In The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies, EA confirms that players can sell a Small Business or transfer its ownership. However, EA’s published material does not explain the exact steps or say whether a business automatically passes to an heir when its owner dies. Treat inheritance as unconfirmed, and distinguish the business from the lot it operates on.
What EA confirms about selling and transferring
EA’s official promotional gameplay material names “Sell your business or transfer ownership” as features of the pack. That confirms both actions are intended gameplay options, but it is not a walkthrough: the available statement does not specify the menu path, eligibility requirements, transaction outcome, or sale proceeds. EA’s gameplay feature description does not establish those details.
EA Help explains how Small Businesses are set up and managed, but it does not document the sale or ownership-transfer procedure. Because the exact interface and results are not established in EA’s published instructions, avoid relying on an unverified menu path or assuming what a sale includes.
Does a business automatically pass to an heir?
EA’s available official material does not say whether a Small Business automatically transfers when its owner dies. It therefore does not establish an inheritance rule. Do not assume that an heir receives the business automatically, or that a particular household or family relationship qualifies a Sim to take it over.
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If you want to test inheritance in your save, make a backup first and note the game version, platform, lot arrangement, household setup, and whether the current owner is alive. These are useful details to record when checking what happens in your own game, not confirmed transfer requirements.
Know what kind of business setup you have
EA Help identifies three possible settings for a Small Business: a Small Business Residential Lot, a Business Venue Lot, or an existing Community Lot. The business may be associated with a home or a separate venue, so “sell the business” and “sell the lot” should not be treated as the same thing without checking the current game interface. EA’s published material cited here does not establish whether selling a business includes its venue lot.
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- Home-based: The business is associated with a Small Business Residential Lot.
- Separate venue: The business uses a Business Venue Lot, which EA Help says can be customized in Build Mode. EA also says households can buy multiple Business Venue lots.
- Community lot: The business is set up on an existing Community Lot.
For setup and management context, see EA Help’s Small Business setup guide. EA says business actions are available through the Owned Businesses tab and by using a phone or computer. It also states that a household can open its business on a lot, but only one business can be open at a time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What you need to play
The Small Business system covered here is part of The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies, released March 6, 2025. EA describes the pack as digital content that requires The Sims 4. Its product page lists PC/Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox; check EA’s current product listing for current availability and platform details.
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