Setting up an Apple developer account as a company (D-U-N-S)
Short answer: If your app should be published under your limited company's name, enrol in the Apple Developer Program as an organisation, which needs a D-U-N-S number, a website on your own domain and an email address on that domain. Look up or request the D-U-N-S number first, because it can take about a week before Apple can see it. Do the same groundwork for a Google Play organisation account, then invite your developer into both accounts rather than letting them publish under theirs.
An app launch can stall for reasons that have nothing to do with code: a business owner discovers, the week the app is ready, that the developer account is in a freelancer's name, or that Apple cannot verify the company. A little preparation before the build avoids both.
Step by step: Apple
1. Decide: individual or organisation
Apple's enrolment page treats individuals and sole proprietors or single-person businesses as individuals. Your personal legal name is then shown as the seller on the App Store. Companies that are legal entities enrol as organisations, and the organisation's legal name is shown instead.
For a UK limited company, organisation enrolment is usually what you want. Customers see the company as the seller, and the account belongs to the business rather than to whoever set it up.
2. Check who will be the Account Holder
The person who enrols becomes the Account Holder. Apple says that person must have legal authority to bind the organisation to agreements: an owner or founder, an executive, a senior project lead, or an employee given that authority by a senior employee. That should be someone inside your business, not an external agency. They need an Apple Account with two-factor authentication turned on.
3. Confirm the legal entity name
Apple says it does not accept trading names, fictitious names or branches. Use the company's exact registered name, as it appears on your registration documents, including "Limited" or "Ltd" exactly as registered. If your brand differs from your company name, the brand can be your app's name; the legal name is what appears as the seller.
4. Look up or request your D-U-N-S number
A D-U-N-S number is a nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet. Apple's D-U-N-S support page explains that your company may already have one, and that you can look it up and, if it is not listed, submit your details for a free number. You will be asked for the legal entity name, headquarters address, mailing address and your work contact details, and D&B may contact you, so keep your registration documents handy.
Timing, according to the same page: allow up to five business days to receive the number, and then up to two business days for Apple to receive it from D&B. If the application takes more than two weeks, Apple suggests emailing D&B.
5. Prepare your domain email and website
Apple's enrolment page says your work email must be on your organisation's domain, and your website must be public, functional and on a domain associated with the organisation. Social media pages, near-empty sites and registrar holding pages are not accepted. A simple company website with your name, what you do and contact details is enough; a "coming soon" page is a risk.
6. Enrol and pay
Enrol through the Apple Developer website or app, agree to the licence agreement and pay the membership. Apple's enrolment page lists the programme at 99 USD per membership year as of November 2026, shown in local currency during enrolment, with fee waivers for some nonprofit, education and government organisations.
7. Invite your developer with the right role
Once approved, add people rather than sharing the login. Apple's roles page lists Account Holder, Admin, App Manager, Developer, Finance, Marketing, Sales and Customer Support, each with different permissions. Typically:
- You stay Account Holder (and add a second trusted person as Admin)
- Your agency or freelancer gets App Manager or Developer access for the apps they work on
- Your accountant gets Finance if you sell in-app purchases
Only the Account Holder can renew the membership and accept new legal agreements, so make sure that person reads Apple's emails.
Parallel steps: Google Play
Google Play also distinguishes personal and organisation developer accounts. Its help page on required information lists, for an organisation account: a D-U-N-S number, organisation name and address (taken from the linked Google Payments profile), organisation phone number and website, a contact name, email and phone for Google, and a developer email and phone shown on your store profile. Google notes that a D-U-N-S number is free from Dun & Bradstreet and warns about third-party services that charge high fees for it.
Your identity details are verified before you can publish, and some details, such as your legal name and developer email, are shown on Google Play.
One practical difference: Google's page on testing requirements says personal accounts created after 13 November 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in for at least 14 days before applying for production access. That requirement is described for personal accounts, which is another reason a company should use an organisation account.
As with Apple, add your developer as a user with the permissions they need instead of handing over the owner's Google account.
Common blockers
- "Your organisation is not listed as a legal entity." Apple's D-U-N-S page says this means D&B lists a different legal status, such as a sole proprietorship, or the status is not verified. Check the name matches your registration exactly, or contact D&B with your documents.
- Name mismatch. The legal name on D-U-N-S, the enrolment form and your website footer should match.
- Free email addresses. A Gmail or Outlook.com address will not satisfy Apple's domain email requirement.
- Address changes. If you moved premises recently, update D&B first; Apple says updated D&B information can take up to two business days to reach it.
- The account is already in your developer's name. Moving an existing app later is possible but involves extra steps; setting up correctly first is far easier.
- Account Holder leaves the company. Apple supports transferring the Account Holder role; do it before they go.
FAQ
Can a sole trader get an organisation account?
Apple's pages say sole proprietors and single-person businesses enrol as individuals, so your personal name would show as the seller.
Does a D-U-N-S number cost anything?
Both Apple and Google describe requesting one from Dun & Bradstreet as free. Paid "expedite" offers do not shorten Apple's stated waiting period.
Can my agency enrol on my behalf?
The Account Holder must have authority to bind your company, so it should be someone in your business. The agency can then be invited with limited access.
Do I need separate accounts for Apple and Google?
Yes. They are separate programmes with their own verification, so start both at the same time.
If you would like your developer accounts set up in your company's name before the build starts, let us know where you are.