How to Delete Shopify Account: A Step-by-Step Guide for Business Owners
If you are finding it difficult to handle your Shopify account and are thinking about leaving the Shopify business to avoid paying monthly subscription fees, closing your account could be the answer. This choice is frequently impacted by different factors, including shutting down your store, transitioning to different platforms, or temporarily pausing operations. Regardless of your rationale, it is essential to adhere to the proper procedures to guarantee that your data is managed properly and your financial responsibilities are fulfilled.
Consider Alternatives Before Deleting Your Shopify Account
Once you delete your Shopify account, it cannot be undone. All store data, such as products, customer information, and order history, will be gone for good. If you think you may need this information later on, make sure to export it before deleting your account. Also, take some time to really think about whether deleting your account is the right decision. Shopify provides alternatives which could be a better option if you're unsure about your long-term plans.
Alternatives
There are three other alternatives that you can pursue before permanently deleting your Shopify: pause and build, deactivate, or sell your account
Pause and Build Plan
The Pause and Build plan on Shopify is perfect for sellers looking to take a break from their store while still being able to make improvements to its design and features. Available for a reduced fee of $9 per month, offers a cost-effective way to maintain your Shopify store without full operational costs. It provides full access to the Shopify admin panel, allowing you to make changes, update products, and work on your store design in preparation for future reactivation. While your storefront will display a message indicating it is temporarily closed and disable purchases, customers can still view your website. This helps maintain your store's SEO rankings and online presence despite the suspension of transactions.
Benefits
Cost Savings: Reduces monthly costs while allowing you to maintain and improve your store.
Preparation for Reactivation: Ideal for businesses planning to resume operations in the future, allowing ongoing development and optimization.
Data Preservation: Keeps all your store data, including customer information, product listings, and settings, intact and accessible.
How to Switch to Pause and Build
Login to Shopify Admin: Access your Shopify admin panel.
Navigate to Settings: Click on "Settings" at the bottom left corner.
Plan and Permissions: Select “Plan and permissions”.
Pause Store: Scroll down to find the “Pause or deactivate store” section and choose the Pause and Build plan.
Deactivate Shopify Account
When you deactivate your Shopify store, it means you are closing it off to customers and halting all operations. This is a more permanent step compared to pausing it, but not as permanent as deleting your account. You have the option to deactivate your Shopify store whenever you choose. Once deactivated, your subscription is terminated, and you will no longer have access to the admin panel. To regain access, you will need to input a valid payment method. Shopify will notify you via email to confirm the deactivation. Even after deactivation, you can still reopen your store or check past bills, as your store's data is saved for two years. This gives you the chance to reactivate your store without starting from scratch if you do so within the specified timeframe. By canceling your subscription and deactivating your store, you can halt payments while keeping your account and data safe. To reactivate, simply log in and provide a valid payment method.
How to Deactivate Your Shopify Store
Log into Your Account: Access your Shopify admin panel.
Go to Settings: Click on “Settings” in the sidebar.
Select Plan: Click on “Plan” and then select “Deactivate store” in the tab.
Cancel Subscription: Click “Cancel subscription and deactivate store.”
Provide Reason: Select your reason for closing the store.
Deactivate: Click the red “Deactivate now” button.
Selling Your Shopify Account
Selling your Shopify account is fully permitted by Shopify as long as you follow the proper steps. Here's how to do it
Get Your Store Ready to Sell: Make sure your store is in top shape by updating financial records, organizing inventory, and completing any outstanding orders.
Search for a Buyer: Consider listing your store on platforms such as Shopify Exchange Marketplace, Flippa, Empire Flippers, and BizBuySell, or opt for a private sale.
Determine Your Store's Value: Utilize tools like Shopify’s Exchange valuation tool to assess your store's value based on revenue, traffic, profit margins, and potential for growth.
Craft a Sales Listing: Provide comprehensive information including business performance metrics, inventory details, supplier contacts, marketing strategies, and the reason behind the sale.
Secure Payment through Negotiation: Ensure a secure transaction by using a reputable method like an escrow service to safeguard payment for both parties involved.
Transfer Ownership
Go to Settings in your Shopify admin and click on Users and permissions. Add the buyer as a staff member.
Transfer store ownership by selecting the buyer from the list of staff members and clicking Transfer account ownership.
The new owner must enter their billing information and agree to Shopify’s terms of service.
It's important to consult with a legal professional to make sure that the sale of your business goes smoothly and meets all legal standards. It's also crucial to be aware of the tax consequences of selling your business, as this could affect your overall profits.
Before You Delete Shopify Account
Make sure to clear any remaining charges, such as unpaid bills, pending fees, or active subscriptions, before deleting your Shopify account as a last resort. It's also crucial to back up any vital data from your store to avoid losing any information. Don't forget to think about your domain management before proceeding with the deletion. If you obtained your domain from Shopify or linked a custom domain, think about whether you want to transfer it to a different registrar or allow it to expire, taking into account how it may affect your online visibility. Lastly, cancel all subscriptions to any applications, both free and paid, via the Shopify App Store or third-party providers to avoid future charges. Once these steps are completed, you can proceed with deleting your Shopify account.
Delete Shopify Account
Sign In: Log into your Shopify account that you want to remove.
Go to Settings: Find the Settings option on the sidebar.
Choose Subscription: Select the Plan tab in the settings and opt for Cancel subscription.
Reason for Departure: Pick a reason for leaving from the drop-down list and press Continue.
Complete Closure: Review the disclaimer, input your password, and hit the red Close store button.
Verify Deactivation: To confirm that your account is deactivated, attempt to log in or visit the site; a successful closure will show an error message.
How to Delete Shopify Account Data
Make sure to delete all product, customer, and order details from Shopify manually. Even though Shopify will delete this data automatically when you cancel your account, it's a good idea to take the extra step to remove any sensitive information for full data privacy.
If you ever make the decision to start selling again on Shopify, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know. Just click here!
In conclusion, managing a Shopify account can sometimes become overwhelming, leading to considerations of closing your store, there are various steps you can take before making this final decision. It's crucial to ensure all your data is handled correctly and financial obligations are settled. Instead of permanently deleting your account, you might find that pausing operations, deactivating, or even selling your store could better meet your needs. We hope you made a decision you were confident in regarding your Shopify store! Best of luck!
Thank You,
Commerce Canal Team
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