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Transferring Your Store Ownership

This comprehensive guide provides all the information you need to seamlessly transfer ownership of your SHOPLINE store, including step-by-step transfer procedures and answers to frequently asked questions.

 

 

About Store Ownership Transfer

Store transfer allows you to move ownership of your SHOPLINE store to another individual. Each store can only have one owner at a time, who has full control over its operation, including the ability to cancel or transfer ownership. To verify your roles for stores under your account, follow these steps:

  1. From your SHOPLINE admin panel, access the store management page and click Stores.
    1.1 About Store Transfer_Stores.png
  2. Locate the Role column, where you'll find your role in each of the stores under your account. The Store Owner role has the store transfer right.
    1.2 About Store Transfer_Role.png

 

Steps to Transfer Your Store 

To successfully transfer store ownership, both the transferor and transferee must take corresponding actions. This section guides you through the store transfer process, ensuring a smooth transition for both the transferor (current owner) and transferee (new owner).

 

Initiating Store Transfer

To begin, the transferor needs to initiate the transfer. Follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the store management page of your admin panel, then click Stores > Transfer store.
    2.1 Initiating Store Transfer_Transfer store.png
  2. On the store transfer page, click Initiate a transfer. 
    2.2 Initiating Store Transfer_Initiate a transfer.png
  3. Carefully read the rules and disclaimers in the pop-up window. Then, check the agreement box and click Start transfer.
    2.3 Initiating Store Transfer_Rules.png
  4. Follow the five-step procedure to complete the transfer initiation process:

    4.1 Select the store to transfer. Only active stores with a paid plan under your ownership can be transferred. Click Next to proceed. Note that you can only transfer one store at a time.
    2.4 Initiating Store Transfer_Select a strore.png

    4.2 Carefully review your payment account and store assets to ensure a safe and smooth transfer:

    • SHOPLINE Payments: If you are using SHOPLINE Payments, deactivate your account before transferring store ownership. The new owner will need to apply for a new SHOPLINE Payments account.
      2.5.1.png
    • Store Assets: You will lose all rights to the store after the transfer. Therefore, carefully review and manage all store assets, including removing any sensitive information.
      2.5.2.png

    Once you've completed these steps, check the confirmation box and click Next.
    2.5.3.png

    4.3 Enter the account to receive the store. It must be an account registered with SHOPLINE. Click Next to proceed.
    2.6 Initiating Store Transfer_Transferee account.png
    4.4 Verify your identity by sending a verification code to your account and enter it in the corresponding field. Click Next to complete the transfer initiation. 
    2.7 Initiating Store Transfer_Verification.png
    4.5 The transfer is now successfully initiated. Notify the transferee to accept the request and process the transfer within 24 hours.
    2.8 Initiating Store Transfer_Success.png

    Note: The transferee must complete receiving the transferred store within 24 hours of its initiation. Otherwise, the request will become invalid.

 

Accepting the Transfer

After receiving a transfer request, the transferee must accept the request to complete the transfer. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the store management page of your admin panel, then click Stores > Transfer store.
    3.1 Accepting the Transfer_Transfer store.png
  2. Click on the Received transfer request tab, locate the store you want to accept transfer, and click Process now.
    3.2 Accepting the Transfer_Process now.png
  3. Follow the procedure below to complete the transfer receipt process:

    3.1 Carefully read the rules and disclaimers in the pop-up window. Check the agreement box and click Start to process.
    3.3 Accepting the Transfer_Confirm.png
    3.2 Review and confirm store details, including plan information, payment history, and violation records. Check the agreement box and click Confirm to accept the transfer to continue. If you have any concerns, you may click Refuse to decline.
    3.4 Accepting the Transfer_Confirm.png
    3.3 In the warning pop-up, click Transfer now. The transfer will complete in about five seconds.
    3.5 Accepting the Transfer_Warning popup.png
    3.4 When you see this screen, it means that the store transfer has been successful.
    3.6 Accepting the Transfer_Success.png

    Important: After completion, it's advisable for the transferee to promptly access the store to ensure proper configuration of important settings and to prevent any abnormal transactions.


 

FAQs about Store Transfer: Actions and Considerations

  1. Which stores are eligible for transfer?
    Only stores meeting all the following criteria can be transferred:
    • Stores under your account where you are the store owner
    • Active stores with custom names
    • Paid stores with active subscription plans
    • Stores in open, closed, or disabled operational states, excluding frozen stores
    • Stores not designated as development stores
    • Stores not included in an Enterprise plan
  1. What type of account can receive a store transfer?
    Any SHOPLINE registered account can receive a store transfer.

  2. Does the transferor need to clear the store configuration before transfer?
    Forced clearing is not currently required, as it may disrupt normal online store operations. For instance, clearing collection methods might prevent buyers from placing orders, and clearing Facebook authorization could lead to data reporting issues. The transferor can decide whether to unbind or delete important information as needed.

  3. What information should the transferor handle carefully during the transfer?
    • Store Payment methods: Disconnect payment methods under Settings > Payments. Otherwise, store payments will continue to go into your account. If your store uses SHOPLINE Payments, be sure to disable it before the transfer. The new owner will need to reapply for it if needed. 
    • Plan Payment Method: Disconnect payment accounts under Settings > Plan to prevent continued charges from your financial account or linked card.
    • Contact Information: Remove store and customer contact information under Settings > Basic Settings to avoid ongoing receipt of buyer and platform information.
    • Store History data: Delete the history data such as products, customers, and orders to prevent access by the transferee. 
    • Third-party accounts: Remove authorized accounts like Facebook and TikTok to prevent the transferee from continuing to use them post-transfer.
    • Custom domain: Disconnect the custom domain to prevent continued use by the store after transfer.
    • Store staff: Remove staff access to prevent misoperations, as they retain the ability to access and operate the store.
  1. Can the transferor cancel the transfer in progress?
    Yes, the transferor can withdraw the transfer before the transferee accepts it.

  2. Can the transferor still use the store during the transfer process?
    The store might be temporarily unavailable during transfer due to manual configuration adjustments.

  3. What key settings should the transferee check after a successful transfer?

    • Payment Collection: Ensure a properly-bound collection account is set up under Settings > Payments. Without it, customers cannot place orders. If you want to apply for SHOPLINE Payments, contact our customer support team.

    • SHOPLINE Payment account: Verify a proper payment account under Settings > Plan. Delaying or failing to make required payments may affect the normal operation of the store

    • Sales Channel Authorization: Check if commonly used sales channels (e.g., Facebook) have authorized accounts to ensure data synchronization and prevent abnormal transactions.

    • Staff Management: Ensure control over all listed staff in Settings > Administrator and Permissions to prevent unauthorized actions.

    • Contact Information: Update customer service and store admin email addresses under Settings > Basic Settings to receive important notifications.

  1. Will the key store information be cleared after transfer?
    No, key information remains in the store after transfer. Therefore, it's important to:
    • As the transferor: Ensure that any sensitive information is cleared before initiating the transfer.
    • As the transferee: Review and confirm the information upon receiving the store, removing anything not needed.
  1. Who handles unpaid bills after transfer?
    All unpaid bills become the responsibility of the new merchant. The system provides detailed debt information to the transferee before accepting the transfer, enabling them to evaluate and decide. Please note that failure to pay bills on time may disrupt store operations.