How to submit an app to AppStore for only specific people?

Question

So I am almost finished with my app. One version is for all users to download for an establishment. The other is an admin version of the app where the admin can install and make changes to his/her app (add photos, change menu etc.) and all changes are immediately visible to the original user version of the app.

Once the admin version is purchased by an establishment. I will submit the free user version to the app store.

However, I want the admin version to be available only to specific people. It doesn't make sense for anyone to download and install the admin version of the app (eventhough it's password protected).

I don't like to install the app to the establishment's phone directly because it would make the upgrades difficult.

Is there actually a solution for this problem?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Answer 1

MDM solution :

1. This will require users to enroll their devices to your MDM server , I don't think that an enterprise employees will register their devices to your MDM server and most chances that they already registered to their MDM server.
2. Using your enterprise account to distribute apps to other enterprises violates Apple enterprise account agreement!

Custom B2B solution:

1. With custom B2B solution you can use AppStore platform to distribute variations of your app to relevant enterprises.
2. The enterprises that want to purchase your app will have to be registered to the VPP (Volume Purchase Program).

Hope it helps.

Answer 2

You need to use an Enterprise account for that Admin app if you dont want it to be installable by others. Use one of the MDM tools available to manage updates and provisioning.

If your admin version is a digital purchase, you either put in on app store and pay the 30% cut or distribute with an enterprise account, use your own MDM process and keep all the money. (But, I'm not sure if Apple will approve an enterprise account if your goal is to circumvent the 30% cut)