Developers can now sign up for Apple’s 15% discount on the App Store

Apple has opened registration for its new small business program that will allow qualifying app developers to receive an additional 15% on App Store sales, the company said Thursday. Apple claims that “the vast majority of App Store developers who sell digital goods and services are eligible” and that all developers need to do to qualify is complete the company registration form available in line.

Apple announced the new program last month, marking a significant change in the structure of the App Store. Under the new program terms, eligible developers who earn less than $ 1 million per year in App Store sales and in-app purchase income can benefit from the reduced commission rate of 15% for the Next year. Apple typically takes 30% of all App Store revenue from digital items according to its long-standing policy.

Although Apple has never released specific figures regarding annual developer revenue or App Store-generated revenue, analysts estimate that the App Store is responsible for more than $ 50 billion in sales in 2019, while analytics company Sensor Tower estimates about 98 percent of developers are responsible for just 5 percent of that amount and would be eligible for the new program.

Here are, in Apple’s words, the basics as outlined in its new FAQ:

• Existing developers who made up to $ 1 million in 2020 revenue for all of their apps, as well as developers new to the App Store, can benefit from the program and the reduced commission.
• If a participating developer exceeds the $ 1 million threshold, the standard commission rate will apply for the remainder of the year.
• If a developer’s product falls below the $ 1 million threshold in a future calendar year, they may qualify again for the 15% commission the following year.
• Developers must identify all associated developer accounts to determine product eligibility.

Apple has set a deadline of December 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET for registration submission, with a start date of January 1, 2021 for the product adjustment to take effect. The FAQ states that if a developer applies after the deadline, they must wait 15 days after their approval to see the reduced commission rates, and approval may not take place until the spring of next year. If you are a new developer without a product, you can submit your program registration and see the reduced price from the App Store immediately upon approval if your app is then live.