How do I transfer domains and software licences when buying a business?

A business’s digital assets rarely get the same attention as its physical ones during a handover, and that is exactly why they cause problems. A locked-out domain or an inaccessible business email account can stop a new owner from operating the business almost as effectively as losing the front door key.

Domain names need an active transfer, not just a password change

Moving a domain to the buyer’s control requires the seller to unlock it at the registrar, provide the authorization or transfer code, and update the registered owner information — simply handing over a login and password leaves the domain legally registered to the seller, which is not the same thing as owning it. Confirming who actually holds the registrant record, before relying on it in negotiations, is worth doing early rather than assuming ownership matches who built the site.

Software licences are frequently non-transferable

Many software subscriptions and licence agreements are issued to a specific legal entity and explicitly prohibit assignment to a new owner without the vendor’s consent, similar to the anti-assignment clauses that show up in supplier contracts. A buyer should not assume point-of-sale software, accounting software or industry-specific tools will simply continue working under new ownership without contacting the vendor directly to confirm the transfer or set up a fresh account.

Phone numbers move through the carrier, not the sale

A business phone number generally has to be formally ported to a new carrier account, initiated by the party requesting the port and often requiring account information only the current holder has — this is a telecom process entirely separate from the purchase agreement, and it needs to start with enough lead time that customers never reach a dead line.

Social accounts need ownership confirmed, not just access

Social media accounts are frequently tied to a personal email address or phone number the seller controls, rather than to the business itself, which means access can be lost the moment that seller stops cooperating unless ownership is formally transferred within the platform. Where any of these accounts hold customer personal information, such as an email list built through a connected platform, federal privacy law governs how that information can be used and transferred to the new owner, which is worth flagging to counsel alongside the purely technical handover.