Has anyone here taken an MVP app all the way to the iOS App Store + real sales? What’s the actual protocol?

I’m building an app MVP and I’m trying to understand the *real* path from “it works on my phone” to **published on the iOS App Store** **&** **getting paid customers**.

If you’ve been through this end-to-end, I’d love the honest version. I see plenty of influencers saying they are making apps and copying apps but not selling their new app.

1. **Can any MVP be shipped, or does Apple expect “production quality” from day 1?**\

What are the common rejection reasons you hit?

2. **What’s the protocol / checklist to go from MVP → App Store?**\

Like the real steps: certificates, provisioning, TestFlight, App Store Connect, screenshots, privacy labels, etc.

3. **Payments:**

- Did you use Apple In-App Purchases, Stripe, or both?

- If it’s a digital product/subscription, is IAP mandatory?

- Any mistakes that caused rejection or delays?

4. **Privacy + compliance:**\

What did you need to have ready (privacy policy, data collection disclosures, account deletion, tracking permissions)?

5. **Launch + sales:**\

Once you were approved, what actually moved the needle?

- ASO (keywords, screenshots, reviews)

- paid ads vs organic

- influencers / UGC

- pricing tests

If you reply, could you include:

- what kind of app it was (utility, habit app, SaaS companion, etc.)

- how long approval took (and how many rejections)

- what you’d do differently on your next launch

I’m aiming to go from **MVP to approved to first real sales**. I feel like in it is very possible would love to hear of someones sucess to push me over the line.

Cheers, Damien.