Transitioning from an Individual Apple Developer Account to an Organization Account: Step-by-Step Guide
Apple Developer:
The Apple Developer Program is an efficient tool for developers interested in developing. Testing, and publishing apps across the Apple ecosystem. When a developer enrolls for the program, there is an option to select either an “Individual” account or an “Organization” account. An Individual account would be the best choice for a single developer who seeks to create apps. In contrast, the Organization account was fashioned for the business, teams, and groups of individuals who require more elaborate features, management capabilities, and access controls.
At some point, an individual developer may find that his or her needs out scale the limitations associated with an Individual Apple Developer Account, leading him or her to switch to an Organization account. This may happen for any variety of reasons, including scaling an existing team, collaborating with others, or transitioning from a personal to a professional app development venture.
This walkthrough guides you through the full process of transitioning from an Individual Apple Developer Account to an Organization account, along with some additional frequently asked questions to clarify common concerns and help you transition without a hitch.
Why Transition from an Individual to an Organization Account?
Apple Developer:
There are several reasons you might want to make this switch. Let’s go over them first; then we will outline the step-by-step migration process.
- Team management: an organization account permits a team to work under the same account. If you have plans to collaborate with a team of developers, designers, testers, and project managers, then an Organization account will be necessary to enable roles and permissions management.
- App Store Connect access: With an Organization account, you access more advanced features from App Store Connect such as management on multiple users, access to detailed analytics about your app,p, and the ability to make submissions.
- Ownership: For an Organization account, apps appear under the name of the company or entity, which is very important for brand recognition and credibility. Also important for businesses, apps are then not owned by an individual developer’s Apple ID, which could raise the issue of ownership and continuity.
- Legal Requirements: If you are to distribute apps under the legal name of a company, you would require an Organization account. This is significant in conditions of terms and conditions, intellectual property rights, or compliance with certain legal frameworks, among others.
- Access to Enterprise Distribution: An Organization account is necessary for distributing apps across different parts of your organization. This is the path forward to the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, which enables you to deliver internal apps.
Requirements for Transition to an Organization Account:
Apple Developer:
Before you move toward the transition, here are the major requirements and prerequisites:
- Apple ID: You need to have an Apple ID associated with your Individual Developer Account.
- Legal Entity Status: Your business must be a legitimate legal entity (e.g. corporation, LLC, non-profit, government agency, etc.). An official legal entity is required for the conversion of an Individual to an Organization account by Apple.
- Apple requires a valid D-U-N-S number, a Data: Universal Numbering System number used to track business entities around the world. The D-U-N-S number would be nine digits in total. If your organization doesn’t already have one, you can easily apply for one yourself. Application for a D-U-N-S number should take a few days, so be prepared with a plan.
- Company Website: Your organization’s business must be represented through an active website and available online. Apple may use this as part of the approval process.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Your Apple ID must be protected using two-factor authentication, which is a pre-requisite for enrollment in the Apple Developer Program.
How to Switch from Individual to Organization Account:
Apple Developer:
Step 1: Check Eligibility
Before you initiate the conversion process, your organization should first meet the eligibility requirements. To submit legal documentation proving your organization’s existence, you are obliged to provide business registration documents, Tax ID number, D-U-N-S number, and the website URL.
If you don’t have a D-U-N-S number, request one through the D-U-N-S number request page. This might take a few business days to process, so factor that into your timeline.
Step 2: Sign in to Apple Developer Program
Once you’ve verified your eligibility, log in to your Apple Developer account with your Apple ID. You will initiate the process of moving an Individual account to an Organization account from here.
Step on over to the Apple Developer website: developer.apple.com.
Click on “Account” at the top right
Sign in with your Apple ID and navigate to the “Membership” section
Select “Enroll” if not enrolled yet through the Apple Developer Program.
Step 3: Begin Enrollment for Your Organization
Apple Developer:
On the Apple Developer portal, you will be able to “Join the Apple Developer Program” and select “Company/Organization” as your account type.
Once you click the “Enroll” button, you will be asked to input the name of your organization, D-U-N-S number, and other details.
You will have to provide your organization’s legal name, address, and phone number.
It includes the provision of contact details of the person who will be the Account Holder for the Organization, meaning he is authorized to sign legal documents for your organization and has full control over the Developer Program account.
Step 4: Submit the Enrollment Request
Once you’ve filled up the sign-up form and confirmed all your business details, Apple will evaluate your application. Apple may call you to validate the information and confirm your company’s legal status. Once these are correct, Apple will approve the update.
Step 5: Confirm Enrollment
Now, within a few days after your organization account is approved, you’ll receive an email from Apple indicating that your new account has been confirmed. From this point onwards, your apps will be linked to your organization and not to your account; you will also be able to access more team management and distribution capabilities in App Store Connect.
Step 6: Add Team Members (Optional)
Apple Developer:
With an Organization account, you can add team members to your Developer Program account. You can assign different roles, such as:
Admin: Full access to all features
App Manager: Receive access to manage the details of the apps, Apple App Store connect, and TestFlight.
Developer: Ability to upload apps and access the tools of app development
Marketing: Manage metadata and marketing information for the app
You can manage roles and permissions in the App Store Connect portal under “Users and Access.”
Common Issues During Conversion:
While the conversion process is straightforward, a few issues may arise, including:
D-U-N-S Number Issues: If your organization doesn’t have a valid D-U-N-S number or there are discrepancies in the registration, Apple may delay your request. Ensure that your D-U-N-S information is accurate.
Business Name Mismatch: If the name on your D-U-N-S number doesn’t match the legal entity name you submit to Apple, your application could be rejected. Always double-check that the business name matches across all documentation.
Verification Delays: It can take several days (or longer) for Apple to verify your organization, especially if additional documentation is required. Plan for potential delays.
FAQs: Converting from Individual to Organization Account
Apple Developer:
1. Can I convert my Individual Developer Account to an Organization account at any time?
Yes, you can convert your account to an Organization account whenever you need. But once it has been converted, then you cannot revert to an Individual account.
2. Do I lose my apps or app data when switching to an Organization account?
No, you don’t lose any of your apps or related data during the conversion. The applications are going to remain under your Apple Developer Program account, but from now onwards, they will be assigned to an organization rather than your one.
3. Can I change the Account Holder for my Organization account?
Yes, you can delegate the Account Holder role to another person in your company, but you would need to do so with Apple Developer Support’s help.
4. What happens to my app submissions during the conversion?
During the conversion process, you may experience a brief downtime when you cannot add new apps or make major modifications to your existing app. It is best to upload any critical updates before starting the conversion process.
5. May I add non-developers to my team (e.g. designers or marketers)?
Yes, you can add non-developers to the team, and those can be assigned roles like a role of Marketing, App Manager, etc. without the provision for access to app development tools.
6. Will a new annual fee be required for an Organization account?
No, concerning the fee, annually for the Apple Developer Program, there is no difference between individuals and organizations. The annual fee is US $ 99.
Conclusion:
Apple Developer:
An easy process that an individual Apple Developer Account converter goes through to acquire an Organization account: this is the key to being able to make new opportunities for businesses and teams. Consider scaling up development, collaborating as a team, or distributing apps with your organization’s name: an Organization account is the platform that offers the tools and features to better handle apps.
Remember that the conversion process requires careful preparation, including ensuring your organization is properly registered and obtaining a valid D-U-N-S number. Once your Organization account is set up, you’ll have access to a range of new features, including team management, app analytics, and more robust distribution tools.