How To: Change a Private eBay Account to a Business eBay Account

January 20, 2012/by Matthew Ogborne

I previously covered the difference Between a Private & a Business eBay Account in an earlier article here, however if you’ve already got an eBay account with decent (ie 100%) feedback already on the account then changing the account type and using this resource to help “bump” you up in reputation can be a shrewd move and only takes a few moments.

Also similarly, if you wish to turn account back to a private account, you can do so too on this page.

Steps to Change your eBay Account Type

Go to http://cgi4.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ChangeRegistrationAccountType
Sign-in if required to do so
Select ‘Private Account’ or “Business Account” as applicable
Press confirm

There may be other steps you may need to take, such as entering your business details, including a telephone number, linking your PayPal account and/or setting up direct debit information for paying fees.

Once you’ve gone through step 4 in this list, you’ll be taken through the steps you’ll need to complete the extra information in.

It’s really that easy.

12 replies

Andy says:
March 20, 2013 at 4:04 PM

If I switch to a commercial account, can I add an inventory to my listing? For instance, I am selling as a private seller, and can only sell 1 item per listing. So each time I sell one item I have to pay the listing fee. If I change to commercial account, can I have one listing and list 10 items in inventory (hopefully only paying one listing fee)?
Reply
joan marshall says:
September 28, 2012 at 11:15 PM

I have read this article with interest as I mistakenly hit the business button on my ebay account and have been trying for months to get this error reversed. However, I am unable to see instructions for how to do it.
Please let me know if there is a quick and successful way that you know of. Many thanks Joan
Reply
- Matthew Ogborne says:
  September 29, 2012 at 11:56 AM
  
  Howdy Joan,
  
  Doesn’t http://cgi4.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ChangeRegistrationAccountType work for you?
  
  Matt
  Reply
  - Fraser Waters says:
    November 21, 2012 at 9:48 AM
    
    I have done the same and you cannot revert back to a private account fro a Business account. I’m not sure why, but eBay don’t allow it. Not using the tool you linked to previously at least. I’m going to email support and ask if it is possible though.
  - Matthew Ogborne says:
    November 21, 2012 at 11:49 PM
    
    Hi Fraser,
    
    I’m sorry to hear that. Do let me know how you get on after contact eBay to change the account status, as this was posted quite some time ago and maybe out of date.
    
    Matt
Roy says:
August 17, 2012 at 2:50 PM

Your misinforming people by telling them that you go through this process to change back to a private account:

“Also similarly, if you wish to turn account back to a private account, you can do so too on this page.”

this in in fact NOT possible as ebay do not allow this process to be reversed.
Reply
- Matthew Ogborne says:
  August 17, 2012 at 3:23 PM
  
  Howdy Roy,
  
  Thank you for the comment.
  
  This article is for How To Change a Private eBay Account to a Business eBay Account, this is handy in the instance that you have a buying account you wish to make into a business, selling account and alternatively if you have ceased trade (or circumstances have changed) and wish to move to a buyers account instead. You can do so following those four steps.
  
  I’ve just checked on a business account and a screen shot is below:
  
  As we can see both options are available and the the note as show says:
  
  If your circumstances change, you’ll be able to change your account type at any time. If you use your account for both personal and business purposes, you can create another account so that you can divide your personal and business trading in to separate accounts.
  
  According to the above this process of changing the eBay account type from business to personal or vice-versa can be done.
  
  Have you found otherwise?
  
  Matt
  Reply