diff --git a/src/business-admin/business-admin.service.ts b/src/business-admin/business-admin.service.ts
index 6deb72e..a771912 100644
--- a/src/business-admin/business-admin.service.ts
+++ b/src/business-admin/business-admin.service.ts
@@ -492,8 +492,13 @@ export class BusinessAdminService {
       where: { cellNumber: dto.ownerCellNumber },
     });
 
+    // Users can own multiple businesses. If the cell number already exists,
+    // leave that user unchanged and only attach the new business as owner.
     if (existing) {
-      throw new ConflictException('A user with this cell number already exists');
+      if (!existing.isActive) {
+        throw new BadRequestException('Owner user is inactive');
+      }
+      return existing;
     }
 
     const passwordHash = await bcrypt.hash(dto.ownerPassword, 10);