. Easy to set up, great documentation, works perfectly with React Native / Expo.
Free tier: 50K reads + 20K writes/day
Paid: ~$25/mo when you scale
Open-source Firebase alternative. Uses PostgreSQL (more powerful). Also free to start. Slightly harder to set up. Better if you want full SQL control.
Free tier: 500MB storage, 2GB bandwidth
Paid: $25/mo
Go to developer.apple.com/programs → Click "Enroll" → Sign in with your Apple ID → Choose Individual (if just you) or Organization (needs a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet, takes ~5 days) → Pay $99/year → Wait 24–48hrs for approval email.
Go to console.firebase.google.com → Click "Add Project" → Name it AutoDealerPro → Disable Google Analytics (not needed) → Click "Create Project" → Then: Enable Firestore Database (your car/expense data) + Enable Authentication (email/password login for your users).
Go to revenuecat.com → Sign up free → Create a new project → Name it "Auto Dealer Pro" → You'll connect this to Apple later in Step 8. RevenueCat handles ALL subscription logic so you don't have to.
You NEED a Mac for iOS development. Install in this order:
1. Node.js → nodejs.org → Download LTS version → Install
2. Xcode → Open Mac App Store → Search "Xcode" → Install (it's 15GB, takes time)
3. Expo CLI → Open Terminal → type: npm install -g expo-cli
4. EAS CLI → In Terminal: npm install -g eas-cli
Open Terminal and run:
npx create-expo-app AutoDealerPro --template blank
Then: cd AutoDealerPro
Then install Firebase: npm install firebase
Then install RevenueCat: npm install react-native-purchases
Then install navigation: npm install @react-navigation/native
In Firebase Console → Click your project → Click the iOS icon → Enter your Bundle ID (e.g. com.yourname.autodealerpro) → Download GoogleService-Info.plist → Place this file in your project's root folder. Then in your App.js add:
import { initializeApp } from 'firebase/app';
const firebaseConfig = { ...paste your config from Firebase... };
initializeApp(firebaseConfig);
Install Expo Go app on your iPhone from the App Store → In Terminal run: npx expo start → Scan the QR code with your iPhone camera → Your app opens instantly on your phone. Test everything: login, adding cars, uploading invoices, all forms.
Go to appstoreconnect.apple.com → My Apps → Create New App → Fill info → Go to Subscriptions section → Create Subscription Group "Auto Dealer Pro Plans" → Add products: com.autodealerpro.monthly ($29.99/mo) and com.autodealerpro.yearly ($249.99/yr) → Then go to RevenueCat and paste these product IDs there.
In Terminal run: eas login → Log in with your Expo account
Then: eas build:configure
Then: eas build --platform ios
EAS (Expo Application Services) builds your app in the cloud — no Xcode required! Takes about 15–20 minutes. You'll get a download link when done.
Run: eas submit --platform ios → This uploads your build to App Store Connect automatically.
Then in App Store Connect: Add screenshots (use our mockups in Section ②) → Write description (use Section ②) → Set age rating to 4+ → Category: Business → Click Submit for Review → Apple reviews in 1–3 business days → You're LIVE! 🎉
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Developer Account | $99/year | Required for App Store |
| Google Play (Android) | $25 one-time | Optional, do later |
| Firebase | Free to start | Pay only when scaling |
| RevenueCat | Free to start | Free until $2,500/mo revenue |
| Expo / EAS Build | Free (limited) / $29/mo | Free tier = 30 builds/month |
| Domain (optional) | ~$12/year | autodealerpro.app or .com |
| TOTAL to launch | ~$111–$140 | First year |
Everything you need to fill out your App Store page
Auto Dealer Pro
Dealership Manager & Profit Tracker
Run your entire dealership from your pocket.
Auto Dealer Pro is the #1 profit tracking and inventory management app built specifically for independent car dealers. Whether you flip 5 cars a month or manage 500+ units a year, our app gives you complete control of your business.
📦 INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Add every vehicle with VIN, make, model, year, color and a unique auto-generated Stock Number (SKU). Attach photos, invoices, title, and documents directly to each car. Track every unit from purchase to sale.
💰 PROFIT CALCULATOR
Know your exact profit on every car. Add purchase price, parts, labor, body shop, taxes, and more. The app automatically calculates your overhead (as a % of business expenses or a fixed amount) and shows your real net profit and margin percentage.
🧾 AI INVOICE SCANNING
Take a photo of any bill or receipt and our AI instantly extracts the vendor, amount, date, and category. No more manual entry.
📋 SALES RECORDS
Record every sale with buyer name, seller, VIN, SKU, sale price, and attached documents. See profit and margin instantly on every deal.
🏢 BUSINESS EXPENSES
Track general overhead: electric bills, payroll, rent, licenses, and more. Expenses are automatically factored into each vehicle's cost calculation.
📊 DASHBOARD
See your total revenue, profit, vehicles in stock, and cars sold at a glance. Monthly revenue vs expense charts help you understand your business performance.
Built by dealers, for dealers. Try free for 14 days.
car dealer,auto inventory,vehicle profit,dealership,car lot,used cars,flip cars,auto dealer,lot manager
Each keyword separated by comma. Don't repeat words already in your title.
Primary: Business
Secondary: Finance
4+ — No objectionable content
Free (with in-app subscription)
Create free at termly.io
Your email or simple landing page
"Initial release — Full dealership management"
You need 5 screenshots for iPhone 6.7" (1290×2796 pixels). Use these as your content guides:
Screenshot 1: Dashboard
Screenshot 2: Inventory
Screenshot 3: Car Detail & Profit
3 logo options + full color palette for Auto Dealer Pro
Car + Gear icon combination. Bold, instantly recognizable. Works on dark and light backgrounds.
Clean "A" monogram with speed dash. Very modern, works great as app icon (just the circle part).
Premium navy + gold — conveys trust and professionalism. Great for business cards and print.
App Store name availability and alternatives
| Name | Subtitle | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| LotPro | Car Dealer Manager | Short, catchy, unique. "Lot" = car lot. |
| DealTrack Pro | Dealership Profit Tracker | Action-oriented, clear purpose |
| FlipProfit | Auto Dealer Manager | Appeals to independent flippers |
| CarLedger | Dealer Inventory & Profit | Financial feel. Clean & modern. |
| VehiclePro | Dealer Management System | Broad but professional |
| MotorLedger | Auto Dealer Profit Tracker | Premium, financial, unique |
When creating your app, Apple requires a unique Bundle ID in reverse-domain format. Recommended:
com.yourname.autodealerpro
Replace "yourname" with your actual name or business name, all lowercase, no spaces. Example: com.hectorgarcia.autodealerpro
Register your domain to look professional:
→ autodealerpro.app — ~$12/year on Google Domains
→ autodealerpro.io — ~$40/year
→ autodealerpro.com — May be taken, check at namecheap.com
You need a domain for your Privacy Policy URL (required by Apple). You can host a simple page there.
Complete guide on how to use Auto Dealer Pro — share this with your users
Download Auto Dealer Pro → Tap "Create Account" → Enter your email and password → Enter your dealer name and business name → Your data is securely stored in the cloud and syncs across all your devices.
Go to the Settings tab (⚙️) → Set your default seller name → Set your default overhead calculation (% of business expenses OR a fixed dollar amount per car) → Enter your business name. These settings auto-fill when you add a new vehicle.
Tap Inventory → Tap the blue (+) button → Fill in Make, Model, Year, Color, VIN → The Stock Number (SKU) generates automatically from the last 8 digits of the VIN + 3 random letters (e.g. NX045678-MBQ) → Enter purchase price and date → Set overhead → Attach the purchase invoice → Tap "Add Vehicle".
Every car gets a unique SKU automatically: last 8 of VIN + 3 letters. Example: NX045678-MBQ. Use this number to label your physical folder. When someone asks about a car, search by SKU to find it instantly. Tap "Copy SKU" to copy it to clipboard.
Tap "Scan" inside any car's expense section → Upload a photo of any receipt, bill or invoice → AI reads it and extracts vendor, amount, date and category automatically → Review and confirm → Expense is added. Works with JPG, PNG and PDF files.
Overhead is the share of your general business expenses (rent, utilities, payroll) that belongs to each car. Set it globally in Settings, or customize per car. Two modes: % of total business expenses (e.g. 10%) or Fixed amount per car (e.g. $500 flat). The right choice depends on how many cars you sell per month.
The app calculates automatically: Net Profit = Sale Price − Purchase Price − All Car Expenses − Overhead Share. You also see the margin percentage: Profit ÷ Sale Price × 100.
To delete a vehicle, you must type the full VIN number to confirm. This prevents accidental deletions of important records.
How to manage your subscriptions, pricing, and RevenueCat setup
14 Days
Full access, no credit card required. After trial: must subscribe to continue. This is the best way to get people hooked before they pay.
$29.99/mo
Single dealer license. Unlimited cars, expenses, sales records.
$249.99/yr
Save $110/year vs monthly. Best value. Great upsell after trial.
15–30%
First year subscribers: Apple takes 15%. After 1 year: 30%. RevenueCat shows your real earnings after Apple's cut.
Go to appstoreconnect.apple.com → Your App → Subscriptions → New Subscription Group (name: "Auto Dealer Pro") → Add Product ID: com.autodealerpro.monthly → Price: $29.99 → Add another: com.autodealerpro.yearly → Price: $249.99 → Add 14-day free trial to both.
In RevenueCat dashboard → App Settings → Apple App Store → Paste your App Store Shared Secret (get this from App Store Connect → Subscriptions → App-Specific Shared Secret) → Paste your Bundle ID.
In your app's App.js: import Purchases from 'react-native-purchases';Purchases.configure({apiKey: "YOUR_REVENUECAT_PUBLIC_KEY"});
Then wrap your main app screens with a subscription check: if the user has no active subscription after trial, show the paywall screen.
RevenueCat dashboard shows: active subscribers, MRR (monthly recurring revenue), churn rate, trial conversions. Check it weekly. Your Stripe/bank account gets deposits from Apple monthly (Net +45 days).
Your paywall (subscription screen) should show:
→ ✅ Unlimited vehicles and expenses
→ ✅ AI invoice scanning
→ ✅ Profit calculator with overhead
→ ✅ Sales records & documents
→ ✅ Cloud sync across all devices
→ ✅ Cancel anytime
Then two buttons: Start 14-Day Free Trial and Restore Purchase (required by Apple)
Launch timeline, profit projections, maintenance, and long-term strategy
Create Apple Developer Account · Create Firebase project · Create RevenueCat account · Install Expo + Node.js on your Mac · Register domain autodealerpro.app
Set up Expo project · Connect Firebase Auth + Firestore · Move your web app screens into React Native · Test on your iPhone daily using Expo Go
Add RevenueCat subscription gate · Build paywall screen · Create App Store subscription products · Test with sandbox account
Fix bugs · Design app icon (use Logo Option A from Section 3) · Take screenshots · Write App Store description · Create Privacy Policy on termly.io
Run: eas build --platform ios → Submit to App Store → Wait 1–3 days for Apple review → App goes LIVE 🎉
Post on Facebook groups for independent car dealers · Post on Reddit r/cardealer · Create TikTok/Instagram showing the app in action · Reach out to 20 local dealers directly
Add features based on user feedback · Submit Android version to Google Play · Consider affiliate program for dealers who refer others
| Period | Subscribers | Gross Revenue | After Apple 15% | After Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1–2 (Launch) | 0–10 | $0–$300 | $0–$255 | -$140 (costs) |
| Month 3–6 | 10–50 | $300–$1,500 | $255–$1,275 | $100–$1,000 profit |
| Month 7–12 | 50–200 | $1,500–$6,000 | $1,275–$5,100 | $1,000–$4,800 profit |
| Year 2 | 200–500 | $6,000–$15,000 | $5,100–$12,750 | $4,800–$12,000/mo |
| Year 3 | 500–1,000 | $15K–$30K/mo | $12,750–$25,500 | $12K–$25K/mo |
Check RevenueCat dashboard for new subscribers · Monitor Firebase for errors · Respond to any support emails · Check App Store reviews
Review user feedback · Fix reported bugs · Deploy update to App Store · Check Firebase usage (stay in free tier) · Review revenue numbers
Add 1–2 new features based on user requests · Update iOS SDK dependencies · Review pricing strategy · Plan next quarter's marketing
Renew Apple Developer Account ($99) · Review Firebase plan (upgrade if needed) · Major version update with new features · Tax filing for app income
Easily 5–10+ years with proper maintenance. Here's why:
→ Independent car dealers is a stable market — people will always buy and sell cars
→ Your app solves a real pain point (tracking profit per car) that existing $200+/month tools do poorly
→ Low competition at your price point ($29.99/mo) — most competitors are $150–$500/month
→ Firebase and Expo are maintained by Google and Meta — they will work for many years
→ As long as you release updates for new iOS versions (once/year, usually just 1–2 hours of fixes), Apple keeps you in the store
Search "independent car dealer", "buy here pay here dealers", "used car dealers" on Facebook. Join groups with 5K+ members. Post a short demo video of the app. These are your exact customers.
Record 30-second videos showing: "I tracked my profit on 3 cars this week using this app" → Show the dashboard → Show the profit calculation. Dealers love seeing real numbers. Post 3x per week.
Visit 10–20 local used car dealers in person. Show them the app on your phone. Offer them 1 free month. Word of mouth among dealers travels fast.
Add inside the app: "Refer a dealer → get 1 free month". Dealers who love your app will bring their friends and colleagues. The best marketing is from existing happy users.