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> In order to sell Windows desktop apps in the Windows store and use all device capabilities you need a company account, and to get a company account you need t

> In order to sell Windows desktop apps in the Windows store and use all device capabilities you need a company account, and to get a company account you need to be recognized as a company in your own country There are valid reasons for doing that. In Europe for example one reason would be VAT handling. It may very well be that they were forced in doing this. But, in European countries at least, you have the option to register as a Sole Proprietorship. Depending on the country of course, this is painless to do, accounting is simpler and taxes are much better (in comparison with starting a LLC and paying yourself a salary). It has downsides of course, but for developers trying to experiment it is perfect.

fauigerzigerk 13y ago
>There are valid reasons for doing that There always are, but it's a question of priorities. VAT handling is optional for small businesses in most European countries and it has nothing to do with device capabilities or types of software. Tell me a reason that is valid for desktop software but not for other types of store apps, a reason that is valid for some device capabilities but not others! They are creating unnecessary dependencies between unrelated things (distribution/deployment, types of software, permissions/capabilities, taxes/social security). That's what incidental complexity is all about. >But, in European countries at least, you have the option to register as a Sole Proprietorship [...] for developers trying to experiment it is perfect Registering as a sole trader usually means that you have to pay minimum social security contributions even if you make a loss. In the UK that's just 20 Euros or so, but in most other European countries it's between 200 and 300 Euros per month. If you're self funded that hurts.
- bad_user 13y ago
  > Registering as a sole trader usually means that you have to pay minimum social security contributions even if you make a loss ... in most other European countries it's between 200 and 300 Euros per month That's true, unfortunately, although these social contributions means you get access to healthcare, which is always nice to have even when starting out. A minimum of 200 EUR seems too much though, are you sure? In Romania, you get taxed with a percentage of the revenue for healthcare, the tax for unemployment benefits is optional and the only tax that would be required is the pension fund contribution which would amount to 32 EUR per month or something like that.
  - fauigerzigerk 13y ago
    >although these social contributions means you get access to healthcare, which is always nice to have even when starting out. It is indeed, but often times there are various ways to get that. You could be insured with a spouse or by opting into a voluntary scheme for low earners or students. Having to register as a sole trader makes that impossible in some countries. >A minimum of 200 EUR seems too much though, are you sure? Yes, for instance, in Spain it's 250 Euros per month just to be registered as autónomo. It's similar in many other countries. Good to know it's different in Romania!
    - bad_user 13y ago
      > Yes, for instance, in Spain it's 250 Euros per month just to be registered as autónomo. Well, that sucks, I agree.
  - altero 13y ago
    You also lose unemployment support and other benefits. Very usual for someone who is changing career path. In my country loss would be around 1100 euro per month. Bit expensive for 'privilege' of experimenting with some stupid OS.
  - vetinari 13y ago
    Slovakia - minimum is 185 EUR/month (130 for social insurance, 55 for health insurance).

fauigerzigerk 13y ago

>There are valid reasons for doing that There always are, but it's a question of priorities. VAT handling is optional for small businesses in most European countries and it has nothing to do with device capabilities or types of software. Tell me a reason that is valid for desktop software but not for other types of store apps, a reason that is valid for some device capabilities but not others! They are creating unnecessary dependencies between unrelated things (distribution/deployment, types of software, permissions/capabilities, taxes/social security). That's what incidental complexity is all about. >But, in European countries at least, you have the option to register as a Sole Proprietorship [...] for developers trying to experiment it is perfect Registering as a sole trader usually means that you have to pay minimum social security contributions even if you make a loss. In the UK that's just 20 Euros or so, but in most other European countries it's between 200 and 300 Euros per month. If you're self funded that hurts.

bad_user 13y ago
> Registering as a sole trader usually means that you have to pay minimum social security contributions even if you make a loss ... in most other European countries it's between 200 and 300 Euros per month That's true, unfortunately, although these social contributions means you get access to healthcare, which is always nice to have even when starting out. A minimum of 200 EUR seems too much though, are you sure? In Romania, you get taxed with a percentage of the revenue for healthcare, the tax for unemployment benefits is optional and the only tax that would be required is the pension fund contribution which would amount to 32 EUR per month or something like that.
- fauigerzigerk 13y ago
  >although these social contributions means you get access to healthcare, which is always nice to have even when starting out. It is indeed, but often times there are various ways to get that. You could be insured with a spouse or by opting into a voluntary scheme for low earners or students. Having to register as a sole trader makes that impossible in some countries. >A minimum of 200 EUR seems too much though, are you sure? Yes, for instance, in Spain it's 250 Euros per month just to be registered as autónomo. It's similar in many other countries. Good to know it's different in Romania!
  - bad_user 13y ago
    > Yes, for instance, in Spain it's 250 Euros per month just to be registered as autónomo. Well, that sucks, I agree.
- altero 13y ago
  You also lose unemployment support and other benefits. Very usual for someone who is changing career path. In my country loss would be around 1100 euro per month. Bit expensive for 'privilege' of experimenting with some stupid OS.
- vetinari 13y ago
  Slovakia - minimum is 185 EUR/month (130 for social insurance, 55 for health insurance).