Pre-built web apps can turn a complicated, code-heavy launch into a straightforward setup. With the right template, you get a nearly complete business in a box: payment handling, authentication, AI integrations, and a customer-facing UI all ready to customise. This guide walks through the exact steps to clone, configure, brand and deploy an AI app quickly, plus the gotchas to watch for so your launch goes smoothly.
What these pre-built apps include
- Bring-your-own-key AI models — support for OpenAI, Google models, Gemini and others.
- Payments and billing — Stripe integration for charging customers.
- Authentication — Google OAuth so users can sign in with their Google accounts.
- Built-in tools — CRM, SMTP email setup, AI agent, SEO tools and downloadable front/back-end source code.
- Ready-to-use AI flows — image-to-video or text-to-video generation templates, sample videos and sales copy that you can edit.
“it’s basically a business in a box.”
Prerequisites before you begin
- API keys for at least one AI provider (OpenAI, Google, Gemini, etc.). You can add more models later.
- Stripe account and API key. Use a test key while configuring and testing.
- Domain name purchased and ready to point to the app when you deploy.
- Google OAuth setup in cloud.google.com if you want Google sign-in — you will need the redirect URL and client ID/secret.
- Brand assets such as logo and hero images for quick customisation.
- Billing enabled on your cloud account (important for access to certain AI models and image generation).
Step-by-step: Clone, configure, customise, deploy
- Choose and clone a template. Select the template that matches your goal — nano biz, Sora video, AI clips or similar — and clone it into your account so you have your own project copy.
- Enter API keys. Start with at least one working key (for testing). Go to the project settings and add keys for the models you plan to use. You can leave optional models empty and add them later via the project admin.
- Set up Stripe. Paste your Stripe API key into the billing settings. Always use test keys until you verify flows like sign-up, checkout and order handling.
- Configure Google authentication. Create an OAuth client in Google Cloud, add the platform redirect URL, then paste the client ID and secret into the app settings so users can sign in with Google.
- Customise the UI and copy. Replace the hero image, tweak headings and sales points, and add a privacy policy. Save frequently while making these edits.
- Upload brand assets. Add your logo in settings → assets, copy the image address and swap out the placeholder logo for your own.
- Set a custom domain. Add your domain (and www variant) in settings → custom domain. DNS changes can take time; allow up to 24 hours in some cases.
- Add or enable models later via Project Admin. Use the Project Admin screen to activate additional video or image models once you have their keys.
- Deploy and test. Deploy the project to the chosen domain, then sign up, log in, create a sample job (upload an image or enter text) and make sure the generation works end to end.
Testing and troubleshooting tips
- Always use test Stripe keys first. This prevents accidental charges while verifying the payment flow.
- Check cloud billing tiers. Some free tiers restrict access to advanced AI models. If generation fails, confirm the API key has the required permissions and that billing is enabled. A failed image generation often indicates a restricted account tier.
- Save often. The editor does let you edit copy, but accidental losses are frustrating; hit save regularly.
- Start with one model. Get a single AI provider working before adding extra models — that simplifies troubleshooting.
- Test signup flows. Create a sample user, sign in via OAuth, and simulate a purchase to ensure orders and billing record correctly.
- Use the admin panel. The Project Admin view shows which models are active and where keys must be added.
Pricing, scalability and next steps
Templates typically come with tiered pricing options such as free, basic, pro and ultimate. Choose the tier that matches your projected usage and the number of tokens or generations you need. As demand grows, you can add additional models (OpenAI, Sora2, Gemini) and scale the infrastructure, or download the front and back end source code for full control.
Once deployed, focus on marketing and customer acquisition. The template provides the core product; success comes from positioning, pricing and delivering reliable AI outputs to paying customers.
Final checklist before you open the doors
- API keys entered and tested for at least one model
- Stripe test flow verified, then swap to live keys when ready
- Google OAuth configured and sign-in verified
- Brand assets and privacy policy uploaded
- Domain configured and DNS propagated
- At least one end-to-end generation tested successfully
With these steps completed, a polished, customer-ready AI app can be live in around 30 minutes. The pre-built template handles the heavy lifting so the focus can be on branding, pricing and growth.
