This article is for admins (who are not the primary admin, aka account owner) and signatories who need to take over the primary admin role — for example, when the current primary admin is no longer available or reachable.
If the current Account owner (Primary admin) is available, it's quickest to have them reassign the Primary admin role to someone else.
Before you start
Only you can submit this request for yourself. Submitting it will make you the new primary admin. If you want a different person to take over, they need to sign into their own Gusto profile and submit the request themselves.
To submit a primary admin change request in Gusto (as a non-primary admin)
Click your company name in the left menu to open company settings.
Go to Company > Permissions and click the Users tab.
Under Account owner, click the listed name, then click View details.
In the pop-up, click Reassign primary admin. You may be prompted to verify your identity with two-factor authentication (2FA) if you haven't recently.
Fill out the form. You'll need to upload at least one document proving you're authorized to act on the company's behalf. Accepted documents:
Articles of incorporation
Articles of operation
Operating agreement
Business license
Tax identification documents
Click Submit.
Our Support team will review your documents and contact you with the next steps. Review times vary.
Click your company name in the left menu to open company settings.
Go to Company > Permissions and click the Users tab.
Click the name listed under Account owner.
Any admin on the account can view the status or cancel the request — not just the person who submitted it.
Approved: You'll be set as the new primary admin. A confirmation banner appears in your permissions drawer for up to 5 days, or until you dismiss it.
Rejected: A Support team member will contact you directly with the next steps.