Apple's Company Registration for its App Store is Awkward and Awful

<i></i>Cough<i></i> <i>cough</i> <a href="http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp" rel="nofollow">http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp</a> <i>sputter</i> <i>sputter</i> <i>ahem</i> <i>free</i> <i>one business day</i> <i>cough</i> <i>do this before submitting to Apple</i> <i>cough</i> <i>D&#38;B is basically extortion</i><p>For what it's worth, I was sent the URL above on a <i>wink wink hush hush</i> basis by a large EV SSL certificate issuer. We needed a cert for our non-US company, but they wanted a DUNS number. Nobody outside the US actually uses DUNS numbers (I don't care what D&#38;B says). So yeah, that URL gives you a DUNS number for free within 1 business day, paid for by the US Government.

My story with DUNS number for my startup:<p>Long time ago when I applied for a merchant account for my startup, I was asked for a DUNS number, I and decided to get one. After filling out online application, and a long wait, I got it, and started to put it everywhere where I was asked for it. I don't think DUNS did any check on my company before giving the number to me, and I couldn't see what's on my profile, since I never paid them. Anyway, I got my merchant account.<p>After several years in startup operation when I tried to raise some capital, one of potential investors told me that with such bad credit history for my company, I will not be able to raise any capital. I asked him where he checked my company's credit history, and he told me that he checked on D&#38;B. I told him that I can't check myself, and I can't see what is the problem, and after he emailed me my report from D&#38;B, and was in shock after I read it :) Report is broken down in many sections, and my report was something linke this: Partnerships in the industry: None Revenue: None Bank accounts: None And so on... And so on... At the the end of the report: Credit level: $800<p>:) and we were doing like 300K in revenues already, growing fast, and didn't even expected that people trusting them and looking up info on companies there.<p>I decided to become a good D&#38;B citizen, since so many people trust them. So, I called them up, and asked why information about my company is so wrong there, and they told me that I need to pay, and they will "fix" my profile. After paying, and sending them a list of industry partners, IRS reports, and started to wait.<p>After few months, I called them up, and they told me that they tried to call my partners from my list, and no one was able to confirm that they work with me.<p>Anyway, when I realized that my profile will never be in a good standing, I asked them to take it down completely, and remove my company from their database. After talking, to one supervisor, and them to the other, they agree to take it down.<p>But the final funny part, is that when I checked my profile online, it stated that "CEO called and reported that company is closing down" :)))

Usually even when you have a DUNS number, Apple demands that some of the company entity codes are filled in correctly. D&#38;B will usually offer to fix them for you in a month or take $200+ to do it faster.<p>The process that takes a month can be done over the phone or online but frequently D&#38;B simply stops processing mid-correction and abandons the update. The process will be abandoned silently for a couple weeks, then you'll get calls offering once again to update for a fee.<p>It took me three months to register with Apple. And that was for an ordinary plain vanilla US domestic corporation.

Actually I just went through this same process recently and found that if you apply using the link on Apple's site, you can get the DUNS number for free within 5 days. Follow this form: <a href="https://developer.apple.com/ios/enroll/dunsLookupForm.action" rel="nofollow">https://developer.apple.com/ios/enroll/dunsLookupForm.action</a><p>I explained the full process at <a href="http://blog.metamorphium.com/2012/12/03/apple-duns/" rel="nofollow">http://blog.metamorphium.com/2012/12/03/apple-duns/</a><p>It's sad that this whole process isn't more transparent and easy though.

How long has it been a requirement that any Apple Developer Program business membership requires a DUNS number? I thought that was only a requirement for their enterprise program, but apparently they now require a DUNS number for even the $99 business membership.<p>When I opened a business membership in early 2011, I only needed to send Apple the incorporation certificate from my secretary of state. It took a week for Apple to process it, if that long.

<a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4830303" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4830303</a><p>I made a formal complaint to authorities about this.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the same issue run into by the creators of Trifecta: <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4896805" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4896805</a><p>&#62; While we were ready to submit Trifecta at the beginning of November, we ran into issues due to how hard Apple makes it for a pair of developers to release an app together. To do so and have both of us credited we had to form a company (R&#38;K Labs) and <i>obtain a D.U.N.s number which took us a month</i>.

Getting the free DUNS number is awkward and awful even in the US. D&#38;B calls you about 24 hours after you place your order and tries to sign you to a paid package (perhaps suggesting that the free DUNS is no good for the AppStore). Once you refuse they let you wait -- supposedly for 30 business days, but you can wait a lifetime since they don't bother contacting you again. The DUNS number gets silently issued after 30 business days with no phone call or email notification.

I just went through this process and it seemed like a scam. After registering I got a sales call where they pushed the $300 package, suggesting that it would take over a month to get set up with Apple if I did not purchase it. When I refused, they had the audacity to say I should reconsider purchasing when I could afford it.<p>I registered on iupdate.dnb.com and only paid $50 to expedite the request for a DUNS number. The entire process was complete in a week and we were approved by Apple.

I tried signing up for a company account too and it was so bad I gave up. I already had a DUNS number (I never applied for one, I just searched the D&#38;B website, found my company, and they emailed it to me). The problem was that D&#38;B had my company registered in the wrong country. After I changed it with them Apple's country information information was still incorrect. After a couple of months trying to get it sorted, even speaking with Apple via email, I gave up and registered an individual account instead. I figured it might be easier to upgrade from individual to company (although I haven't tried yet).

I recently ran into an issue with D&#38;B misspelling our company name. This was a massive hassle and I made over 6 phone calls to them and they kept on saying there was one more thing that had to be updated and it would be another 7-14 days. Each time I only found out that the update was not complete because I would call Apple to figure out why the iTunes Connect account was locked.<p>I finally got fed up and sent this tweet: <a href="https://twitter.com/sjsivak/status/276826269377765376" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/sjsivak/status/276826269377765376</a>. They called me the next morning and fixed it that day.

What strikes me the most is the US Gov. asking this number from US companies.<p>There is no excuse for the US Gov not having an updated registry of all companies in the country. In fact, I'm pretty sure IRS should have that. So, why the hell is that number required anyways? Even if the number is somehow necessary, Why d&#38;b? Was there an auction at least? I doubt it.<p>I'm surprised that sometimes americans accept that kind of crap from their Government (executive) and large corporations (apple) without using Judiciary services. You don't always need money and/or lawyers to protect yourself from your government.

I filled in my details at this Apple page:<p><a href="https://developer.apple.com/ios/enroll/dunsLookupForm.action" rel="nofollow">https://developer.apple.com/ios/enroll/dunsLookupForm.action</a><p>... and got my DUNS number emailed to me within 15 minutes.<p>Worth a try?

Not to be pedantic, but the title should be<p>Apple's Company Registration for its App Store is awkward and awful<p>Just move the apostrophe ahead. &#60;/grammar_nazi&#62;

Japan's equivalent of D&#38;B is TEIKOKU DATABANK or TDB[0]. These guys will come by the office and run through a multiple of questions -- if you don't answer them, they will be reflected in their database.<p>Whenever you get a call from TDB it is both scary and exciting because you know that some major Japanese corporation wants data on your current standing.<p>Also, registering for a DUNS number here in Japan is very simple because most of the information that they are after is already filed with the government in an easy to access format.<p>[0] <a href="http://www.tdb.co.jp/" rel="nofollow">http://www.tdb.co.jp/</a>

For the Netherlands it seems straightforward (though I didn't have to get one): <a href="http://www.dbhnederland.nl/nieuws/16/d-u-n-s-nummer-voor-apple-developer-account" rel="nofollow">http://www.dbhnederland.nl/nieuws/16/d-u-n-s-nummer-voor-app...</a><p>Just call DBH, give them your company registration number, and they'll give you a DUNS number, or so it seems.

so many was done to get rid of microsoft claws, and not let one corporation to dictate technology.. and now that microsoft is becoming a zombie, a new lord (or should say lords) rises.. with its "app stores" corporate centric mentality.. and here we go again.. two tech titans now threat the survival of free technology and principles..<p>and that beast you cant fight back just with GPL licenses and free/open software.. this beast is cool and people love it.. :/

Related question: should I register for a DUNS number even though I don't need one right now?<p>We have a live app in the US app store, charge money for it, etc., and have never been asked for a DUNS, though I did note it was one of the requirements for an Apple enterprise developer account -- which we obviously don't have.<p>It seems like it takes time and hassle to get, and also like it could come up unexpectedly. Worth the trouble to start the ball rolling now?

I ran into many of the same issues, and my company is based in the USA and I was able to get a DUNS number fairly easily. I contrasted this with my experience with google play here: <a href="http://www.mooreds.com/wordpress/archives/890" rel="nofollow">http://www.mooreds.com/wordpress/archives/890</a><p>I don't know why Apple makes getting an account so difficult.... Perhaps to filter out fly bynight mobile app developers?

Apple's general registration process is a POS. My mother had a new iPad out of the box (no prior Apple products). Between signing up for credentials on one screen, validating her email in a browser then entering billing information at entirely different screen that was seemingly unrelated to the first two screens, I am glad that I did it. Otherwise I am sure she would have become quickly disillusioned.

I got my DUNS number (Denmark) over the phone calling the local D&#38;B - they were used to getting calls like that. Call the local D&#38;B again <a href="http://www.dnb.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dnb.co.uk/</a> or use the form <a href="http://salesmarketing.dnb.co.uk/find_my_company/" rel="nofollow">http://salesmarketing.dnb.co.uk/find_my_company/</a> BTW, it's free to get the DUNS number

Marco Arment talked about this in some detail on Build and Analyze a while back. (Can't look up the EP number right now unfortunately, sorry)

D&#38;B has an information page about the Apple developer program: <a href="http://support.dandb.com/entries/22065146-apple-developer-program" rel="nofollow">http://support.dandb.com/entries/22065146-apple-developer-pr...</a><p>I just got off the phone after failing to find my company in their online database, and was told to email applecs@dnb.com to request my number.

When I applied for Apple developer program I was surprised to find that my company already had a DUNS number. I'm in Croatia. I guess it has to do with my company being active for more that 5 years, but I could be wrong.

I did this in the UK about 2 months ago, the entire process took about 4 hours.<p>I used the free option too - you have to scour the UK site for it, but its all there, and it was quick (in November anyway)

I'm surprised -- i registered for a company developer account a few years ago and they only required me to fax the articles of incorporation. Have the rules changed since then?

This article is badly in need of an editor.

Do they require DUNS numbers for non-us companies too? From the article it's not really clear.

I find the second apostrophe awkward and awful.

And if you live in a "obscure" country were they don't accept online payments you have to send them a Fax with all your credit card information... yeah, a fax! Even Amazon and Paypal accept online payments with my cc. I guess I am lucky they didn't ask for a telegram. So much for one of the biggest companies in the world.