# Facebook: Switching type of account **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 3, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790 "2012-11-03T20:40:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/1 "2012-11-03T20:40:14Z")
I have a personal Facebook account with several hundred friends. I want to switch it to a business account, which Facebook calls a “page,” AND I want to change its name to reflect the new business orientation. Is there a way to change the type of account and also change the name? Facebook prohibits changing the name of a page if it has more than 200 likes. So I can’t switch the account and then change the name. But I don’t think I can change the name before I make the switch, either. Changing the name of a personal account involves a first and last name, which my business doesn’t have. And when I tried anyway, Facebook rejected it with a message that members have to use their real names. So, any ideas on how to change Clark’s personal account to a Clark Widgets Inc. business page? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/2 "2012-11-03T20:45:48Z")
Create a new Clark Widgets Inc. business page with a different email address. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/3 "2012-11-03T20:46:29Z")
Go here: [https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php?migrate](https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php?migrate) Basically it will transfer all of your friends/followers/subscribers over to the new page, but you’ll otherwise be starting from fresh. The other option would be to just create a separate business page and then post a link to it on your personal page and tell your friends to all go over there for future business-related updates. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/4 "2012-11-03T20:47:01Z")
You can have both a business and a personal page, I have seen the pages tied as well. I am not sure how that is done, if the same email is used or not. But it is possible to have both a page and a profile. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/5 "2012-11-03T21:29:05Z")
Thanks, everyone. The problem is that, I’d like to keep all my friends as “likes” after the switch. That means I can’t (or prefer not to) simply start a new page. They will migrate with me when I make the switch, but then I won’t be able to change the name of the page. It looks like I can’t eat my cake (keep the friends) and have it, too (change the name). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/6 "2012-11-03T21:34:22Z")
Apparently, per the article I am linking, Facebook will entertain individual requests for business page name changes, even if you are over the limit of subscribers: [http://scalablesocialmedia.com/2012/02/facebook-change-business-name/](http://scalablesocialmedia.com/2012/02/facebook-change-business-name/) Edited to add an even better overview here: > **[WebMD - Better information. Better health.](https://www.just-ask-kim.com)** > > The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert... ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-switching-type-of-account/639790/7 "2012-11-03T21:51:57Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Apparently, per the article I am linking, Facebook will entertain individual requests for business page name changes, even if you are over the limit of subscribers: > > [http://scalablesocialmedia.com/2012/02/facebook-change-business-name/](http://scalablesocialmedia.com/2012/02/facebook-change-business-name/) > > Edited to add an even better overview here: > > [http://just-ask-kim.com/how-to-change-facebook-fan-page-name/](http://just-ask-kim.com/how-to-change-facebook-fan-page-name/) Thanks. Very helpful.