Answers

What happens to your website, Google profile, phone number and reviews when you sell a business?

Ascent Vision · Published October 24, 2026

Usually only what the sale agreement lists, and only once each account is actually handed over. The domain, website and hosting, Google Business Profile, ad accounts, social pages, business phone number and customer records usually each sit in a separate account with its own handover. Google says transferring primary ownership of the profile to the new owner keeps its information, such as reviews. List every account before either side signs. This is a plain summary, not legal advice.

The accounts a sale usually involves

As general advice, list these accounts and what the buyer should end up holding. The related answers on who should own your domain name, your ad accounts and your business phone number explain why each belongs in the business's name.

The Google profile and its reviews

Google's help page on transferring primary ownership says that if you transfer ownership of your business, you should transfer primary ownership of the profile to the new owner, which "ensures all of your business info, like reviews, are maintained". Google's guidelines say a person taking over a profile first needs the previous owner to add them as an owner and transfer ownership, and the help page says a new owner or manager must wait 7 days before they can manage all the features. The related answer on giving someone access to your Google Business Profile has the steps.

Google's page on moving reviews says that when a business has a new owner but keeps the same name, the reviews remain, and the owner can reply to old reviews to explain changes. For a new name, see the related answer on changing your business name or address on Google; for closing instead, the related answers on what to do when Google says your business is closed and on whether to delete your Google Business Profile.

Before either side signs

The SBA's guide on selling a business says the property you value can include intangible assets like "brand presence, intellectual property, customer information". It says you must prepare a sales agreement to sell officially, that an attorney should review it, and not to leave out any assets and liabilities, which "can create problems even after the sale has been finalized". Contract terms are a lawyer's call. This is a plain summary, not legal advice. As general advice:

• Seller: move every account into the business's name, and list each one in the agreement with the date it changes hands.
• Buyer: log in to each account yourself before closing, and check the profile's reviews, any suspension and who else is an owner or manager.
• Buyer: ask whether the phone number is rented from a vendor, and whether it can move.
• Both: if a privacy policy tells customers how their details are used, check it before a customer list changes hands.

Sources

1. Google Business Profile Help, "Transfer primary ownership of a Business Profile"
2. Google Business Profile Help, "Move your reviews across Business Profiles"
3. Google Business Profile Help, "Guidelines for representing your business on Google"
4. U.S. Small Business Administration, "Manage your business" (Business Guide, section "Close or sell your business"; modified July 30, 2026)

Related answers

• Who should own your business's domain name?
• Who should own your Google Ads and Facebook ad accounts?
• Who should own your business phone number?
• How do you give an employee or agency access to your Google Business Profile without giving up ownership?
• How do you change your business name or address on Google without losing your reviews?
• What should you do when Google changes your hours or says your business is closed?
• Should you delete your Google Business Profile and start over?