Can an agency publish an app for a client on the Play Store?
Yes. An agency can publish under its own developer account and later hand the app over using Google’s official app transfer, which moves the listing, installs, ratings and reviews to the client’s account intact. Alternatively the client opens the account and the agency is added as a user with Release manager permissions — cleaner ownership, but the client then has to clear verification and, if the account is new, the 12-tester rule. Agencies on a deadline usually publish first and transfer after.