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Ownership of Google Business Profile

Ownership of Google Business Profile

Gaining Ownership of Google Business Profile:

There are Several Options:

Option 1: Transferring Ownership 

Transferring the ownership of a Google Business Profile (GBP) must be done by the current Primary Owner. The process involves adding the new owner and then promoting them to the Primary Owner role.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Transferring Ownership (Instructions for Current Owner of the Profile)

  1. Sign in to your Google Account:

    • Go to the Google Business Profile Manager (http://business.google.com ) or search for your business name on Google and click "Edit profile."

    • Ensure you are logged in with the account that is currently the Primary Owner of the profile.

  2. Access People and Access Settings:

    • On your Business Profile dashboard, look for the Settings or More menu (often represented by three vertical dots or lines).

    • Select Business Profile settings.

    • Choose People and access (or Managers).

  3. Invite the New User:

    • Click the Add button (or Add users).

    • Enter the email address of the person you want to transfer ownership to. This must be a Google Account email.

    • Under "Access," select the role as Owner.

    • Click Invite.

  4. Accept the Invitation:

    • The new user will receive an email invitation from Google. They must open the email and click the link to Accept the invitation.

    • Once accepted, they will be listed as an Owner in the "People and access" list, but they are not yet the Primary Owner.

Transferring Primary Ownership

  1. Return to People and Access Settings:

    • As the current Primary Owner, go back to the People and access section of your Business Profile settings.

  2. Promote the New Owner:

    • Find the name/email of the user you just added and accepted the Owner role.

    • Click on their name or role to open the access options.

    • Change their role from "Owner" to Primary owner.

    • Click Save or Transfer to confirm the change.

Post-Transfer Steps and Important Notes

  • New Owner's Restricted Period: The new Primary Owner will have a 7-day restriction period. During this time, they will be unable to:

    • Transfer primary ownership to another user.

    • Remove other owners or managers.

    • Delete the profile.

  • Removing Yourself: After successfully transferring Primary Ownership, you (the original Primary Owner) can remove your access if you no longer need it.

    • Go back to the People and access settings.

    • Select your name from the list.

    • Select Remove person or Stop managing.

    • Note: You cannot remove yourself if you are still the Primary Owner. You must transfer that role first.

  • Existing Manager/Owner: If the person you are transferring to is already a Manager or an Owner on the profile, you can skip Part 1 and go directly to Part 2 to change their role to Primary owner.

 

Option 2: When You Don’t Know Who Controls Your Profile and Need to Claim Ownership

Step 1: Go to Google Business Profile Manager and Sign In

  • Navigate to the Google Business Profile website (or search for "Google Business Profile").

  • Sign in with the Google account you want to use to manage your business. If you don't have one, you'll need to create a Google account.

Step 2: Find Your Business

  • Use the search bar to enter your business name and address.

  • If your business appears in the search results, select it.

  • If your business is not listed, you'll be prompted to "Add your business to Google" and follow the instructions to create a new profile.

Step 3: Initiate the Claim Process

  • If your business is listed but not yet claimed, you will see an option like "Claim this business" or "Own this business? Manage now" on the profile. Click on it.

    • If the profile is already claimed by someone else, you will see an option to "Request access." Click this and follow the prompts to fill out a form to request ownership from the current owner.

Step 4: Verify Your Identity

  • Google will prompt you to verify that you are the owner or an authorized representative of the business.

  • You will be asked to select a verification method. Common options include:

    • Postcard: A physical postcard with a verification code is mailed to your business address (this can take up to two weeks).

    • Phone or Text: A code is sent via automated call or text message to your business phone number.

    • Email: A verification link or code is sent to your business email address.

    • Video Recording or Live Video Call: You may be asked to record a short video or have a call to show Google your location and proof of authorization.

Step 5: Complete Verification

  • Follow the instructions for the verification method you chose. For example:

    • If you chose Postcard, you will enter the code into your profile manager once it arrives.

    • If you chose Phone/Text/Email, you will enter the code or click the link immediately.

  • Once the code is entered and accepted, your profile is officially claimed.

Step 6: Access and Optimize Your Profile

  • After verification, you will gain access to your Business Profile dashboard.

  • Take the time to review and complete your profile information, including:

    • Business hours

    • Website URL

    • Photos and logo

    • Business description

    • Services/Products offered

  • This is your main tool to manage your business's presence on Google Search and Maps, respond to reviews, and post updates.

 

 

Option 3: When You Have Created a New Google Business Profile and Need to Close the Older Profile 

There are two primary actions you can take: Mark the business as permanently closed (recommended) or Remove the profile and manager content (more aggressive).

Note Google reviews cannot be transferred to a new profile. We strongly encourage all users to claim old profiles with reviews rather than opening new profiles, if possible. 

For a business that has closed down and will not reopen, marking it as "Permanently closed" is the standard and recommended practice by Google. This keeps your reviews and history intact but clearly informs customers that the business is no longer operating.

 

 

Option A: Mark Your Business as "Permanently Closed" (Recommended)

This is the fastest way to update your listing and is sufficient for most closed businesses.

  1. Sign in to Your Account:

    • Go to the Google Business Profile Manager or search for your business name on Google Search while logged into the Primary Owner/Owner account.

  2. Access the Profile Editor:

    • Click Edit profile (on Google Search) or find the corresponding menu option.

  3. Change the Status to Permanently Closed:

    • Navigate to the Hours tab.

    • Click the pencil icon next to "Hours."

    • Select the option for Permanently closed.

  4. Save the Changes:

    • Click Save.

Your Business Profile will now display a large "Permanently closed" banner on Google Search and Maps. Google will gradually stop showing the profile in general searches over time.

 

 

Option B: Remove Profile Content and Managers (Aggressive Deletion)

This action removes your ability to manage the profile and permanently deletes all content (photos, posts, manager replies) added by you and other managers. The listing may still appear on Google Maps with the "Permanently closed" label.

Note: This action can only be performed by the Primary Owner or an Owner, and new owners/managers must wait 7 days before performing this action.

  1. Sign in to Your Account:

    • Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard while logged into the Primary Owner account.

  2. Access Settings:

    • Click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.

    • Select Business Profile settings.

  3. Choose Removal Option:

    • Select Remove Business Profile.

    • Choose the option: Remove profile content and managers.

  4. Confirm the Removal:

    • Read the confirmation screen carefully (it warns that posts, photos, and manager access will be permanently removed).

    • Click Continue and then Remove.

    • Click Done to finalize.

 

 

Optional Final Step (For Complete Removal)

If you have chosen Option 2 and the listing still appears on Google Maps, you can perform this step to request its removal from Google's index entirely.

  1. Suggest an Edit on Google Maps:

    • Open Google Maps.

    • Search for the closed business's location.

    • Click Suggest an edit (usually on the profile card).

    • Select Place closed or not here.

    • Choose the most accurate reason, such as "Doesn't exist here" or "Permanently closed".

    • Click Submit.

Google will review this user-submitted edit (which can take a few days to a few weeks) and, if confirmed, will remove the listing from public view.

If you do not have access to the Google Business Profile (GBP) dashboard (because a former employee claimed it, or you forgot the login), you cannot officially mark it as closed through the owner tools.

However, you can achieve the same result by using the "Suggest an edit" feature on Google Maps, which relies on public reporting. This is the only method available without access.

Method: Suggest an Edit via Google Maps

This process essentially reports to Google that the business is permanently closed, which Google then reviews and applies to the listing.

  1. Open Google Maps or Search for the Business:

    • Go to Google Maps (or Google Search).

    • Search for the exact name of the business and its location.

    • Click on the business listing to open its profile.

  2. Suggest an Edit:

    • In the business profile card, scroll down to find and click "Suggest an edit" (it often has a pencil icon).

  3. Choose the Closure Option:

    • Select the option "Place closed or not here" (or similar wording).

  4. Specify the Reason:

    • A list of reasons will appear. Select "Permanently closed" (or "Doesn't exist here" if the business was never at that location).

  5. Submit the Request:

    • Click Submit.

Important Notes on This Process

  • Verification: Your submission is a suggestion that Google must review. Google uses its own data, other user reports, and local authority to confirm the closure.

  • Timeframe: It may take anywhere from a few hours to several days or weeks for Google to review and accept the edit. You will usually receive an email confirming the edit's status.

  • Permanent Closure Status: If approved, the listing will be updated to display a prominent "Permanently closed" banner. This is the effective goal for a closed business, as Google generally does not completely erase business history from its maps.

  • Increasing the Likelihood: To speed up the process, you can ask a few colleagues or friends (logged into their own Google Accounts) to submit the same "Suggest an edit" request for "Permanently closed." Multiple confirmations from local users often expedite Google's acceptance.

  • Requesting Ownership (Alternative): If you are the current owner but simply lost the login, the best long-term solution is to follow the process to Request Access to the profile. Once you gain ownership, you can officially mark it closed and prevent future issues. You would do this by searching for the business and clicking the "Claim this business" or "Own this business?" link.