How do I hand over the developer accounts for my mobile app to a buyer?
List every account the app depends on: the store developer accounts, signing keys, analytics, push notifications, payments and hosting. Move each one into the buyer’s company in an agreed order, stay available while it happens, and confirm the buyer can publish an update before you step away.
Begin by writing down every login the app touches, including ones created years ago by a former developer. Note who holds each one and whose email address is attached. An account tied to your personal email or a contractor’s email is the usual cause of a stalled handover, so find those early.
Plan the order. Keys that sign the app should move with care, because losing them can stop future updates from reaching users. Ask the buyer to set up their own company accounts first, then transfer or reassign each item to them. Some platforms have their own transfer steps and waiting periods, so read their current instructions and start early.
Keep a record of what moved, when, and who confirmed it. Agree on a short period when you remain on call to answer questions. Do not delete your own access until the buyer has published a test update and the payments and notifications work. Your lawyer can add the handover list to the sale agreement so both sides know what is included. Also tell the buyer about renewal dates for any paid memberships tied to the accounts, since a missed renewal can pull the app from the store. Put those dates in the handover notes.
Key takeaways
- Inventory every account, key and linked service before you set a date.
- Replace personal or contractor email addresses on each account.
- Have the buyer publish a test update before you remove your access.
- Attach the handover list to the sale agreement.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAfter buying a business, what is the next step?
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentUnderstanding post-merger operational integration
- 03Canadian Centre for Cyber SecurityGovernmentBaseline cyber security controls for small and medium organizations
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