Publishing applications on Apple App Store and Google Play requires a formal business entity with a valid registration, a public website, and a corporate email domain. Developers must provide official documentation, including a certificate of incorporation, a recent extract from a commercial register, and a VAT registration certificate.
A key requirement for both platforms is obtaining a D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet. Apple requires this nine-digit identifier for organizational enrollment, while Google uses the same database to verify business details. The process involves a strict verification of the entity's legal name, address, and contact information.
Financial setup involves providing a corporate bank account with an IBAN and SWIFT/BIC, along with a bank statement no older than 90 days. Developers must also complete US tax forms, such as W-8BEN-E, and comply with the Digital Services Act by declaring their trader status in the European Union.
The cost of entry includes an annual fee of $99 for the Apple Developer Program and a one-time fee of $25 for the Google Play Console. For developers without an existing foreign entity, the administrative and financial burden of meeting these requirements is significant, leading to suggestions for alternative collaborative models.
Collaborative structures, referred to as 'parent companies' or 'wrappers,' could potentially allow independent developers to bypass the complexity of individual registration. However, such models carry risks, as a policy violation by one participant could lead to the suspension of the entire group account by the platform providers.
