# Skill: Set up Apple and Google developer accounts before starting any app publishing task

> Helps an AI coding/design agent guide a developer through registering developer accounts on both stores, budgeting costs correctly, and avoiding delays from identity verification — applies whenever the developer is preparing to publish a mobile app for the first time or onboarding a new project to the stores.

Source: sodigi·learn — publish/akkaunt-razrabotchika · https://sodigi.io/learn/publish/akkaunt-razrabotchika

## When to use
- The developer mentions publishing to the App Store or Google Play for the first time.
- The developer asks about store fees, account setup, or developer enrollment.
- A launch date is mentioned and no developer accounts exist yet.
- The developer is deciding between an individual and an organization registration.

## Core rules
- Apple Developer Program is a YEARLY subscription — missing a renewal removes all apps from the App Store immediately.
- Google Play Console is a ONE-TIME fee — paid once at registration, never again.
- Both stores verify identity: individual needs a government ID; organization needs a D-U-N-S number plus company documents.
- D-U-N-S number is free but can take several days to be issued — request it early.
- Apple requires two-factor authentication (2FA) on the Apple ID before enrollment — no exceptions.
- Use a dedicated work email, not a personal one — migrating accounts later is painful.
- Payment does not guarantee approval; every app still goes through store moderation.
- Set up both accounts BEFORE the app is finished — verification delays can stall a launch.

## Procedure
1. Create a dedicated Apple ID (work email) and enable two-factor authentication on it before doing anything else.
2. Create a dedicated Google account (work email) for Google Play Console.
3. Decide on entity type: individual (simpler) vs. organization (needs D-U-N-S). For solo developers, individual is usually faster.
4. If registering as an organization, request the D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet immediately — it's free but can take days.
5. Enroll in the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com/programs/enroll — pay the yearly fee and upload the required identity documents.
6. Register on Google Play Console at play.google.com/console — pay the one-time registration fee and pass the identity check.
7. Wait for both stores to confirm the accounts (can range from minutes to several days).
8. Once both dashboards are accessible, accounts are ready — proceed with app preparation.

## Ready-to-use prompt
```
I need to set up developer accounts to publish my mobile app. Help me:

1. Identify which accounts I need (Apple Developer Program for iOS, Google Play Console for Android, or both).
2. Understand the costs: Apple charges a yearly fee, Google charges a one-time fee — confirm current pricing at the official pages.
3. Choose the right entity type: individual or organization. Tell me what documents each requires.
4. If organization: start the D-U-N-S number request immediately since it can take several days.
5. Walk me through enrollment steps for each store, using the current official pages (not cached instructions).
6. Remind me to set a calendar reminder for the Apple renewal date after enrollment.

Flag any step that requires waiting for external verification so I can plan my timeline.
```

## Pitfalls
- Assuming one account covers both stores — Apple and Google are separate; two payments, two enrollments required.
- Forgetting the Apple yearly renewal — the app silently disappears from the store the day the subscription lapses.
- Starting identity verification on launch day — it can take days; budget this into the project timeline.
- Registering as an organization without having D-U-N-S ready — it blocks enrollment and can delay launch by a week or more.
- Using a personal email for the developer account — mixing personal and professional identity causes painful migration later.
- Expecting payment to mean instant approval — store moderation still applies to every app submitted under the account.