How To Transfer Shopify Ownership: An Ultimate Guide

Are you selling your Shopify store? Handing it off to a new owner? Or making your trusted employee the captain of your e-commerce ship? Whatever the reason, transferring Shopify ownership can be done in a couple of minutes if you follow the correct steps.

In this guide, I'll share with you a comprehensive walkthrough of the steps to transfer store ownership on Shopify and some tips to ensure a smooth transition.

Let’s get started!

How To Transfer Ownership Of A Shopify Store

Before You Start

When it comes to transferring ownership on Shopify, there are several considerations you need to take before initiating the transfer:

• Store Owner Permission: Only the store owner can transfer a Shopify store to another account, make store you log in with the store owner account. Also, make sure that your store is not a non-transferable store. Otherwise, you can't transfer its ownership to another owner. 
• Single Owner Limit: Shopify only allows one store owner at a time. Once you transfer ownership, you will no longer have full access to the account unless the new owner grants it back to you.
• Full Access For The New Owner: The new owner will have full control over account details, billing, and access to every part of the Shopify store.
• Backup Important Data: Before initiating the transfer, back up all essential store data such as product listings, customer information, sales records, and other key business details. A comprehensive backup ensures you don't lose any valuable information during the process.

• Remove Personal Information: For privacy and security, remove any personal information from your Shopify account, such as your contact details and payment information. This clears the way for the new owner to take over with a fresh start.
• Organize Legal Documents: If applicable, compile any legal documents related to the business, such as business licenses, permits, or contracts.
• Document Processes and Procedures: Create clear documentation outlining your store's operations, including order fulfillment, customer service protocols, and marketing strategies. This will help the new owner understand how the business runs and maintain consistency.
• Inform Relevant Parties: Notify your staff, suppliers, and any other relevant parties about the upcoming ownership transfer to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any disruptions.

How To Transfer Shopify Store Ownership: Step-by-step Guide

To begin the Shopify transfer ownership process, you first need to add the new owner as a staff member in your Shopify admin.

Once you've added the new owner as a staff member, follow these steps to transfer Shopify store to another account:

Step 1: Log in to your Shopify owner account.

Step 2: From your Shopify admin, go to Settings.

Step 3: Click Users and permission

Step 4: Click Transfer ownership in the Store owner section

Step 5: You’ll be prompted to enter the email address and name of the new owner to whom you wish to transfer the store’s ownership.

Step 6: Enter your password as a security measure and click Transfer store ownership.

Step 7: The new owner will receive an email from Shopify to confirm the ownership of the Shopify store. Ask them to find the mail and follow the instructions to finalize the transfer.

Note: You can follow the same steps to transfer ownership of your organization if you're using the Shopify Plus plan.

Post-Transfer Checklist For The New Owner

Once the Shopify transfer store ownership is complete, the new owner should perform several checks and tasks to ensure that the store is fully under their control and operating smoothly.

1. Change the store’s Contact email address and Sender email address

These email addresses are vital for communicating with customers and suppliers and for receiving important notifications from Shopify. Ensure the new store owner replaces the previous owner’s contact details with their own to maintain effective communication.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: From your Shopify dashboard, click Settings.

Step 2: In ‘Store details,’ click the pencil icon near the house icon and fill in the new Contact email address. Then click Save.

Step 3: Go to Notifications. In the Sender mail box, enter the new owner’s email and verify it.

2. Update billing details

After transferring Shopify ownership, it’s essential for the new owner to promptly update the store’s payment information to ensure uninterrupted service.

The new store owners have to change the billing information, such as credit card details or billing address, to reflect the new owner's details.

3. Contact Shopify Support and request to update the existing Shopify Payments

If the store is using Shopify Payments for your e-commerce transactions, it’s essential to contact Shopify Support to update the existing Shopify Payments details to reflect the information as the new owner. 

4. Cancel or transfer third-party apps and services

The new owner should review all third-party apps and services connected to the Shopify store. They should determine which apps are no longer needed or relevant to their business and cancel them to avoid unnecessary expenses. 

For any essential apps and services that will continue to be used, ownership should be transferred, and account information should be updated to reflect the new ownership. 

5. Update staff accounts

The new owner should review and adjust the existing staff accounts. Make sure each team member has the correct permissions and access needed for their specific role in the store. 

You may also need to add new staff members or remove inactive accounts to ensure the team is aligned with your current business objectives. 

6. Test the Store Post-transfer

The new owner should thoroughly test the store to ensure everything functions correctly. This includes reviewing product listings, verifying the checkout process, testing payment gateways, and checking any third-party app integrations. 

Ensuring that all features work as expected helps prevent any issues that could disrupt the customer experience or business operations post-transfer.

Transferring Shopify Ownership: Best Practices and Tips

Transferring ownership of a Shopify store is a significant step, and ensuring a smooth and secure handover requires careful planning and communication. Here are some best practices and tips to keep in mind:

For the Current Owner:

• Prepare Comprehensive Documentation: Create detailed documentation outlining your store's operations, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), supplier information, marketing strategies, financial performance, and legal and tax information.
• Communicate Clearly with the New Owner: Maintain open and transparent communication throughout the Shopify transfer ownership process. Answer any questions they might have and provide guidance as needed.
• Offer Support During the Transition: Be available to assist the new owner during the initial stages of their takeover. This could include answering questions, providing training, or helping with any technical issues.
• Securely Transfer Sensitive Information: Use secure methods to share sensitive data like passwords, API keys, or financial information. Consider using password managers or encrypted communication channels.
• Update App and Service Access: Revoke your access or adjust permissions for any third-party apps or services connected to your store that the new owner will now manage.

For the New Owner:

• Review All Store Settings: Familiarize yourself with the store's settings, including payment gateways, shipping options, taxes, and notification preferences.
• Update Billing Information: Promptly change the billing information to reflect your details to avoid any disruptions in service.
• Transfer Domain Name (if applicable): If the domain name is included in the sale, ensure its ownership is transferred to you or update the DNS records to point to your Shopify account.
• Update Third-Party Integrations: Update any third-party apps or integrations with your information and ensure they're properly connected to your accounts.
• Review Legal Pages and Policies: Update the store's legal pages (privacy policy, terms of service, refund policy, etc.) to reflect the new ownership and comply with relevant regulations.
• Familiarize Yourself with Shopify: If you're new to Shopify, take advantage of its extensive resources, including the Help Center, blog, and community forums, to learn about the platform, Shopify pricing plans, and its features.

Additional Tips:

• Consider a Legal Agreement: For complex transactions, it's advisable to have a legal agreement in place that outlines the terms of the sale and transfer of ownership.
• Plan for Downtime: Anticipate a brief downtime during the transfer process, especially if you're migrating to a new Shopify account. Communicate this to your customers in advance to avoid any confusion.
• Test Thoroughly: After the transfer, thoroughly test all aspects of the store, including the checkout process, to ensure everything functions correctly.

How To Transfer Ownership Of A Shopify Development Store

If you’re a Shopify Partner or providing web-building services, you might build development stores for clients. When the store is ready for launch, you'll need to transfer its ownership to your client. Here's a guide to ensure a smooth handover:

Considerations When You Transfer 

• No More Promotions: Once a development store is on a paid plan, it can't use any promotions or free trials.
• Transfers are Final: You can't undo an ownership transfer of a development store.
• Shopify Payments Update: If you used your own information to activate Shopify Payments on your client's store, you need to update it to their information. Contact Shopify Support to do this.

Before You Start

Before transferring a development store to your client:

• POS Access: If your client plans to use Shopify POS, grant them access and assign a POS role when adding them as a staff member.
• Correct Address: Add your client's address to the store settings, especially if they're in a different country. This can prevent incorrect tax charges on their Shopify invoice.

Step-by-step Instructions On How To Transfer A Development Store

Step 1: Add Your Client as a Staff Member

Follow the same steps when you transfer your Shopify store as the owner. The client must complete the staff account set up before the transfer can be executed.

Step 2: Set Billing Currency to the Client’s Currency:

• From your Shopify admin, click Store details.
• In the Billing Information section, click Edit.
• Fill in your client’s information.

It’s crucial to ensure that the store's billing currency matches the currency your client will use to pay Shopify bills. Mismatched currencies can hinder the client’s ability to add a credit card and accept the transfer.

Step 3:

• Log in to your Partner Dashboard and navigate to the Stores section.
• Find the development store you wish to transfer and click Actions.
• Select Transfer ownership.

Step 4. Select the New Owner:

In the transfer dialog, choose the new owner from the list of eligible owners. If your client isn’t listed, you can add a staff account for them. 

Remember, the client must complete the staff account setup before proceeding.

Step 5. Click Transfer store. 

The store will appear in your Partner Dashboard under the “Managed” tab. 

Your client will receive an email containing instructions on how to create their account and select a plan. 

Until your client accepts the transfer, the store remains paused.

Step 6.

After successfully transferring the store, it’s crucial to share important information with your client:

• Provide them with access details, including the store’s URL (https://admin.shopify.com/store/{shop}).
• Offer recommendations regarding the most suitable Shopify plan for their business needs, including Basic, Shopify, Advanced, or the standard Plus plan.
• Share any additional guidance or resources that can assist them in building and managing their online business effectively.

Step 7. Updating Shopify Payments Information (if necessary):

If you initially activated Shopify Payments on your client’s store using your information, inform your client to contact Shopify Support to have the Shopify Payments details updated to reflect their information. 

It’s important to collaborate with your client to determine when your involvement is no longer required, and they can safely delete your account.

FAQS

Wrapping Up

You're all set to transfer Shopify store ownership to a new owner! By following these steps, communicating clearly, and taking the necessary precautions, you can ensure a smooth and secure transition for both the current and new owner.

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