Skip to main content

Setting up Activate White-label on Apple Store

Updated

The first step to set up your Activate white-label app is to create an account on the Apple developer portal and enable VTS with access to maintain the app. This article covers how to set up and maintain your Apple Developer account. If you already have an account, proceed to this article on enabling VTS access to your account.

  1. Setting up your Apple Developer Account
  2. Maintaining your Apple AppStore Connect Portal / Account
  3. FAQs

 

❗️***IMPORTANT****❗️

This developer account belongs to your organization and YOU are responsible for maintaining it, including agreeing to license updates and paying the annual subscription. VTS cannot run your Activate app for you if you do not maintain your developer account. 

 

Setting up your Apple Developer account

*** Notice: Please be sure to complete all steps listed below***

1. Prerequisites

See here for official Apple Developer documentation on creating a developer account. 

  • D-U-N-S number: This verifies your organization's identity and legal entity status. This process can take up to 30 business days if you don't have a D-U-N-S number—you can expedite for a fee with Dun & Bradstreet. If you're not sure what your D-U-N-S number is, you can look it up for free.
  • Legal entity name: Apple doesn't accept DBA's, fictitious businesses, trade names, or branches. The legal entity name appears as the "seller" for your app, e.g. Seller: ABC Company, Inc.
  • Signing authority confirmation: Confirm you have the authority to bind your organization to legal agreements and provide the contact info of an employee that can verify your signature authority.
  • An Apple product: You'll need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Touch ID, Face ID, or a passcode enabled. You need to use the same device for the entire enrollment.
  • An Apple ID: It needs to be current, updated, and with two-factor verification enabled.
  • The Apple Developer App: Install the latest version on the device you're using.
  • iCloud: Make sure you're signed into iCloud on the device.
  • Government-issued photo ID: The account holder will need to provide this.
  • Credit Card: To complete the transaction.
Note: The person setting this up for your organization must have the legal authority to bind your organization to legal agreements. They should be the organization's owner or founder, an executive team member, a senior project lead, or an employee with legal authority granted to them by a senior employee. The person signing up should use a corporate, not personal, email account. 

 

Note to customers in the EU or wishing to make their app available to countries in the EU in the App Store: 

Per the DSA (Digital Services Act), you'll need to confirm your trader status if you have at least one app on the App Store in the EU that qualifies you as a trader.

Learn more about Managing European Union Digital Services Act Trader Requirements. 

 

2. Submit account information to Apple

The first step is to submit all of your information for Apple to review:

  1. Launch the Apple Developer App on the device, then select the Account tab.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID. It can be different than the ID signed into the device, but it has to have two-factor authentication.
  3. Review the Apple Developer Agreement and Agree.
  4. Select Enroll Now and review requirements, then choose Continue.
  5. Enter your information as the Account Holder. When prompted to verify, take a photo of your government-issued photo ID and select Confirm. Don't enter an alias, nickname, or company name as your legal name—this causes a delay.
  6. Enter your organization’s information. 

Here are a few tips to make sure your review goes smoothly:

  • Website: This has to be a publicly available website and the domain name is  associated with your organization. 
  • Signing authority confirmation: Provide the contact information of an employee who can verify your signature authority. 

Once you've submitted your enrollment information, Apple will review your submission and communicate next steps via email. This can take up to 72 business hours.

 

3. Complete your App store enrollment and purchase

Once your enrollment has been verified and approved, you'll get a confirmation email from Apple directing you to complete the enrollment process:

  1. Using the same device you used for enrollment, open the Apple Developer App and select the Account tab.
  2. Sign in to your Apple ID— the same used for enrollment—and select Continue.
  3. Review the terms of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement and select Agree.
  4. Review your annual membership subscription details and select Subscribe. 

The Apple Developer Program's annual fee is $99 USD, in local currency where available. Prices might vary by region and are listed in local currency during the enrollment process. 

Apple membership is an annual auto-renewable subscription that renews until canceled. Your subscription purchase will need to be made using one of your Apple ID payment methods. Learn more about Apple ID payment methods here.

 

4. Enable VTS access to your account

Congratulations! You have successfully set up your Apple Developer account in the App Store. You can now proceed to enabling VTS access to your account. (Click this link to proceed to the next step in the set-up process)

 

 

Maintaining your Apple AppStore Connect Portal / Account

Welcome to your Apple Developer account! When you log in, you will see this as your app store connect portal. If you have further questions outside of what is covered in this article, click here to view the Apple App Store connect help center for assistance. 

There are several things you will need to monitor and maintain:

 

Program license agreement updates

Your Apple account holder might need to confirm license agreement updates for VTS to push new versions of your app in the store. Make sure that all Apple Program License Agreements are complete by logging in at https://appstoreconnect.apple.com. If you still have a notice like the one below, follow the steps provided to clear it.

*** Notice: Please be sure to complete all steps listed below***

  1. Log in to your Apple Developer Account as the Apple Account Holder. You will see a banner that the Apple Developer Program License Agreement has been updated. In the banner, click on the link Account. In the banner, click on the link Account.

 

  1. Click the Review agreement button.

  1. Review the agreement, then click Agree.

 

Accepting Paid Applications Schedule

This is a mandatory legal agreement for developers who want to sell paid apps or use subscriptions on the Apple App Store. Your account holder must review and accept this schedule, which is updated periodically to publish your apps and manage your payment and subscription information. If you don’t accept the updates, VTS will not be able to push updates, and your subscription will not be renewed.

*** Notice: Please be sure to complete all steps listed below***

  1. Log in to your App Store Connect Account. Click on the Business button in the main page.
  2. This will take you to the Business agreements section with all your business agreements with Apple. Agreements that need an updated approval are highlighted in blue. 

  1. Click View and Agree to Terms to view the terms, and click Agree to finish. 

 

Your annual membership subscription

  • Your membership will automatically renew using your default Apple ID payment method. Learn more about Apple ID payment methods.
  • You can cancel your developer subscription at any time and retain access to membership benefits until your membership expiration date, which you can view in the Account tab in the Apple Developer website. 
  • You can renew your subscription at any time for up to one year after your membership expiration date. 

 

Apple Developer FAQs

Why do I have to enroll as an Apple developer?

In keeping with Apple's revised app guidelines, VTS can't directly publish to the App Store using our developer account. Instead, you'll need to maintain your own account with Apple and invite VTS as a Manager user with permission to publish the app on your behalf.

You can read Apple’s full list of terms here.

 

What's a white-label app?

A white-label is any app that's built from a standard design.

Building, designing, and maintaining an app from the ground up is a pretty complicated and expensive process. By using a universal template, app developers like VTS can start with a configurable base design, then customize your app to meet your needs.

 

How do I know I've completed the process?

You'll get a confirmation email from Apple once you're done, and we’ll be able to publish your app on your behalf under your own business name. If you haven't received that email, reach out to your dedicated VTS contact for help. 

  

Why do I have to register as a legal entity?

This is an Apple requirement. To enroll in the Developer program and launch an app, your business has to register with Dun & Bradstreet as a corporation, LLC, or other type of legal entity— after that, you'll mark yourself as a Company/Organization when you register with Apple.

Apple doesn't permit sole proprietors, sole traders, DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names, or branch names to register with their program.

 

Do I still have to complete these requirements if I find a different app developer?

Yes. These are universal rules issued by Apple that apply to all businesses and developers who want to operate on the App Store.

  

Will there be any difference or lag in the app while I'm working on this? Will clients notice a change?

No, Clients won't notice a thing.

 

I need multiple apps. Do I need a developer account for each one?

No, you'll only need a single developer account—whether you’re planning on a single app across your portfolio or multiple unique apps. Each app can use your Apple developer account.

 

What if my company has multiple apps on our Developer Account?

You can give VTS access to specific apps with the role App Manager. VTS needs particular permissions within this role, so coordinate a call with your Implementation manager to walk through the process.

Note that if you opt to limit App Manager access for VTS, you will need to take on more responsibility for maintaining your app store, such as generating keys.

 

How long does it take to get a DUNS number?

If you've registered as a legal entity in the past, then it's possible a D-U-N-S number's already been assigned to you. The number's free to acquire and takes just a few minutes to look up through the Dun & Bradstreet website.

If you couldn't find your D-U-N-S number and you've completed all the prior steps in this article, then you'll need to register your business with Dun & Bradstreet. Click here to visit the D-U-N-S registration website and get started. This process typically takes 30 days, but you can expedite it to a week by paying an expedition fee. 

 

Do I have to create a new Apple ID?

Not necessarily, but we recommend using one tied to your business rather than a personal account. Here is the link to learn how to create a new one.

 

Who do I contact for help?

VTS is here to guide you every step of the way. For questions specific to your D-U-N-S number, here’s a few resources:

 

What's the cost?

Apple charges an annual $99 USD fee to maintain your developer account. For clients outside the United States, this fee will vary by location and local currency.

  

What if our building(s) change ownership after launch? 

If your building is sold or changes ownership, VTS will do one of two things:

  • If the contract's being continued with VTS, we'll transfer the app to a new apple developer account that's owned by the new owners of the building(s).

  • If you're leaving VTS contracted services, we'll remove your app from the app store. 

     

What happens if I remove VTS access in the Developer Account? 

If we don't have access to your Apple Developer Account, we can't publish your app. If we're removed from access to your Apple Developer Account, we can't publish updates, and your app will stay on the last version we had access to. 

 

Can the company that manages the property be the owner of the Apple Developer Account? 

Yes, as long as there's a direct contractual relationship between the two parties. 

 

Related articles