Publish date:

• 30th April, 2025

Did you know you can maximize your Salesforce investment and generate more revenue by building your application for the AppExchange marketplace?

AppExchange has been a leading software marketplace for many years. It connects millions of active Salesforce users who want to install specific apps for their businesses and invest in app development. This benefits everyone involved. You create and support a solution that meets your business and potential customers' needs.

This guide will help you develop your app for the Salesforce AppExchange. Step by step, you will learn how to join the Partner Community, create your app, and launch it on AppExchange.

What is AppExchange App Development Process

The AppExchange App Development process consists of steps developers follow to create and release apps on Salesforce’s AppExchange marketplace. This process includes planning, designing, developing, testing, reviewing for security, releasing, marketing, and providing ongoing support.

Salesforce AppExchange is an app marketplace where you can find thousands of applications that can help you work better in Salesforce. These applications come in various categories, types, and packages.

How to Build an App for Salesforce AppExchange?

Building your AppExchange app is a multi-step process. First, you need to develop your Salesforce application. After that, you must complete compliance and security reviews. Finally, you will manage the release and provide ongoing support.

This passage will provide a clear step-by-step guide for building a secure, scalable, and profitable Salesforce app.

Step 1: Become a Part of the Salesforce Partner Community

To become a Salesforce AppExchange Partner, join the Salesforce Partner Community. You can do this by filling out a form on AppExchange.

The Salesforce Partner Community is a space for current AppExchange Partners and those interested in joining the AppExchange Partner Program. Here, you can find helpful resources and forums to collaborate with others. You can also get advice on your listings and solutions, attend webinars, and learn best practices.

Step 2. Examine AppExchange Market

AppExchange provides various products and solutions for different Salesforce clouds and products. Market analysis helps you compare competitors’ features, functions, and prices. For the best research results, use AppExchange’s curated collections. These are lists chosen by AppExchange specialists that help you easily find top solutions in various areas.

Step 3: Make the First Sketches of Your Product

After researching existing AppExchange solutions, define your product's unique value and main features. To do this, outline:

• Identify your target audience, whether large enterprises, mid-sized companies, or small businesses. Explain the problems your product will solve for them.

• Your business goals include what you need to sell and when to sell it to succeed.

• You will support different types of Salesforce editions, such as Professional, Enterprise, or Unlimited. Each edition offers various features and prices.

• There are two types of packages available on AppExchange: unmanaged and managed. Managed packages can be upgraded and come with a license for distribution. In contrast, unmanaged packages are open solutions that cannot be upgraded after installation.

• Licenses you want to use for Salesforce.

• Requirements for your AppExchange app’s security.

Your plan for developing the Salesforce app may change by the time you start, but having a clear direction now will help. You will also have a basic roadmap for your product.

Step 4: Identify the type of ISV partnership you have and describe your AppExchange solution.

After you join the Salesforce Partner Community, review current products, and outline a basic roadmap, you must decide what type of ISV partnership you want and the AppExchange solution you will create. There are seven types of ISV Partners:

Salesforce AppExchange applications are mainly categorized into four groups: Bolt Solutions, Flow Solutions, Lightning Data, and Components. Each group serves different needs and requires a different level of knowledge.

• Bolt Solutions are pre-designed templates that you can easily use with Salesforce. These solutions, created by various partners, include industry-specific process flows, apps, Lightning components, and Communities. All of these elements work well together on the Salesforce platform.

• Flow Solutions are a set of tools and business processes created by partners to facilitate the creation of flows and actions on third-party systems without requiring extra integration or coding. They help speed up automation. Examples of Flow Solutions include accepting credit card payments, performing credit checks, checking the weather forecast, and adding a video player.

• Lightning Data is a service that provides real-time updates and enhances data. It connects Salesforce with third-party data through the Lightning Data Engine. This integration supports important activities in sales and marketing.

• Components are the basic parts used to create apps, Bold solutions, and custom pages in Lightning. They are reusable and responsive, and they have all the code needed to function, making it easy to use them in other apps and pages.

If you find it hard to choose the right Salesforce app type and want a smooth development process, consider consulting Salesforce experts like the Codleo team. They can offer the guidance and support you need.

Step 5: Choose the Programming Type and Tools to Build Your Salesforce App

Salesforce provides two ways to create an AppExchange app: using programming or using simple setup tools.

Declarative tools, often called "clicks," help you build applications using business rules and logic instead of writing code. It means you don’t need coding skills; you need an understanding of Force.com concepts. Using clicks instead of code makes it easier for non-developers to create apps and manage existing data.

Programmatic tools require coding skills but allow developers to go beyond what is possible with standard Salesforce.com features. 

Programmatic tools include:

• Apex is a cloud-based programming language similar to Java and C#. It is built into the Salesforce platform, allowing developers to work quickly and safely with Salesforce data and features. Apex also lets you connect with third-party services to expand your app's capabilities.

• Lightning Components is a JavaScript framework for creating reusable components. These components can build user interfaces, manage client-side events, and communicate with the Salesforce server. You can use them to develop and improve apps.

• Visualforce is a markup language that uses tags, similar to HTML, to create user interface (UI) pages and components. It allows you to build objects and user actions like Lightning Web Components. Visualforce works well with third-party libraries such as jQuery and AngularJS. However, it's an older technology, so using it only in specific situations is best.

Step 6. Build Your Salesforce App

After choosing the right solution type, programming language, packaging, and licensing, begin the Salesforce application development process. You can either use your internal resources or hire a dedicated team.

Creating a Salesforce app with your team can be a good choice if you have enough resources to manage the entire AppExchange product lifecycle.

Hiring a dedicated team of AppExchange app developers for Salesforce app development ensures your solution stands out and provides the best value for users. These experts guide you through the development process and handle app testing, release management, support, marketing, and further configurations.

Step 7. Test Your Salesforce App

To ensure the best performance of your application for all users, conduct thorough end-to-end testing in specialized environments and follow best practices for testing. Use manual and automated mobile app testing to find and fix bugs or errors. We suggest using Salesforce Platform’s testing tools to identify bugs and other potential issues.

Step 8. Prepare Your App for the Launch on AppExchange

After testing and finalizing the app, the next step is to prepare it for submission to the Salesforce AppExchange. This involves creating managed packages and providing screenshots. You will also need a clear and brief overview of the app’s features, a demo video, and additional documents like user guides and FAQs.

Step 9. Submit Your Salesforce App for Security Review and Market It

Your solution must pass a security review and meet specific security requirements to be listed on AppExchange. This process will take 3-5 months, and patience is essential during it.

During the AppExchange security review, we test how well your solution protects customer data. This process also helps find any security weaknesses that hackers, malware, or other threats might exploit.

You can prepare the software code for the submission using the following 2 automatic tools and 1 approach:

• The Source Code Scanner lets users schedule scans, view scan reports, and manage scan credits for their organizations.

• Chimera Scanner is a cloud-based service that scans third-party websites.

• Salesforce Partners can book a meeting with the AppExchange Security Engineers and the Security Review Operations team to discuss any security concerns related to their AppExchange application.

After you check and review the code, submit the solution for a security review to the Salesforce team.

Salesforce security review teams use threat models based on common web vulnerabilities to check your solution. They try to break through the defenses in your solution to access or change data that they shouldn't be able to reach, acting like real security threats.

Once your app is approved, launch it on AppExchange. Then, start promoting it to Salesforce users.

Here’s a simple guide to building an app for Salesforce AppExchange. The steps may change depending on the tools and technologies you choose and the complexity of your app.

Potential Revenue from Developing Apps for Salesforce AppExchange

The money you can make from developing apps on Salesforce AppExchange can vary. It depends on factors like the app’s quality, the size of your target market, the app's price, and your marketing strategy. Despite these variables, it's still an excellent chance for developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to earn money.

Salesforce states that AppExchange partners typically earn three times what they invest in creating an app. AppExchange also connects developers directly with many Salesforce customers and potential users. Once an app is listed in the AppExchange marketplace, Salesforce users can easily find and use it, leading to significant revenue.

Salesforce AppExchange Development makes money from different sources, such as:

• Subscription fees: Many apps on AppExchange charge a monthly or yearly subscription fee. The fee may depend on the number of users, the features chosen, or the amount of use.

• Licensing fees: Some apps on AppExchange have a one-time licensing fee. This fee may depend on how many users you have or what features you choose.

• Consulting fees: Some developers provide consulting services to help customers with implementation, customization, and integration.

• Revenue share: Developers can earn money by sharing part of their app's revenue with Salesforce.

The potential income from developing apps for Salesforce AppExchange can be very high, especially for quality apps that solve specific business challenges and meet needs that are not currently addressed in the market.

Why Choosing Codleo as an AppExchange App Development Partner

There are several reasons why you might consider choosing Codleo Consulting as your AppExchange App Development partner:

Experienced Salesforce AppExchange Partner since 2019
Codleo Consulting has experience creating custom Salesforce applications for different industries. Since 2019, we have been a partner on Salesforce AppExchange and have completed over 200 projects.

Multifaceted expertise provided by 40+ Salesforce App Development experts
Our team includes certified Salesforce AppExchange developers and consultants skilled in different Salesforce technologies like Apex, Lightning, and Salesforce APIs. We hold many certifications, allowing us to provide strong expertise in various development services. These services include:

• Preparing your app for the Salesforce Security Review

• Building new features

• Upgrading and fixing bugs in your existing AppExchange apps

• Launching and optimizing your AppExchange listing

• Deploying managed packages in Salesforce

• Consulting on how to become an ISV or OEM partner for Salesforce

• Designing app UI/UX

• Conducting testing and code reviews

• Providing support

The customer-focused approach we’ve been following since 1996
We focus on our client's unique needs and goals. Our team works closely with clients during the Salesforce app development process to ensure that the final product meets their expectations and adds value to their business.

Collaborative and long-lasting partnerships with clients

As a skilled Salesforce AppExchange development company, we prioritize building long-term client relationships. We work with our clients throughout development, including planning, design, testing, and deployment.

End-to-end software development services 

Our team offers complete services for developing apps on the Salesforce AppExchange. This includes planning, designing, building the app, testing, deploying, and managing the release. By handling every step of the Salesforce AppExchange development process, we ensure our clients have a smooth and efficient experience.

If you need a trustworthy and experienced partner to develop Salesforce AppExchange Apps, consider Codleo. Contact us to begin our partnership.