What Is a D-U-N-S Number, Why Do You Need One and How Do You Get It?

Almost everyone who wants to publish a corporate application, expand abroad or register as a company with a foreign platform runs into the same sentence at some point: "Enter your D-U-N-S number first." The term sounds technical and foreign the first time you hear it, but it is really nothing more than your company's international identity card.

In this guide we work through what the number is, which applications ask for it, how you can obtain it, and the typical mistakes that quietly drag the process out.

What Is a D-U-N-S Number?

D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) is a unique nine-digit number issued to companies by Dun & Bradstreet, a long-established business information organisation. It is specific to each business and identifies that company worldwide, much like a personal identity number.

The purpose is simple: to let institutions in different countries answer the question "Does this company really exist, and do its name and address match?" from one common source. The number gathers your company's legal name, address and core details into a single verifiable record.

Knowing two things from the outset will make your life easier. The number is permanent; there is no expiry date and no renewal fee. It is also issued not simply to a company name but to the pairing of legal entity and address; groups with branches or separate companies may hold more than one number.

Which Applications Ask for It?

The place you meet the number most often is the app stores:

▪ Apple App Store — A D-U-N-S number is mandatory when opening a Developer account in a company's name.

▪ Google Play — It is requested when verifying corporate developer accounts.

Beyond that, it is also used to verify your company in international supplier and customer registrations, overseas tenders, export processes and some financial risk assessments.

There is an important distinction: the number is required for corporate applications. If you are publishing an application in your own name rather than the company's, as an individual developer, no D-U-N-S is requested; verification is done with personal identity documents. The moment you decide to publish in the company's name, the number comes into play.

What Should You Have Ready Before Applying?

The form is short, but every detail you give has to match the official record. Have the following ready before you sit down to apply:

▪ The full legal title on the trade register — not your brand name

▪ The registered official address

▪ A company-registered telephone number

▪ Tax identification number and registry details

▪ The name, title and corporate e-mail address of the authorised person

▪ Corporate website, line of business and approximate number of employees

Where and How Do You Get It?

The DUNS service is free, but when someone obtains it on your behalf there is a cost, because it takes work.

1. First check whether you already have a number. Companies with a history of exporting, credit or overseas trade may have been assigned a number in the past; most of them are unaware of it. Searching for your company in the lookup tool before making a fresh application spares you weeks of unnecessary waiting.
2. Apply directly through Dun & Bradstreet. You can fill in the application form on the organisation's own site. The standard process is free, though issuing the number can take a few weeks. For those in a hurry, a paid, expedited option may also be offered.

PLEASE NOTE

Whichever route you choose, the legal company title, address and telephone details you give in the application must be identical to your official records. The most common cause of delay is a small discrepancy between the information on the trade register and the information in the application.

How Long Does the Process Take?

The time can range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the route you choose and how quickly your details are verified. Dun & Bradstreet may telephone your company or ask for additional documents to confirm the information; an unreturned call is one of the leading reasons the process drags on unnoticed.

So if you are planning a store application, start the D-U-N-S step at the very beginning, alongside your other preparations. Waiting for a number when the application itself is completely ready is one of the biggest causes of a delayed release date.

After You Receive the Number

The number alone is not enough; it also has to be verified on the store side. When you enter the number in your Apple Developer registration, Apple checks your company's legal status and your authority to act on its behalf, and will telephone to confirm if necessary. On the Google Play side, the details you enter are likewise compared against the record. Make sure the title and address you use at these steps match those in the D-U-N-S record exactly.

The Most Common Mistakes

▪ Applying with the brand name. The record is opened with the legal title — the full title as written on the register, not the short brand name.

▪ Entering the old address. Using the former address in the application after a move, even though the register has been updated, blocks verification.

▪ Forgetting to update an existing record. If you already have a number but the title or address on the record is out of date, store verification will still fail. Update the record first.

▪ Leaving it to the last day. A corporate developer account cannot be opened until the number comes through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee?
The D-U-N-S number itself is free; Dun & Bradstreet does not charge for it. Preparing the application, following it up and handling the verification correspondence does take effort, however, and when someone else runs the process on your behalf, the cost comes from that effort.

Does it expire, and does it need renewing?
It does not expire. You obtain it once and use the same number in all your later applications.

Can a sole trader obtain one?
Yes. But you will need to check separately the legal-entity conditions the store requires for a corporate account.

Can I have more than one number?
You can. Because the number is issued on an address basis, branches or group companies may have separate numbers. In your application, use the number of the legal entity that will publish the application.

Conclusion

The D-U-N-S number is your company's corporate identity in the digital world. Obtaining it is not as hard as it is thought to be; the real work is keeping the details on the record consistent with your official records and not leaving this step to the end of the process.

At Arca Yazılım we run this process end to end on our clients' behalf. From checking for an existing number to preparing the application form, and from following up the Dun & Bradstreet verification correspondence to corporate account approval on the Apple App Store and Google Play, we handle every step for you. The number itself is free; our fee is for that preparation and follow-up work.

If you would rather hand the application over to us than run it yourself, you can request our D-U-N-S application and store account setup service. Let us complete the number and store approval steps without holding up your application's release schedule.

To find out more about this subject you can reach us on 0312 256 72 78, and for detailed information and our other solutions you can visit www.arcayazilim.com.