How do I transfer my online store’s domain and website accounts safely?

Make the list first, and include the less obvious items: the domain registrar login, business email, social profiles, shipping accounts and the payment processor. For each, note who owns it, whose email receives the security codes and what happens if the login is lost. Replace personal email addresses with a company address you can pass over.

Choose a quiet time to switch. The domain is the item that points customers to the store, so move it only when the buyer confirms they can reach every other account. Unlock the domain, share the transfer code securely and ask the buyer to watch for the confirmation email. Keep the store live while this happens, and plan to avoid changes to checkout or payments in the same week.

Do not share passwords by plain email. Use a secure method and change them after the handover. Payment processors usually verify the new owner themselves, so allow time. Ask your lawyer to list the accounts in the sale agreement, and ask the buyer to confirm in writing when each transfer is complete before you remove your own access. Afterward, check that email sent to the store address arrives with the new owner, since password resets and order notices often go there. A short test message on the day catches problems before customers notice.

Key takeaways

• Make a full list of accounts and note who owns each one.
• Replace personal email addresses with a company address.
• Move the domain last, after the buyer confirms other access.
• Share credentials securely and change them afterward.