How to Write an App Requirements Document (With Template)

A requirements document is the single most important thing you create before building an app. It prevents miscommunication, scope creep, and wasted money. Here is how to write one, even if you are not technical.

What a requirements document is

It is a plain-language description of what your app does, who it is for, and how it works. Not a technical spec. Not wireframes. A clear written description that a developer can read and quote accurately.

Think of it as a contract between you and your development team. It says: here is what we are building, here is what we are not building, and here is how we will know when it is done.

Section 1: The problem statement

Two to three sentences. Who has the problem? What is the problem? What happens if it stays unsolved?

Example: Licensed cosmetologists must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years to keep their license. Most track credits on paper or in spreadsheets. Missed deadlines mean expired licenses and lost income.

Section 2: The user

Describe your primary user. Not a persona document. A real description. What device do they use? When do they use the app? What is their skill level? What do they care about?

Example: Working cosmetologists, age 25-55, using iPhones and Android phones. They open the app after completing a class to log credits. They are not tech-savvy. The app must be simple enough to use while standing at a salon chair.

Section 3: Feature list

Write every feature as a user story. 'As a [user], I can [action] so that [benefit].' List them in priority order. Mark each as 'v1' or 'later.'

V1 features ship in the first version. 'Later' features are real but they wait until you have user feedback. Be ruthless about what goes in v1. Less is more.

Section 4: Screen list

List every screen with a one-line description. Login screen. Home screen. Credit entry screen. Settings screen. Give each screen a name and a purpose.

You do not need to design them. Just list them. A developer can estimate more accurately when they know how many screens exist.

Section 5: Integrations

Does the app need to connect to anything? Payment processing (Stripe). Email service (SendGrid). Push notifications (Firebase). Analytics (PostHog). List every external service.

Each integration adds time and cost. Knowing them upfront prevents surprise scope changes.

Section 6: What is NOT in scope

This section is as important as the feature list. Write down everything you are intentionally leaving out of v1. Social features. Admin dashboard. Multi-language support. Whatever you decided to skip, write it here.

This prevents the 'I assumed that was included' conversation three weeks into the build.

Section 7: Success criteria

How do you know the project is done? Define it. 'The app is in the App Store and Google Play. A user can create an account, log credits, view their progress, and receive deadline reminders.' That is a finish line.

Template

You do not need fancy software. A Google Doc with these seven sections is enough. Write in plain language. Skip the jargon. If a developer cannot understand your requirements document, they will not understand your app.

At Anvil Road, every project starts with this document. We help clients write it if they need help. The 2 hours spent on requirements saves 20 hours of rework during the build.