Enrolling as a Company with Apple

BluSpyder

I know how to file in my state for my business name, but my question is what and how it works with Apple. I just want to register my business under an "Assumed Name" (around $40 for my state) which I think this might be aka DBA? But DBA is not accepted by Apple: "We do not accept DBAs, Fictitious Business or Trade names at this time."

So is this meaning you must register your business under as say a LLC (which for my state costs well over $200)? I'm just confused to why Apple doesn't accept DBA. Is there some kind of workaround or some advice that currently enrolled businesses here can suggest?

Also wondering if someone could summarize the process of enrolling with Apple as a business (if I were to enlist in my state as an LLC (which I'd prefer not to))

codemates

My developer account with Apple is a business account because I have a developer that works with me using other tools while I'm using GS and other SDK. If I remember correctly, you need to fill out a form that needs to be faxed to them with a copy of your "vendor" license. You're right you need to register your business name (normally with the state) which I think was also $40 for me and then get a vendor license which costs $15 and renewable every 6 months.

You can do as noted in previous posts but it's not really what Apple advices you to do as stated here:
https://developer.apple.com/support/ios/enrollment.html

"Can I enroll as an individual and have my company appear as the “Seller Name” on the App Store?

No. To have your company name appear as the “Seller Name” on the App Store, your company must be recognized as a legal entity and you must be enrolled as a company/organization. If you are a sole proprietor you must join as an individual and your legal name will appear as the "Seller Name"."

The business account isn't really for everyone. If you're a 1 person team then there's probably no need for a business account other than displaying your business name without breaking the Apple EULA. Just my 2cents...

Piman

You can change your "display name" in the appstore, right? When your register a new dev account, you can decide what you want to show under your apps.

BluSpyder

So you're saying enroll as an individual and then just change display name to desired business name? Wouldn't that cause a ton of issues?

Braydon_SFX

Nope, do as Piman says.

BluSpyder

@codemates Thanks for that reply. So you're saying what Piman said earlier isn't allowed? I would just register as individual, but I don't want my name shown under my apps, I'd prefer this username.

...was also $40 for me and then get a vendor license which costs $15 and renewable every 6 months...

But isn't the $40 business enrollment a DBA? Which is what Apple no longer accepts?

The_Gamesalad_Guru

You have to form a formal LLC or A S-corp et..... And register as a business with apple they will ask you to fax them the documents notarized. If you already have an account you can contact them and they will take you through converting it to a business account. This also gives you access to using a team provisioning profile which is awesome as you only need one provisioning cert for testing all your apps!

codemates

So you're saying what Piman said earlier isn't allowed? I would just register as individual, but I don't want my name shown under my apps, I'd prefer this username.

A lot of developers (not just GS) changes their names to display their business names. The link I provided previously is Apple's take on this situation, so I would recommend use it as your guidance and not what others or I tell you.

But isn't the $40 business enrollment a DBA? Which is what Apple no longer accepts?

FryingBaconStudios is correct you still need either a formal LLC or S-corp (that was another requirement that I left off). The business name registration is required in order to obtain a vendor license (at least in my state).

@FryingBaconStudios +1 to Team provisioning profile

tenrdrmer

If you want to go the DBA route you just still need to find something apple accepts as proof of Business. In my Case I went to my local city hall and paid $25 for a business license. and that sufficed. I have not ever even registered the fictitious name with the state. Though eventually I do plan to do an LLC. In my state they are only $100

If you go the individual route yes you will be able to list a display name but your real name will also be listed along side that.

I would go with a local business license if I were you as that is generally going to be the cheapest route and apple will accept a business license by itself as proof of a business.