How to Identify the First Power App You Should Build

Introduction

Starting your Power Apps journey? You’re not alone. Thousands of businesses—from HR teams to operations leads—are building their first apps to solve real bottlenecks. The Power Platform is designed for fast wins, low risk, and high impact. But choosing what to build first can make or break your success.

This guide helps you pick the right first Power App by sharing proven use cases, a readiness checklist, and the biggest pitfalls to avoid. Let’s get started.

Blog Index

Why Start with Power Apps?

Power Apps makes it easy for non-developers and IT teams to solve everyday business problems—without writing traditional code.

According to Microsoft, over 7.5 million apps and solutions were built using Power Platform by the end of 2023, with the majority created by business users.

A successful first app builds momentum. It can:

Eliminate spreadsheet chaos

Speed up manual approvals

Improve visibility across teams

Inspire other teams to innovate

Stat Highlight: 7.5M+ apps were built using Power Platform as of 2023 (source: powerplatform.microsoft.com)

What Makes a Great First Power App?

Not every problem is a good candidate for your first Power App. You want something that:

Solves a visible, repetitive pain point
Doesn’t require complex integrations at launch
Can be built in under 3 weeks
Impacts 1–2 departments or teams
Involves simple data (like Excel, SharePoint, or Forms)

The goal is quick success—not perfection.

7 First-App Ideas That Deliver Immediate Value

Here are app types we’ve built for clients in their first Power Apps project:

Leave Request / Approval App

Incident Reporting App

Onboarding Checklist App

Inventory Tracker

Customer Feedback Collector

Site Visit Log / Field App

Training Tracker

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Start small. Focus on one process, not the whole business.

Even if it’s internal, you need feedback loops.

Always document who owns the app and how it should be maintained.

Final Checklist: Is Your Idea Ready?

Visual Readiness Checklist

Use this 5-point checklist before you start building:

Timeline: Can be built in under 3 weeks
Scope: Involves only 1–2 departments
Simplicity: Doesn’t rely on complex external systems
Data Source: Uses familiar tools like Excel, SharePoint, or Forms
User Roles: Has clearly defined submitters, approvers, and viewers

If you checked most of these—your first Power App idea is likely a winner.

FAQs

What’s the typical timeline to build a Power App?

A simple Power App can typically be built in 2 to 3 weeks, depending on complexity and data integrations.

Do I need a license to start building?

Yes. Microsoft offers Power Apps per user and per app plans, and many Microsoft 365 plans include basic Power Apps access.

How much does it cost to build a Power App?

Projects often start around €3,000–€8,000 depending on complexity.

Can I connect Power Apps to Excel or SharePoint?

Yes—these are two of the most common data sources for first-time builders.

What happens after I launch the app?

Plan for ongoing support: define an app owner, collect feedback, and iterate based on user needs.

👉 Need help defining your first Power App?