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Enroll as an Organization in the Apple Developer Program

In this article, we explain step by step how to register a paid developer account for your company with Apple.

If you run a sole proprietorship or a partnership without legal entity status (such as a German GbR), please read this article instead.

Please work through all steps of the following instructions. Otherwise, we will not be able to confirm your new account.

Why do you need an Apple Developer Account?

All merchants who want to publish an iOS app must enroll in the Apple Developer Program. You need an Apple Developer Account to publish your iOS app on the App Store so that your customers can download it.

Registering and setting up an Apple Developer Account

 

Step 4

   

Step 2

   

Step 1

    
 

               step_flow_triangle-1 

number_in_circles_1-1 Create an Apple ID with an existing company email address

We recommend using an email address that several people in your company can access, such as your support or info email address. If you don't have a company email address, create one first.
  1. Open this page to create your Apple ID.
  2. Fill in the form and enter your company email address.
    This email address will be your new Apple ID. Apple sends important messages, actions or decisions regarding your app to this email address, so please check this inbox regularly.
  3. You will receive a 6-digit verification code by email. Enter this code in the pop-up window that opens.
    The code expires within 3 hours after the email was sent.
  4. Your Apple ID has now been created.
    Please note that creating an Apple ID and creating an Apple Developer Account are NOT the same thing.

step_flow_triangle-2

number_in_circles_2-1 Join the Apple Developer Program

Once your Apple ID has been created, open the "Apple Developer Program Enrollment" page.

  1. Click Start Your Enrollment and sign in with your new Apple ID. 
  2. Read and agree to the Apple Developer Agreement. Click Submit.
  3. Your Apple Developer Program now opens. Select the "Join the Apple Developer Program" box on the "Welcome" page and click Enroll on the next page.
  4. In the "I develop apps as" field, select Company / Organization as your entity type. Click Continue.
  5. On the next page, enter your company information and click Continue.
    Select "My organization has given me the authority ..." so that Apple can contact an authorized employee of your company instead of the owner/founder to verify your enrollment. Enter this employee's contact details as the "Verification Contact". Make sure you add a phone number where they can be reached.
    • Legal Entity Name
      Your company name including the legal form, such as GmbH, AG, KG, oHG, Inc., LLC etc.
    • D-U-N-S Number®
      You can find your D-U-N-S number in the Shopgate admin under Settings › App Stores › Apple Developer Account. If the number is not available there, you can look it up with the D-U-N-S Number lookup tool.
    • Website
      Your company website.
    • Headquarters Phone Number               
      Enter a phone number where Apple can reach you.
      Apple WILL call you to verify your enrollment. If you are the founder/owner, make sure you enter a number where you can be reached.
    • Your Work Email
  6. Check your enrollment details on the next page. If everything is correct, click Submit.

Within the next two weeks, Apple will call the "Verification Contact" or your "Headquarters Phone Number" to verify the enrollment. Please make sure the person concerned is informed.

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number_in_circles_3-1 Confirm and pay for your Apple Developer Program membership

As soon as the verification is complete, you will receive a confirmation at your Apple ID email address. This confirmation email contains a link that you can use to confirm and pay for your Apple Developer Program membership.
  1. In the email, click Review Now. This opens the "Review and Accept" page.
  2. Sign in with the Apple ID you created in step 1 and your password.
  3. Accept the Apple Developer Program License Agreement by checking the box at the bottom of the page and clicking Continue.
  4. On the next page, check your purchase details and select the Automatic Renewal option.
    If you don't use Automatic Renewal, please set up a reminder to renew your Apple Developer Program membership every year. Your app will be removed from the App Store within 24 hours after your membership expires.
  5. You will be forwarded to the App Store. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
  6. On the next page, pay €99 with your credit card and click Continue.
  7. Accept the Terms & Conditions and click Continue. Follow the instructions on the screen until you see the "Thank you" page.

You have successfully enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. Within the next hour, you will receive 2 welcome emails and a payment confirmation from Apple at your Apple ID email address.

You will be notified at the email address associated with your Apple ID.

step_flow_triangle-4  

number_in_circles_4 Invite Shopgate to your App Store Connect account

Shopgate takes care of the entire iOS app development, including certificate generation, building, publishing and updates. To make this easier, please grant Shopgate "Admin" access to your Apple Developer Program via App Store Connect.

1.  After signing in to App Store Connect, click the Users and Access icon.

2.  Click the blue + button.

In the pop-up window, enter the following information:

  • First name:  Shopgate
  • Last name:  GmbH
  • Email:  iosdev20@shopgate.com
3.  In the Roles section, select Admin.

4.  Click Next, then Invite.

Once the invitation has been sent, the Shopgate app team receives an email and will accept the invitation shortly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I enroll as an "Individual" or as an "Organization"?

If your company is a corporation (Corp., Inc.), limited liability company (LLC, LC, Ltd. Co.) or another legal entity (GmbH, AG, KG, oHG etc.), you must enroll as an "Organization". Otherwise, Apple will very likely reject your app because it cannot be assigned correctly.

Membership as an "Organization" in the Apple Developer Program gives you some advantages. For example, your company name appears below the app name in the App Store, and you can invite additional developers to your team within your account.

If you run a sole proprietorship or a partnership without legal entity status (such as a German GbR), you must enroll as an "Individual".

What is a D-U-N-S Number® and where can I find it?

The D-U-N-S Number is a unique 9-digit number that identifies businesses on a location-specific basis. It is assigned and maintained by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and is widely used as a standard business identifier.

Many types of businesses can get a D-U-N-S Number. Your company must be recognized as a legal entity (e.g. corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company) to meet the legal terms and obligations of the Apple Developer Program Agreement. DBAs, fictitious businesses, trade names or branches are not accepted.

D&B may have already assigned your company a free D-U-N-S Number. Before you enroll, use the D-U-N-S Number lookup tool to check whether you already have one.

What should I do if I can't find my D-U-N-S Number?

If your company is not listed here, you can submit your information to Dun & Bradstreet to get a free D-U-N-S Number. When you request a D-U-N-S Number via the D-U-N-S Number lookup tool, you will be asked for the following information:

  • Legal entity name
  • Headquarters address
  • Email address
  • Your work contact information

During the verification process, D&B may contact you directly for more information (e.g. type of business, number of employees). Please have your company registration documents ready.

Can I enroll as an "Individual" and have my company shown as the seller on the App Store?

No. To have your company name shown as the seller/publisher/developer, your company must be recognized as a legal entity and you must enroll as an "Organization". If you run a sole proprietorship or a partnership without legal entity status (such as a German GbR), you must join as an "Individual" and your own name will appear as the seller.

If you have enrolled as an "Individual" and need to convert this Apple Developer Program membership into an "Organization" membership, please follow the instructions in "How to Change Your Apple Developer Program Account from Individual to Organization".

How does the enrollment work?

If you enroll as an "Organization", you can review the license agreement and purchase an Apple Developer Program membership after Apple Developer Support has verified your enrollment and sent you an email with the next steps. You can check your enrollment status in your Apple Developer Program. Make sure you sign in with the Apple ID you used to enroll.

"Individuals" and sole proprietorships can review the license agreement and purchase an Apple Developer Program membership at the time of enrollment.

How much does an Apple Developer Program membership cost?

Membership in the Apple Developer Program costs €99 per year in Europe. The cost is the same for "Individual" and "Organization" memberships. To keep your app available long-term, you must renew and pay for your Apple Developer Program membership every year.

Updated: 2 January 2025