Where to Open a Company for Publishing Applications in the App Store and Play Market

Both individual developers and legal entities, most often companies, are allowed on the App Store and Play Market platforms. While the first category only needs to verify an account, the second must comply with stricter rules. But first of all, it is necessary to decide where to open a company for publishing in the App Store and Play Market.

The choice of jurisdiction for brand registration determines:

• what rates and overall taxes you pay for digital activities;
• the markets you can work with;
• monetization options, including ads, direct payments, and donations;
• access to financial infrastructure, since not all countries have business payment services;
• the publisher’s reputation, especially if you plan to expand activity and software functionality.

Therefore, it is important to determine from the outset where to establish a company for publishing in the App Store and Play Market. Your time, finances, and development opportunities depend on this – or, conversely, the risks in case of a poor choice.

Key Requirements of App Store and Play Market for Developers

Google and Apple are global players. They provide access to their developer programs to representatives from almost all countries in the world. Here are the general requirements for applicants:

This is a standard list for individual developers, sole proprietors, and some organizational forms. As for companies with full teams, the requirements are somewhat stricter:

The table demonstrates the general requirements of the platforms for legal entities. In addition, each platform has its own unique checkpoints for verifying companies before granting access to developer programs.

App Store Requirements

Apple strictly moderates everything that enters the brand’s digital store. Accordingly, it sets a number of mandatory requirements:

Google also imposes a number of requirements, in some cases even stricter.

Play Market Requirements

All developers wishing to publish their applications on the platform must comply with the following points:

Additional requirements also apply to certain categories. However, this is a topic for a separate analysis. For now, we focus on where to register a company for publishing digital solutions in the App Store and Play Market – and, most importantly, on the benefits of this format of working with the platforms.

Why Open a Company for App Publishing

Even an independent developer can use almost all the tools provided by the platform, including for app monetization. However, legal entities receive additional advantages:

• Legal verification via D-U-N-S. For business accounts, company verification in the international Dun & Bradstreet database is possible, which increases the trust of platforms and partners.
• Contract execution. Legal entities can sign agreements with Apple and Google on behalf of the company. Individual accounts act on behalf of a natural person, which limits formal capabilities.
• Brand display. In the App Store and Google Play, the seller is indicated as the company name. For individual accounts, a personal name is displayed.
• Team management. A business account allows adding developers and assigning roles. Individual accounts usually do not have such features.
• Regulatory requirements. In certain categories (finance, healthcare, VPN, children’s services), Google Play requires organizational registration. Individual accounts may not be suitable for these areas.
• Investments and partnerships. Investors more often work with legal entities, although at early stages exceptions are possible (for example, grants or angel investments).
• Payment systems. Companies get broader access to global payment gateways. Individual accounts can also connect services like Stripe or PayPal, but the terms and scale differ.

At the same time, the requirements for legal entities are also higher on both marketplaces. Neither Google nor Apple generally impose direct regional restrictions.

Key Criteria for Choosing a Jurisdiction for an IT Business

Choosing where to launch a company for publishing your apps in the App Store and Play Market is not easy. Our task is to help you with this decision. Here are the key points to pay attention to:

Formally, many jurisdictions meet these requirements and points of interest. But in practice, you may encounter non-obvious risks and challenges. Therefore, you may need expert legal support for your IT business. But first, let’s consider the most suitable regions for company incorporation.

Popular Countries for Registering a Company for the App Store and Play Market

Explore popular pages on mobile app marketplaces. There you will see a wide variety of registration regions. However, most often you will encounter four options:

• USA (Delaware).
• Estonia.
• United Kingdom.
• Cyprus.

Why is that? These jurisdictions are quite balanced for running an IT business. Here you can register a company for the App Store and Google Play without major difficulties. Let’s look at the key features of each option.

USA (Delaware)

Where to open a company for publishing your apps in the App Store and Play Market? America is a land of opportunities — especially for the IT sector, which feels confident here. Particularly in the state of Delaware:

But this is far from the only option. There are also several European countries that can offer equally favorable business conditions.

Estonia

“The cradle of European startups,” which, however, even attracts entrepreneurs from the United States, not to mention neighboring regions. This is one of the options where to establish a company for publishing in the App Store and Play Market. After all, Estonia offers a number of advantages for the IT sector:

If you are interested in more “established” jurisdictions, there are also solid options to consider.

United Kingdom

Where to register a company for publishing your products in the App Store and Play Market, if not in the “Foggy Albion”? The country is, of course, not the simplest in legal and regulatory contexts, but at the same time offers a clear and transparent system of operation:

A well-balanced jurisdiction for those who value stability.

Cyprus

Probably one of the best places where launching a company for publishing products in the App Store and Play Market is the most cost-effective. Here are some features of this region:

It is difficult to choose, isn’t it? Let’s consider the key differences between the mentioned jurisdictions on the main issues.

Payment Infrastructure and Receiving Payouts From Platforms

To choose where to open a company for publishing in the App Store and Play Market software products, it is necessary to compare the financial services of key regions:

Here, the choice depends on your business goals, markets, and currencies you plan to work with. Therefore, it is better to consult Lawrange experts to establish a company in the most optimal region.

Taxation of Income From Mobile Applications

Taxes are a topic that is difficult to ignore. Therefore, when choosing a region for business, it is important to focus on the balance between rates and available advantages:

There is no clear favorite in tax matters. Therefore, you should weigh all advantages and only then make a decision. Do not forget that you can always contact Lawrange for more detailed consultation on business structuring.

Requirements for a Corporate Developer Account

In addition to choosing where to establish a company for publishing your products in the App Store and Play Market, you should familiarize yourself with the standards and requirements of both marketplaces.

App Store (Apple Developer Program):

• Legal entity (corporation, LLC, partnership).
• Mandatory verification via a D-U-N-S number (Dun & Bradstreet).
• Confirmation of Trader Status (EU) for compliance with the Digital Services Act.
• Mandatory App Privacy Labels (disclosure of data collection practices).
• Disclosure of the use of external AI services (AI Transparency).
• Team management via App Store Connect (assignment of roles and access).

Google Play (Play Console):

• Organizational registration is mandatory for apps in finance, healthcare, VPN, and public services.
• Company verification via a D-U-N-S number (for certain categories).
• Mandatory completion of the Data Safety Section (data collection, storage, deletion).
• New Child Safety (CSAE) rules and Families Policy for children’s apps.
• In certain US states – mandatory Age Verification (from 2026).
• Team management via Google Play Console.

As you can see, the platforms do not impose any requirements regarding jurisdiction or residency. Therefore, you can establish a company where it is more beneficial for you to operate.

Step-By-Step Process of Launching a Company for App Publishing

The procedure for registering an IT business is individual for each entrepreneur. However, at the preparation and planning stage, you can follow the following algorithm:

• choosing the country of registration, taking into account taxes, regulation, and payment infrastructure;
• registering a legal entity (LLC, Ltd, OÜ, etc.), obtaining registration documents;
• registering with Dun & Bradstreet to confirm legal status (mandatory for Apple);
• connecting banking and payment systems for receiving and sending funds;
• creating a corporate developer account in the Apple Developer Program / Google Play Console;
• appointing an authorized representative who has the right to sign agreements on behalf of the company;
• adding developers, assigning roles and permissions in the console;
• preparing legal documentation: privacy policy, terms of use, account deletion mechanisms;
• ensuring compliance with platform requirements – App Privacy Labels and AI Transparency (Apple), Data Safety Section and Families Policy (Google);
• uploading the application, adding descriptions, screenshots, configuring the listing, and passing moderation.

Next come monetization, iterative updates, and work with feedback and criticism.

Limitations and Risks When Choosing a Jurisdiction

After determining where to register a company for publishing your products in the App Store and Play Market, you should compare the key specifics of operating in the selected countries:

There is no perfect option. However, it is possible to find a compromise and choose the most optimal jurisdiction for an IT business.

Legal Support From Lawrange

We will help you decide where to register a company for publishing your apps in the App Store and Play Market. With us, you get:

• analysis of jurisdictions, comparison of tax regimes, registration requirements, and country reputations;
• turnkey company registration, document preparation, process support, obtaining incorporation documents;
• assistance with obtaining a D-U-N-S number and setting up corporate Apple and Google accounts;
• opening corporate bank accounts, connecting payment systems (Stripe, PayPal, SEPA);
• legal documentation, development of privacy policies, terms of use, account deletion procedures;
• consultations on GDPR, the Digital Services Act, the Data Safety Section, and other regulations;
• business support, assistance with scaling, entering new markets, and working with investors.

Ready to start the process of establishing an IT company for registration in the corporate system of the App Store and Google Play? Contact our manager!

FAQ

Can you publish apps without a company?

Yes, but only as an individual developer, with limitations for certain categories.

Which country is best to open a company for the App Store?

It is best to open a company in the USA (Delaware), Estonia, the United Kingdom, or Cyprus. These jurisdictions are most often chosen due to the balance of taxes and regulation.

What taxes does an app developer pay?

A developer pays corporate tax in the country of registration: USA ≈21% federal, Estonia – upon dividend distribution, United Kingdom ≈25%, Cyprus 12.5%.

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