iOS Developing an iPhone app as a 'Company'?

[Locker]

Here's my current situation:
I am currently both employed and self employed. My main job is my employment, though I also do some web design work for my self-employment.

Here's what I want to do:
I own a website (soon to be a chain of websites), and a small team of us work on this. One member of the team has produced a very exciting iPhone app for us related to our site(s), and we want to obviously get it into the app store.

Here's the dilemma:
Ideally, we'd like to register as a 'company' developer, so that we can put our website's name as the developer name. However, we don't know what would be required to do this legally? What would be the steps we need to take?

Other info:
At the moment the site(s) are totally non-profit, but with this app, we may well cover more than our hosting costs. We'd want to keep this in a bank account... see how much we have left over and then either re-invest into the site or distribute an award to everyone for their efforts.

Basically, where do we stand legally in the UK? With taxes, paperwork... What do we need to do?

Help on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[GoCubsGo]

Here's my current situation:
I am currently both employed and self employed. My main job is my employment, though I also do some web design work for my self-employment.

Here's what I want to do:
I own a website (soon to be a chain of websites), and a small team of us work on this. One member of the team has produced a very exciting iPhone app for us related to our site(s), and we want to obviously get it into the app store.

Here's the dilemma:
Ideally, we'd like to register as a 'company' developer, so that we can put our website's name as the developer name. However, we don't know what would be required to do this legally? What would be the steps we need to take?

Other info:
At the moment the site(s) are totally non-profit, but with this app, we may well cover more than our hosting costs. We'd want to keep this in a bank account... see how much we have left over and then either re-invest into the site or distribute an award to everyone for their efforts.

Basically, where do we stand legally in the UK? With taxes, paperwork... What do we need to do?

Help on this would be greatly appreciated

Not being from or in the UK I would say that you need to go to a site like this and start reading.

You'll need to file your papers to start your business, open a business bank account, and then submit your app like that to the app store. Are you already an approved developer for Apple? When you submitted did you do it as an individual or did you latch on a company name?

 

[Locker]

Not being from or in the UK I would say that you need to go to a site like this and start reading.

You'll need to file your papers to start your business, open a business bank account, and then submit your app like that to the app store. Are you already an approved developer for Apple? When you submitted did you do it as an individual or did you latch on a company name?

That's the thing, I'm already registered as self-employed with HMRC. Under a different company name though of course.

Can I trade under a different name (my websites)? Will the fact that profits will be shared out make a difference? Or could I just claim it all as my income, and then I can do what I like with it (i.e. share it out...). What papers will they need exactly?

Also, we currently have no developer account.

 

[detz]

Apple doesn't care but if you want a company name you have to pay $299 vs $99 for a personal dev account. I'm registered on the app store under my business name which is not an official company because I'm too cheap to incorporate.

 

[Locker]

Apple doesn't care but if you want a company name you have to pay $299 vs $99 for a personal dev account. I'm registered on the app store under my business name which is not an official company because I'm too cheap to incorporate.

That's wrong though? It's $299 for an enterprise account and $99 for a standard one. Once standard is selected, there's still the option for individual or company? We don't need an enterprise account.

 

[firewood]

You can't get an enterprise account unless a major rating agency (Dunn & Bradstreet?) says you have over 500 full-time employees. Smaller companies have to use the standard programs.

 

[Locker]

You can't get an enterprise account unless a major rating agency (Dunn & Bradstreet?) says you have over 500 full-time employees. Smaller companies have to use the standard programs.

.

Exactly, we don't want an enterprise account... Just a standard 'company' one.

Anyone able to shed some more light on what I can do in my situation?

 

[firewood]

Maybe consult with a lawyer on the paperwork and documents needed for a business partnership, LLC or other type of corporation. Then open a bank account and enroll as a developer under that business name.

 

[Locker]

Maybe consult with a lawyer on the paperwork and documents needed for a business partnership, LLC or other type of corporation. Then open a bank account and enroll as a developer under that business name.

.

Haven't got the money to consult with a lawyer. If anyone has registered as a 'company' and is a UK developer perhaps you can shed some light? What's the process, what do you need?

Individuals defiantly can't change the name that displays as the developer can they?

 

[firewood]

Individuals defiantly can't change the name that displays as the developer can they?

Individuals can set the name that displays as the developer. But they currently can not change that name once it is set.

 

[Locker]

Well, when registering it says:

enter your name, this will appear as the seller in the app store

There's two fields for that... So do you just mean you can put something else there?

We wouldn't want cheques being made out to a person that doesn't exist

And, I'm sure they'd figure it wasn't a real name during the approval process?

 

[jnic]

If you register as a company you get to set the developer name as whatever you like (it doesn't need to be your company's name).

Are you incorporated as a limited company with Companies House? If not you'll need to as Apple will ask for paperwork (you'll want a fax machine), and the application procedure will take a couple of weeks longer than for an individual.

Paperwork-wise, there are companies that will set you up and handle most of it, or a solicitor will do it for you for around £100. You'll need to register as company director, appoint a company secretary (needn't be a paid employee), and fill out employee salary paperwork (or sign a bit of paper each month to say you've not paid anyone and owe no taxes/NI/etc.).

You'll also need to fill out a tax self-assessment each year; if you're self employed you'll be doing this already