# sell

URL: /business/nouns/startup/sell · Id: `verb:Startup.sell` · Call: `await $.Startup.sell({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Sell transfers a Startup, with its Customers, Domains and records, to a buyer under a signed Agreement.

Sell transfers a [Startup](/business/nouns/startup), with its [Customers](/business/nouns/customer), [Domains](/business/nouns/domain) and records, to a buyer under a signed [Agreement](/business/nouns/agreement).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `startup` | [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) | Yes | The Startup to sell. |
| `agreement` | [Agreement](/business/nouns/agreement) | Yes | The signed sale Agreement. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `startup` | [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) | Yes | The Startup, held by the buyer. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Startup.sold`](/business/events/Startup.sold).
- Performed by the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder).
- One-way (money, customer): it waits out its delay window, and runs in the `send` and `do` modes.
- Transfers every Domain and payment account to the buyer.
- Requires a human signature, because it moves equity.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Own Domain (`sell-domain`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Move each Domain into the Startup’s own registrar account and wait out any transfer lock; the account then moves whole at closing. | [Domain.transfer](/business/nouns/domain/transfer) |
| Own payments account (`sell-payments`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Move payments to a Stripe account the Startup holds alone. | [Startup.claim](/business/nouns/startup/claim) |
| Agreements transfer (`sell-agreements`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Sign assignable terms for each Agreement that names the Startup. | [Agreement.sign](/business/nouns/agreement/sign) |
| Data exports (`sell-export`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Import the latest export into an empty namespace and compare the replayed state. | [Startup.import](/business/nouns/startup/import) |
| No shared credentials (`sell-credentials`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Replace every shared key or login with one the Startup holds alone. | None. |
| Sale agreed (`sell-agreed`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | A signed sale agreement names the buyer and schedules the transfer of Brand, domain, Customers, and records. | None. |
| The input does not match the schema of the operation. | [`invalid-input`](/code/api/errors/invalid-input) | Read the schema of the operation, then send every required field with the right type. | [Startup.sell](/business/nouns/startup/sell) |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Startup.sell](/business/nouns/startup/sell) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | High: one-way, broad (money, customer) |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | 1 business day, in which a watcher can pause, redirect or cancel it; then it runs. |
| Limit | The spend [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) or [Mandate](/business/nouns/mandate) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Sell PatentPad with an agreement.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/patentpad.com/startups/startup_1/sell \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"agreement":"agreement_1"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/patentpad.com",
  "startup": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/patentpad.com/startups/startup_1",
    "$type": "Startup",
    "name": "PatentPad"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/patentpad.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Startup.sell",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/patentpad.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const startup = await $.Startup.sell({ startup: 'startup_1', agreement: 'agreement_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Startup.sell --json '{"startup":"startup_1","agreement":"agreement_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Startup.sell({ startup: 'startup_1', agreement: 'agreement_1' })"
  }
}
```