Single or Company iTunes Connect account, that is the question. I just formed a single person LLC because I want to release my next game under that entity name.
However, it seems like overkill to get a DUNS number and register as a company with Apple. Can I just register as a single/sole proprietor and use the LLC name so it appears in the app store this way? i.e. first name “MyLLCName”, last name “LLC”?
Anyone doing this now?
I’m no expert and you may want to read up on fine prints, and if your budget permits, perhaps consult with a lawyer, but I do not think you should use LLC (limited liability company) as part of your company name when in fact you are a sole proprietor. If the legal status of your company is not LLC, I don’t think it’s okay to represent it as such.
Naomi
Edit: Wait, you did form LLC? Then you should be able to register your account as a company. I don’t remember if you needed DUNS number. If you formed LLC, you should have an official paperwork that says you are. Did you not file it with the state?
Yeah, I bit the bullet and applied for my DUNS number, which Apple needs in order for me to register my company. I was growing impatient waiting for their Developer site to come back online so I could even create my company profile, and then immediately ran into this roadblock.
Deep breath, wait a few more weeks.
And yes, everyone is now required to have a DUNS number when setting up a company account.
Ah, that’s interesting (re: DUNS number requirement.) Wouldn’t your company’s tax ID, Articles of Organization from the state, and perhaps the copy of the business registration/license with the city your company is located – aren’t these enough already? I wonder why Apple wants DUNS number too on top of everything…
Naomi
I don’t think wise to apply to a individual account using a company entity. It is better get the DUNS number, it is free and does not take too long.
About the difference names (seller name, …), I wrote a post about that. You can find it here: http://www.adventuresofanentrepreneur.net/1/post/2013/03/seller-company-name-in-app-store.html
D&B say they’ll give you a new DUNS in one business day, but this is what I’ve been reading online from various users:
D&B will take 5-6 business days to give you your number
Apple will then take 14 business days before finding a problem with your DUNS record
Apple and D&B will jerk you around and blame the other party, until someone at Apple finally shrugs and creates your account
I’m counting on another 30 days minimum before I can even get my developer account created, after which I have to get all my certs/profiles, upload the game, and wait another two weeks.
As to why, Naomi, my guess is some corrupt corporation lobbied their corrupt congressman to create new regulations to help make it harder for the little guy to compete. They probably snuck it into a defense bill with an Orwellian title like “Small Business Fraud Prevention Act”, and then scheduled a photo-op with the two parties shaking hands and telling everyone how they just made America Safer For Doing Business.
Bureaucracy doesn’t just give me a headache, it crushes my soul.
You are luck. Here in Brazil we need to wait up to 3 months to D&B create the DUNS number for free.
One thing that I noticed (and I also wrote in another post) is that if you keep trying to register you account in iTunes connect and it does not work, even after the 2 weeks after the DUNS number was created, may be because your account was suspended (due to several incomplete registration).
One thing that you can do is create a personal account with your own name and then request apple to change it to a corporate account. That way you don’t have to wait and they will change all your names in the iTunes (At least, that is what I read).
Renato - Thanks. I do already have a personal account, but still have to wait for my DUNS number before converting. Also, that’s the account that I use for my iPhone login to the App Store, so I wonder how that would be affected.
Good thought, though. I’ll look into it when I get my DUNS.
Update.
Getting the DUNS number was relatively painless. Took a couple business days, no cost. I went as far as I could with the iOS Developer registration, now I’m in a holding pattern while Apple reviews the info.
In start contrast, took five minutes to set up a new Google Developer account.
Hi Dave,
Shouldn’t take long… once Apple has the info, the approval is pretty quick (at least it was for me). Hold tight. 
Brent
Yeah, I think I’m in the home stretch.
Here’s a sneak preview. My website is kind of spartan at the moment, but there’s a short video that demonstrates game play.
I’m no expert and you may want to read up on fine prints, and if your budget permits, perhaps consult with a lawyer, but I do not think you should use LLC (limited liability company) as part of your company name when in fact you are a sole proprietor. If the legal status of your company is not LLC, I don’t think it’s okay to represent it as such.
Naomi
Edit: Wait, you did form LLC? Then you should be able to register your account as a company. I don’t remember if you needed DUNS number. If you formed LLC, you should have an official paperwork that says you are. Did you not file it with the state?
Yeah, I bit the bullet and applied for my DUNS number, which Apple needs in order for me to register my company. I was growing impatient waiting for their Developer site to come back online so I could even create my company profile, and then immediately ran into this roadblock.
Deep breath, wait a few more weeks.
And yes, everyone is now required to have a DUNS number when setting up a company account.
Ah, that’s interesting (re: DUNS number requirement.) Wouldn’t your company’s tax ID, Articles of Organization from the state, and perhaps the copy of the business registration/license with the city your company is located – aren’t these enough already? I wonder why Apple wants DUNS number too on top of everything…
Naomi
I don’t think wise to apply to a individual account using a company entity. It is better get the DUNS number, it is free and does not take too long.
About the difference names (seller name, …), I wrote a post about that. You can find it here: http://www.adventuresofanentrepreneur.net/1/post/2013/03/seller-company-name-in-app-store.html
D&B say they’ll give you a new DUNS in one business day, but this is what I’ve been reading online from various users:
D&B will take 5-6 business days to give you your number
Apple will then take 14 business days before finding a problem with your DUNS record
Apple and D&B will jerk you around and blame the other party, until someone at Apple finally shrugs and creates your account
I’m counting on another 30 days minimum before I can even get my developer account created, after which I have to get all my certs/profiles, upload the game, and wait another two weeks.
As to why, Naomi, my guess is some corrupt corporation lobbied their corrupt congressman to create new regulations to help make it harder for the little guy to compete. They probably snuck it into a defense bill with an Orwellian title like “Small Business Fraud Prevention Act”, and then scheduled a photo-op with the two parties shaking hands and telling everyone how they just made America Safer For Doing Business.
Bureaucracy doesn’t just give me a headache, it crushes my soul.
You are luck. Here in Brazil we need to wait up to 3 months to D&B create the DUNS number for free.
One thing that I noticed (and I also wrote in another post) is that if you keep trying to register you account in iTunes connect and it does not work, even after the 2 weeks after the DUNS number was created, may be because your account was suspended (due to several incomplete registration).
One thing that you can do is create a personal account with your own name and then request apple to change it to a corporate account. That way you don’t have to wait and they will change all your names in the iTunes (At least, that is what I read).
Renato - Thanks. I do already have a personal account, but still have to wait for my DUNS number before converting. Also, that’s the account that I use for my iPhone login to the App Store, so I wonder how that would be affected.
Good thought, though. I’ll look into it when I get my DUNS.
Update.
Getting the DUNS number was relatively painless. Took a couple business days, no cost. I went as far as I could with the iOS Developer registration, now I’m in a holding pattern while Apple reviews the info.
In start contrast, took five minutes to set up a new Google Developer account.
Hi Dave,
Shouldn’t take long… once Apple has the info, the approval is pretty quick (at least it was for me). Hold tight.
Brent