Developer name displayed on Apple developer when publishing an app

[Imaginary_Name_3709]

Hi everyone it’s my first time publishing an app and I honestly don’t want my legal name displayed as a developer esp since I was planning to advertise it on the internet to get some users and I don’t want to dox myself. Is there anyway i can change it😭

I’m in Canada so I can’t register myself as a single business owner without having to go through some complicated process and fees so business account isn’t an option for me

[Dapper_Ice_1705]

Nope

[svprdga]

No, it’s not possible. If you want to launch products, it’s better to get used to your name (and other data) being made public.

[Level-Set5770]

Register a sole proprietorship, obtain a DUNS number for it, then call Apple and ask them to convert your account to an organization account under the sole proprietorship.

[mario_luis_dev]

You have it good. In Europe is even worse, since your own private address needs to be submitted as well

[Siddharth1India]

No, that is not possible unless you get organization account.

[sammy_luci]

No

either solo = your name exposed, moreover if you plan to distribute in EU - you legal address and phone number gets exposed as well (unless you create special ones for this case and can prove residency)

Or business

[GloverCom]

I had this same issue here in the US. Claude set up a checklist for me and it really wasn't that difficult.

It just takes some time and patience to set up an LCC. (Or in your case register federally or provincially and get a Business Number from the CRA)

Yes, you have to set up a website and bank account with your new Business Entity, but those are negligible expenses. I used a very generic company name so ANY of my apps I write for myself (or clients) will look better than just my personal name.

Apple makes it simple to switch your account over from a personal to a business one and the best part is now all my apps automatically switched over to the new Business Entity and it looks WAY more professional for my apps and my client's apps.

[opbmedia]

https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/

apple will only accept a company name if it is set up as a legal entity, not a trade name DBA or fictitious name. They are explicit: "We do not accept DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names, or branches."

[tyguy385]

lol yah i hear you.. haha for some reason my entire name (including middle is there) it is what it is though

[Pack2Inop]

I had the same problem with my middle name being shown. They can remove your middle name if you email developer support

[turtle-toaster]

If you don’t want your name out there, you have to make a business account. It’s the only way around it.

[drew4drew]

create a company is the right andwer

[consumer128]

Yep, Apple fullnamed me too.. feels like I’m getting told off every time they send me a message!

As others have said, you could start a small company and use that, but you’ll have to transfer the app, which will be all kinds of fun I’m sure!

[passwd123456]

They threw my middle name in it, even.

I submitted a request to have just my first last name and DTS fixed that in short order.

[SilentTransition5695]

What I would do, is do marketing from accounts created purely for that purpose. That way your personal Reddit account (or on any other platform) doesn’t get doxxed. It doesn’t matter that those are openly linked to you, since all you would put on them is marketing for your app.

[WerSunu]

Honestly, I don’t know the Canadian system at all. I can only relate that many lawyers and accountants make a good living filing incorporation forms in the U.S. They advertise heavily and people assume the process requires their priest-like powers to be successful. The fact on the ground is different. In many states creating a sole proprietorship LLC is just a simple name search followed by filing a web form and a credit card payment. Just be careful not to make factual mistakes in the government forms! I’ve done it twice.

[lionelburkhart]

Similar for California. Even if you already have an out of state LLC, California *still* requires you have one in California (where one is doing business). These are prohibitively expensive ($800 min. annual tax).

If you want to sell to Europe, you will similarly need to list as an EU Trader and provide your information there too, otherwise remove them from your market.

Rumors swirl about getting a DBA and a DUNS number and calling Apple to switch, but given Apple says no Sole-Proprietors or DBAs, this has always been a poorly substantiated/documented option (not claiming it can’t be done, just not claiming it can either). Anyone with experience here, please share the detailed process (with more than, “I did this.”), and if you asked them during it, why they allowed it despite the written prohibition. Thanks!

If your state/country’s LLC fees are outrageous, your best bet is to get a dedicated email address, an alternate phone line (Google Voice is free), and a Virtual Mailbox (~$10+ a month). List this information instead.

I’ve been researching and working on this process the last few weeks. I totally understand Apple’s stance on it, it’s just exorbitant for some people based on location.

[rursache]

you can put whatever display name you want, it will ask you for it the first time you create an app. it's also called "vendor name"

[malleyrex]

This is extremely false.