Setting Up Apple and Google Developer Accounts
By CodexierPublished 5 min read
Many companies discover too late that their app is published under a freelancer's or former employee's personal account, which makes the developer the legal seller and gives them control over updates, reviews and income. Setting up your own organisation accounts at Apple and Google takes a little paperwork and a few days of waiting. This guide walks through the choices, the verification, the fees and how to give developers access without handing over the keys.
Individual vs organisation accounts
Both stores offer individual and organisation accounts. An individual account shows a person's name as the seller in the store and ties the app to that person. An organisation account shows your company name, lets several people work in it with different roles and survives staff changes. For any business app the choice is simple: organisation account. Sole traders can often register as individuals, but if you trade under a company name, check whether an organisation account is possible for your company form.
D-U-N-S number and verification
A D-U-N-S number is a company identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet. Apple and Google use it to confirm that your company exists and that you have the right to represent it. Many Swedish limited companies already have one; Apple's developer site has a lookup tool, and if yours is missing you can request one free of charge through the same route.
- Check that your company's legal name and address match Bolagsverket's register exactly, including AB or other suffixes.
- Look up or request the D-U-N-S number and wait for confirmation.
- Set up a company email address such as apps@ on your own domain and a phone number that is answered.
- Enrol in the Apple Developer Program as an organisation, signing in with an Apple ID tied to that email. Apple may call to verify your authority to sign for the company.
- Create a Google Play Console organisation account with the same details and complete identity verification.
- Fill in trader information for the EU: under the Digital Services Act both stores show your address, phone and email to EU customers.
Fees and renewals
| Item | Apple | |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Annual membership | One-time registration |
| If it lapses | Apps are removed from sale until renewed | No renewal, but policy violations can close the account |
| Store commission | On paid apps and in-app sales of digital goods | On paid apps and in-app sales of digital goods |
| Payments to you | Needs bank and tax details in App Store Connect | Needs a payments profile in Play Console |
Put the Apple renewal date in the company calendar and pay it with a company card. Apps vanishing because a private card expired is a common and avoidable incident. Our guide to app store fees in the EU covers the commission rules.
Giving developers access safely
Both stores have role-based access. Keep the account holder or owner role with a named person at the company, protected with two-factor authentication, and invite developers with the least access they need. At Apple, the App Manager or Developer roles let an agency upload builds and manage test versions without touching agreements or payments. In Google Play Console you grant permissions per app, such as releasing to testing tracks. Remove access when a project ends, and review the user list twice a year.
Company keeps
Account holder or owner role, agreements, banking and tax, and the signing keys for Android if you manage them yourselves.
Developer gets
Upload builds, manage test groups, edit store listing drafts for the apps they work on.
Nobody gets
Shared passwords. Every person has their own login, so access can be removed individually.
Transferring an app later
If your app already lives in someone else's account, both stores support moving it. Apple's app transfer keeps the app's reviews, ratings and users, provided both accounts are in good standing and the app meets the transfer criteria. Google Play transfers are requested through Play Console and also keep the listing and installs. Some features, such as certain in-app purchase set-ups or shared app groups, need extra steps, so plan the transfer with the current account holder rather than in a dispute.
When you do not need to act: if your app is already in a company account you own and only your own staff have owner rights, you are set. If not, fix it before the next release. When we build a cross-platform MVP app, we publish it in your accounts from day one. Read the app store review guide before your first submission, see the pricing page, or book a call.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a D-U-N-S number?
If your company already has one, the lookup is immediate. A new number can take anything from a few days to a couple of weeks. Request it as soon as you decide to build an app, not the week before launch.
Can a sole trader publish apps as a company?
It depends on whether the stores accept your company form as an organisation. A sole trader with a D-U-N-S number can often register as an organisation; otherwise the account is individual and shows your personal name as seller.
Our agency published the app in their account. What do we do?
Ask them to transfer it to your organisation accounts, which both Apple and Google support. Agree the timing so that a release is not in progress, and make sure you also receive the source code and the Android signing details.
Do we need separate accounts for each app?
No. One organisation account per store can hold all your company's apps. Use separate accounts only for separate legal entities, since each account represents one seller.
Get your store accounts right before launch
Book a short call and tell us where your app is published today, or where it will be. We go through the set-up and, if needed, the transfer plan with you.
Book a free 15-minute call