App Developer Accounts for Business: Apple, Google, D-U-N-S

Quick answer: Set up both store accounts in your company's name before development ends. Get a free D-U-N-S number that matches your legal name and address, enrol in the Apple Developer Program as an organisation (US$99 a year) and open a Google Play Console organisation account (a one-off US$25). Then invite your developer with role-based access rather than sharing a login.

When a business commissions an app, the early conversations are about features, design and price. Whose name sits on the store listing usually comes up in launch week, when the developer offers to "just publish it on our account". That shortcut saves a fortnight and can cost years of awkwardness. Here is the proper setup, in order.

Why should the business, not the developer, own the accounts?

Because the store account, not the code, is where your app's commercial life lives. Owning the source code matters (see our guide to owning your code and IP), but the account holds everything customers see and everything that earns money.

If the agency's account is suspended over another client's app, or a renewal lapses, your app can disappear with it. Moving it later is possible but slow.

Individual or organisation account: which do you need?

A registered business should almost always use organisation accounts. They show your company as the seller, support proper team roles and, on Google Play, skip a testing hurdle that applies to new personal accounts.

Apple's enrolment pages state that organisations must be legal entities, so sole proprietors enrol as individuals. More on that in the FAQ.

How do you get a D-U-N-S number?

A D-U-N-S number is a free nine-digit business identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet, and both stores use it to confirm your company exists. Apply as soon as you sign the development contract, not when the app is nearly finished.

1. Check whether you already have one. Apple's D-U-N-S lookup tool on its developer site searches Dun & Bradstreet's records. Many established businesses are already listed.
2. Match your legal details exactly. The name and address must match your registration documents, so "Pvt Ltd" versus "Private Limited" or an old office address can trigger a mismatch.
3. Request a number if none exists. Submit through Apple's tool. Apple's guidance allows up to five business days for a new number, plus up to two more for Apple to receive it.
4. Allow for corrections. If records need fixing, expect the process to stretch into weeks. This is the most common reason store accounts are late.

How do you enrol in the Apple Developer Program as a company?

Use a company-owned Apple Account, prove your authority and pay the annual fee. The steps:

1. Create an Apple Account on a company email address that will outlive any one employee, such as apps@yourcompany.com, with two-factor authentication on.
2. Make sure your website is live on the company domain; Apple checks it.
3. Enrol as an organisation at Apple's developer site with your D-U-N-S number and legal entity name.
4. Confirm you can bind the company legally. If you are not an owner or director, Apple asks for a reference who can confirm your authority.
5. Answer Apple's verification contact, then pay the fee: US$99 a year, charged in local currency where available. Apple offers fee waivers to eligible non-profits, accredited educational institutions and government bodies.
6. As Account Holder, accept the agreements. If the app sells anything, complete the paid apps agreement, banking and tax forms early, because purchases cannot be tested end to end without them.

How do you set up a Google Play organisation account?

Create the account as an organisation from the start; changing it later only adds verification work.

1. Sign in with a company Google account, not someone's personal Gmail.
2. Choose "organisation" as the account type and enter your D-U-N-S number, legal name and address.
3. Provide a public developer email, phone number and website. Google verifies the contact details and the account owner's identity.
4. Pay the one-off US$25 registration fee.
5. Set up a payments profile if you will sell apps, subscriptions or in-app products.

Because organisation accounts are not bound by the closed-testing requirement for new personal accounts, you can apply for production as soon as the app is ready and reviewed.

How do you give your developer access safely?

Invite people with roles, keep the top-level role yourself and never hand over the Account Holder's password. Both consoles are built for this.

A few habits make this safe:

• Grant access per app where possible, not across the whole account.
• On Google Play, use Play App Signing: Google holds the app signing key and the developer holds only an upload key, which can be reset if lost.
• Use API keys or service accounts for build pipelines, and revoke them when a contract ends.
• Remove leavers on the day they leave, and review the user list quarterly.

What if your app is already under the agency's account?

Ask for a transfer and write the timing into your contract. Both stores support moving an app between accounts, with conditions.

On Apple, App Store Connect has an app transfer process. Both accounts must be in good standing with current agreements, and the app must have at least one approved version. Some technical setups, such as certain iCloud or push notification configurations, need extra work. Apple's documentation lists the criteria.

On Google Play, the Play Console has its own transfer request process, and both accounts must again be in good standing. Ratings and reviews move with the app on both stores.

Plan it between releases, give the developer a deadline and confirm afterwards that payouts, subscriptions, notification keys and analytics all point to your company. If you are about to submit for the first time, our app store submission checklist covers the next stage, and the guide to launching on iOS or Android first helps you decide which account to open first. More guides sit in our mobile apps hub.

Frequently asked questions

Should my app be published under my developer's account?

No. Publish under your own organisation accounts and give the developer role-based access. That keeps the listing, reviews, revenue and subscribers yours if you change developers, and avoids a transfer later.

How long does it take to get a D-U-N-S number?

Apple's guidance allows up to five business days for a new number and up to two more for Apple to receive it. If your company details need correcting with Dun & Bradstreet, it can take weeks, so start at the beginning of the project.

Can a sole trader publish an app as an organisation?

Not with Apple: organisation enrolment requires a legal entity, so sole proprietors enrol as individuals and their personal name appears as the seller. If showing a business name matters, registering a company, LLP or similar entity is the clean route; ask your accountant what suits you.

How much does an Apple developer account cost?

The Apple Developer Program costs US$99 a year, charged in local currency where available, with waivers for eligible non-profits, educational institutions and government bodies. Google Play charges a one-off US$25 registration fee.

Can an app be moved to another developer account?

Yes. Apple and Google both support app transfers, and ratings and reviews move with the app. Conditions apply, some technical settings need rework, and it takes planning, which is why setting up your own account from day one is simpler.

Launch under your own name

We build apps for businesses in India, Australia, the UK and the USA, and we publish them under the client's own organisation accounts as standard. See how our mobile app development works, or tell us about your app and we will send a fixed quote, typically within a business day of a free call.