Transferring ownership of a Facebook ad account is one of the most high-stakes and confusing processes on the Meta platform. It’s not a simple "share" or "add admin" button. A single mistake can orphan an account, strand valuable data, or bring campaigns to a screeching halt.

The core of the confusion lies in the critical difference between access (what agencies and freelancers usually get) and true ownership (the legal entity that controls the asset). This guide provides a definitive, no-fluff walkthrough for agencies, clients, and in-house marketers on how to transfer Facebook ad account ownership correctly. We will cover the standard Business Manager-to-Business Manager process, prerequisites, and the critical errors you’ll face along the way.

Understanding Facebook Ad Account Ownership

Before jumping into the steps, it’s important to clarify what “ownership” really means in Meta’s ecosystem. Many advertisers confuse account ownership with admin access, which can lead to mistakes and potential data loss when transferring assets.

What Does “Ad Account Ownership” Mean?

In Meta’s structure, the ad account owner is the Business Manager who created the account or claimed it. This entity has full control, including billing rights, access roles, and the ability to assign or remove partners.

Other users or partners, such as agencies, advertisers, or analysts, are granted varying levels of access, but they do not “own” the ad account.

Ownership can only reside with a Business Manager, not an individual profile. That’s why transferring ownership always involves two verified Business Managers — the current owner and the receiving entity.

Ownership vs Access Rights in Meta Business Suite

Within Meta Business Suite, access is divided into several roles:

• Owner: The Business Manager who controls the asset.

• Admin: Users who can manage settings, people, and permissions under the owner’s Business Manager.

• Advertiser: Can create and manage ads but cannot assign ownership or edit billing.

• Analyst: Has view-only permissions for performance tracking.

It’s important to understand that adding a new admin or partner doesn’t automatically transfer ownership. For a deeper dive into managing these roles, see our full guide on Facebook ad account access.

Why You Might Need to Transfer Ownership

Transferring ownership is common among experienced advertisers and agencies. Here are a few typical scenarios where it becomes necessary:

• Changing agencies: When a client ends a contract and wants full control of their assets.

• Clients taking direct control: Some brands prefer to own their ad data, pixels, and billing.

• Business restructuring or mergers: Companies merging or rebranding may need to move assets to a new Business Manager.

• Compliance and consolidation: For tax, reporting, or verification reasons, ownership may need to align under one verified business entity. For agencies and large businesses managing multiple brands, knowing how to create multiple accounts on Facebook is just as crucial as knowing how to transfer them.

Tip: Before starting the transfer, make sure your Facebook Ads Account is active and verified. If your business isn’t verified, Meta may block ownership changes.

How to Transfer Facebook Ad Account Ownership

Meta doesn’t offer a “transfer ownership” button, but it does allow you to assign and reassign assets between Business Managers. Follow these steps to securely hand over an ad account without disrupting campaigns or losing data.

Step 1. Confirm the Current Ownership Structure

Start by identifying who currently owns the ad account.

• Go to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts.

• Click the account name and select the People and Partners tab.

• You’ll see the owning Business Manager listed under “Owned by.”

If you see that your agency’s Business Manager owns the account, you’ll need to coordinate with the receiving Business Manager (the client’s) to transfer access.

Tip: If ownership isn’t clear or access is limited, you can also check via the Facebook Ads Manager settings using the ad account ID, see more on Facebook Ads Account ID.

Step 2. Add the New Owner’s Business Manager as a Partner

This is the key step to begin the transfer process.

1. In Business Settings, navigate to Partners → Add → Give a Partner Access to Your Assets.
   

2. Enter the Business Manager ID of the new owner (they can find it under Business Info in their settings).
   

3. Assign the relevant ad account and grant full permissions (“Manage Ad Account”).
   

4. Confirm and send the request.

By assigning a partner, you’re effectively allowing the new Business Manager to control the ad account, though ownership remains with you until they accept and you remove your own access later.

If your business is not yet verified, Meta might limit some features. It’s a good idea to verify your Facebook Ad Account before proceeding.

Step 3 — Accept Access from the Receiving Business Manager

Once the new Business Manager receives your invitation:

1. They must go to Business Settings → Requests.
   

2. Review and approve the access request.
   

3. The ad account will appear in their list of assets once accepted.
   

At this point, both the old and new Business Managers have full access. You can continue campaigns normally while the transition is finalized.

Step 4. Remove Old Business Manager or Admin

After confirming that the new Business Manager has complete access and billing is set up correctly:

1. Return to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts.
   

2. Under People and Partners, remove your old Business Manager or admin.
   

Do not remove your own access until the new owner confirms everything is working, including ad delivery, billing, and payment methods. Removing yourself too early could lock both parties out of the account. If you do need to close an account for good, learn how to delete a Facebook ads account here!

Transferring Between Business Managers

Sometimes, you’ll need to move an ad account from one Business Manager to another entirely, for example, when a brand changes ownership or merges with another entity. This process is slightly more complex and subject to Meta’s transfer rules.

When You Need a Business Manager Transfer

You’ll need to transfer an ad account between Business Managers in these cases:

• The company that owns the Business Manager is changing its legal structure or tax ID.
  

• A brand is sold, and the buyer’s Business Manager must own all ad assets.
  

• A marketing agency needs to hand over full ownership of multiple ad accounts.

Remember: Meta’s system only allows certain ad accounts to be moved. Personal ad accounts can’t be transferred, and the account must be in good standing (no unpaid balance or restriction).

How to Move an Ad Account Between Two Business Managers

Here’s how to safely complete a Business Manager–to–Business Manager transfer:

1. The receiving Business Manager requests access to the ad account. Go to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts → Add → Request Access.
   

2. The current owner must then approve this request.

3. Once approved, remove the ad account from the old Business Manager.

4. The receiving Business Manager now fully controls it.

Requirements:

• Both businesses must be verified.

• The ad account must have no outstanding balance or policy issues.

• Meta may limit transfer frequency — typically only once every 30 days per account.

Troubleshooting When You Can’t Transfer Ownership

Even with proper roles and permissions, some advertisers encounter errors when transferring ownership. Here are the most common problems and their solutions.

“This Ad Account Belongs to Another Business”

This message means the ad account is still linked to another Business Manager who hasn’t released it.
Solution:

• Ask the current admin to go to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts → Remove Asset to detach it.

• Only after it’s removed can another Business Manager claim ownership.

• If the old admin is unresponsive, contact Meta Support for manual verification.

This issue often arises during agency transitions, another reason why it’s important to clearly document asset ownership. For a safer approach, consider using Facebook Ads Account Agency solutions that simplify multi-client access.

“You Don’t Have Permission to Assign Ownership”

This occurs when your role isn’t high enough within the Business Manager hierarchy.
To fix this:

• Make sure your role is Admin, not just Employee or Advertiser.
  

• Navigate to Business Settings → People → Assign Roles.
  

• If needed, ask the Business Manager Owner to elevate your permissions.

In some cases, Meta may require business verification before allowing ownership changes.

Ad Account Under Restriction or Payment Hold

If the ad account has policy violations, disabled payment methods, or unresolved disputes, Meta will block ownership transfers until the issue is resolved. This is a common Facebook Ads Account Restriction that must be cleared first.

Fix:

1. Review the reason for restriction in Account Quality.
   

2. Follow Meta’s prompts to appeal or verify.

Check our article on Facebook Ads Account Disable for detailed recovery guidance.

Only after the account is reinstated can you safely transfer ownership or assign new roles.

FAQs

Here are quick answers to the most common questions about the transfer process.

Can I transfer a disabled or restricted ad account?

No. You must fully resolve all policy violations, payment issues, and restrictions before Meta will permit an ownership transfer. The "Remove" button will be disabled until the account is in good standing.

What happens to my Facebook Pixel when I transfer the ad account?

The Pixel is a separate asset owned by a Business Manager. Transferring the ad account does not transfer the Pixel. If the Pixel and ad account are in the same BM, you must transfer the Pixel separately. You can do this by going to Business Settings > Data Sources > Pixels, selecting the Pixel, and using the "Assign Partners" or (if available) "Transfer Ownership" functions.

Can I merge two Facebook ad accounts?

No. This is impossible. You cannot merge or combine two separate ad accounts, their data, their spend history, or their audiences. The process in this guide is to move a single account from one owner to another. This is why a common question about whether you can merge two Facebook ad account assets always has a negative answer.

How long does the ad account transfer take?

The "Remove/Add" process is instantaneous. The "Remove" action (Step 2) is immediate, and the "Add" action (Step 3) is also immediate. The only delay is the human coordination time between the two admins.

Does the ad account's spending limit transfer with ownership?

No. The ad account spending limit (a lifetime or daily cap you set on the ad account itself) does transfer with the account. However, the Business Manager's credit line or payment method limit does not. The ad account will become subject to the billing rules and limits of the new Business Manager.

If the new BM has a lower trust score or a lower initial spending limit (common for new BMs), your newly transferred account may be unable to spend at its previous velocity. This is a common Facebook ad account spending limit issue that you must check after the transfer.

Related posts:

• Add a payment method for Facebook ads
• Facebook ads not working
• Facebook Ads Account Error