Launching your branded mobile app is a collaborative process. In accordance with Apple's
release guidelines, there are requirements that must be met before we can get the app in your customers' hands. In particular, your business must register as an Apple Developer, and then invite Cloud Gym to the account as your publishing partner.
1. Launch requirements overview
The following requirements are mandated by Apple and apply to every business that operates within the App Store. In other words, these are not exclusive to apps developed by Cloud Gym, everyone publishing to the App Store must abide by these rules.
The good news? It's possible that your business already meets many of these standards.
If you have a custom email address and your own website, for example, then you've already completed the first two steps. And if your business is registered as a legal entity, such as a legal liability company (LLC), then it's possible you already have a D-U-N-S® number as well.
2. Set up a business email address
You'll need a custom email address with your own domain name (e.g., owner@yourcompany.com) in order to sign up for an Apple Developer account; Apple won't accept personal email addresses created through free online services such as Gmail or Outlook.
If you have your own website, then a custom email address may already be included as part of your website hosting plan. If this isn't the case, you can still purchase a custom address for your organization, but you'll need to use Gmail for business or a similar service.
3. Set up a business website
Your business must have a publicly-available website, and the domain name must be associated with your organization. In other words, you'll need a website hosted outside of Cloud Gym where clients can go to find your business.
4. Register your business as a legal entity
Your business must register as a corporation, LLC, or other type of legal entity (e.g., GmbH, AG, KG) to enroll in the Apple Developer Program, Apple won't permit sole proprietorships to launch apps through this program. Moreover, Apple does not permit the use of DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names, or branch names.
We know registering as a legal entity is no small task, but due to the sensitive legal nature of these agreements, Cloud Gym won't be able to assist with this step. Local laws, and the resulting tax implications, can vary significantly depending on where your business is located. For this reason, we strongly recommend reaching out to a qualified legal adviser to discuss the registration requirements in your area.
Note: After completing a legal entity change, please contact our support team, so we can update your account with the new details.
5. Create an Apple ID for your business
When enrolling in the Apple Developer program, we recommend creating an Apple ID specifically for your business. This ID should be separate from your personal Apple ID, as Apple will use the linked email address to communicate updates about your app and bill your annual $99 registration fee. For these same reasons, you may want to register your Apple ID using a private email address rather than a general address that is shared among several employees—owner@yourbusiness.com rather than info@yourbusiness.com, for example.
To create a new Apple ID, follow these steps:
Go to the Create Your Apple ID page.
Fill out the form using your company email address and complete all required security questions.
Note: Apple will use this address to communicate updates concerning your app registration, be sure to check it regularly.
Apple will send a six-digit verification code after filling out the form. You will need to enter this code in order to complete registration.
Apple support
As this process takes place entirely within Apple's ecosystem, our Support team is limited in the help they can provide. If you encounter trouble with your Apple ID, we recommend using these resources:
Click here if you can't remember the email address or password for your Apple ID.
Click here if you need assistance setting up or managing your Apple ID.
Click here to contact Apple Support—you'll need to log in and select the Apple ID tile.
6. Find your D-U-N-S® number
The Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) number is a unique identifier used to verify your business's identity and legal status essentially, it shows Apple that your business is legitimate and should be permitted to publish on their platform. These numbers are automatically issued by a company called Dun & Bradstreet to eligible businesses; if you've registered as a legal entity in the past, then it's possible a D-U-N-S number has already been assigned to you.
You probably won't know your D-U-N-S number, or even if your business has one, and that's okay, they're free to acquire and take mere minutes to look up through Apple's website.
Here's what to do:
Visit the Look up your D-U-N-S Number website provided by Apple.
Log in using your business's Apple ID.
Complete the form, and click Continue at the bottom.
If your business was found, select it from the list and click Continue once more.
Now check your email for a message from developer@email.apple.com, it should arrive within a few minutes.
What if my business wasn't found?
If your business wasn't found, you can request a D-U-N-S number directly from the "Your organization was not found" screen.
Apple will automatically fill this application with the information you provided on the previous page, you just need to verify the details are correct and submit the form. If you need to make any changes to the form, simply go back to the previous page and re-enter your information.
What to expect when requesting a D-U-N-S number
Here's what you should know about requesting a D-U-N-S number:
Registering with Dun & Bradstreet is free.
After requesting a number, it may take up to five days to receive it from Dun & Bradstreet.
Once your number is received, it may take an additional two days for Apple to receive your registration information.
Apple provides a brief overview of this process here.
Given this timeline, we recommend allotting at least one week between requesting a D-U-N-S number and registering with Apple. Because we are relying on both Dun & Bradstreet and Apple to complete this process in a prompt manner, Cloud Gym will be unable to assist you during this time.
7. Register with the Apple Developer Program
If you've completed all the prior steps in this article, then you're ready to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. We recommend writing down, or copying into a separate file, all of the information that you'll need to complete your enrollment. Please note that you must enroll as an organization when registering with the program; we won't be able to launch your app if you register as an individual.
You will also need an Apple device such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer to complete Apple's two-factor authentication process and successfully log in to their developer site. Click here if you have trouble completing this process.
To recap, here's what's required:
Your business website URL
The business email address you'll use to communicate with Apple
Your D-U-N-S number (this verifies your status as a legal entity)
The login information for your business's Apple ID
Click here when you're ready to enroll in the Apple Developer program.
8. Confirm and pay for your developer account
After submitting your application, Apple will contact you within two weeks to verify enrollment. You'll then receive a confirmation email at your Apple ID email address with an enclosed link that you must use to confirm and pay for your developer membership. The cost is $99 USD.
When you receive the confirmation email, complete these steps:
Click the link enclosed in your email.
Log in to the App Store with your Apple ID.
Accept the terms and conditions and click Continue.
After confirming your info, check the Automatic Renewal option to enroll in a yearly renewal and proceed.
Warning: We strongly recommend enrolling in automatic renewal. Failure to pay your annual fee on time may result in Apple pulling your app from the App Store.
Pay for the enrollment.
You'll have enrolled successfully in the Apple Developer Program once you see the "Thank you" screen. You'll receive a welcome email and a payment confirmation email from Apple soon after.
9. Invite Cloud Gym to your app account
Lastly, you must invite Cloud Gym to manage your accounts through both the Apple Developer website and App Store Connect. This grants us permission to publish the branded mobile app on your behalf.
This is a three-step process:
Email our support team to request an invitation email. In our response, we'll provide you with a unique email address.
Log in to your Apple Developer account and add that email address to your account.
Log in to App Store Connect and add Cloud Gym as an admin user.
Additional help
It's important to understand that this policy is not implemented by Cloud Gym, these steps are dictated by Apple and apply to every business that operates on the app store. Our goal is to make this process as straightforward and painless as possible for you and your business.