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Getting Started
Before I can build and distribute your app, you need to set up developer accounts on the platforms you want to ship to. This is a one-time setup. Both accounts must be in your name — you own the app and the listing forever, even after our project ends.
Why your accounts and not mine: Apple and Google both require the app owner to hold the account. If I distributed under my account, you'd lose access to the listing the moment our project ends. Your accounts means your app, your store presence, your analytics, your revenue.
iOS / macOS — Apple Developer Account
Cost
$99 USD per year, paid by you directly to Apple.
Steps
- Go to developer.apple.com/programs/enroll and sign in with your Apple ID (or create a new one).
- Choose Individual or Organization:
- Individual — your name appears on the App Store listing as the seller. Faster to set up. ~24 hours approval.
- Organization — your business name appears. Requires a D-U-N-S Number (free, ~2-week approval). Worth it if you have an LLC or corporation.
- Pay the $99 enrollment fee with credit card.
- Wait for Apple to approve (usually 24-48 hours for Individual).
- Once approved, sign in to appstoreconnect.apple.com.
- Click Users and Access in the top nav.
- Click the + button to invite a user.
- Enter my email: contact@lfcubed.com
- Set role to App Manager and check the apps you want me to manage (or check "All Apps" if I'm building your first app).
- Click Invite. I get an email and accept within 24 hours.
Tip: If your business has a D-U-N-S Number already (most LLCs and corps do), go with Organization — it's worth the extra approval time for the professional listing.
Android — Google Play Console Account
Cost
$25 USD one time, paid by you directly to Google. No annual fee.
Steps
- Go to play.google.com/console/signup and sign in with your Google account (or create a new one).
- Choose Personal or Organization account type:
- Personal — your real name appears as developer. ID verification required.
- Organization — business name appears. D-U-N-S Number required.
- Complete identity verification (Google requires a government-issued ID).
- Pay the $25 registration fee.
- Wait for Google to approve (usually 1-2 days).
- Once approved, sign in to play.google.com/console.
- Click Users and permissions in the left sidebar.
- Click Invite new users.
- Enter my email: contact@lfcubed.com
- Under App permissions, choose the apps you want me to manage (or "All apps" if I'm building your first).
- Set the Account permissions. Recommended:
- Release Manager — can upload and publish builds
- App Manager — can edit store listing, descriptions, screenshots
- Set an expiration date (optional — you can revoke access any time).
- Click Send invite. I get an email and accept within 24 hours.
Note on Google's identity verification: Google now requires real-name verification for all developer accounts. Have your driver's license or passport ready when you sign up.
Google's 12 testers / 14 days rule: New Personal accounts (created after Nov 2023) must run a Closed Testing track with at least 12 opted-in testers for 14 consecutive days before publishing to production. Internal Testing doesn't count. Recruit 12 testers (friends, family, employees) early so the 14 days run alongside the build, not after. Organization accounts (D-U-N-S verified) are exempt. The requirement is once-per-account, not per-app. If you can't gather 12 testers yourself, third-party services can recruit testers and run the 14-day cycle for you — search "12 testers 14 days."
Brand Assets You'll Need
For Apple and Google to publish your app, you'll need the following. I'll handle basic icon and logo work if you don't have them. For full custom design, hire a designer separately.
- App icon — 1024×1024 PNG, no transparency, no rounded corners (the stores apply rounding automatically)
- Screenshots — at least 3 per platform, sized per Apple and Google specs (I generate these from the built app)
- App description — short (80 char) and long (4000 char) versions
- Promotional text / tagline
- Category / keywords for App Store search
- Privacy policy URL — required by both stores. You can generate one with services like TermsFeed for free.
- Support URL or email for users to contact you
What Happens Next
Once your accounts are set up and I'm added as a developer:
- I build your app on my machine using your brand assets.
- When the build is ready, I push it to TestFlight (iOS) and Internal Testing (Android) so you can install it on your phone and try it.
- You give one round of feedback. I make the requested changes.
- You pay the final 50%.
- I push the final build to your store account, ready for you to submit to the App Store and Google Play for review.
- I send you a zip of the source code (or transfer the repository to your GitHub if you prefer).
- You're set. The app is yours, the code is yours, and you can keep building or hire someone else later.
Want me to handle the App Store and Google Play submission too? Add the Distribution add-on to your project. I'll write the listing copy, prepare screenshots, fill out the metadata, and submit on your behalf. You just review and approve before going live.
Working With the Source Code Yourself
If you plan to build or modify the app yourself after handoff, you'll need: Flutter SDK (free), Android Studio or VS Code (free), and Xcode (Mac only, free). Each is a 5-10 GB install. If you don't plan to build it yourself, the source code is still yours — any developer, including me, can pick it up when you need changes.