How to Change Business Address on Google My Business

Moving your business is a huge undertaking, but making sure your new address is accurately reflected online is just as critical for a smooth transition. Incorrect location details on your Google Business Profile can cost you visibility, customers, and trust. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough for changing your business address on Google, covering everything from the initial edit to navigating the verification process and avoiding common roadblocks.

Why Keeping Your Google Business Profile Address Current Matters

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business or GMB) is often the first impression a potential local customer has of your brand. It’s more than just a listing, it’s a powerful driver for local SEO, customer trust, and in-store foot traffic. When your physical address changes, updating this profile isn't just a suggestion - it's essential.

Here’s a quick breakdown of why this simple update carries so much weight:

• Visibility in Local Search and Maps: An accurate address is the bedrock of local search optimization. When someone searches for "coffee shop near me" or a similar query, Google relies on your profile's location data to decide if you're a good match. An old address means you won't show up for relevant searches in your new neighborhood, effectively making you invisible to potential customers.
• Building Customer Trust: Imagine a new customer, excited to try your services, plugging your business into Google Maps only to end up at your old, empty location. That friction creates a terrible first experience and erodes trust instantly. A correct, updated address signals that you are professional, organized, and care about your customers' experience.
• Maintaining NAP Consistency: NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone Number. Search engines like Google see consistent NAP information across the web (on your website, social media, and other directories like Yelp) as a strong signal of legitimacy. An incorrect address on your primary GBP listing disrupts this consistency, which can negatively impact your search rankings over time.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Business Address on Google

Ready to make the change? The process itself is fairly direct. Just follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth update.

Step 1: Sign in to your Google Business Profile Manager

First things first, head over to google.com/business and sign in with the Google account you use to manage your profile. Make sure you’re using the correct account if you have multiple Google logins.

Step 2: Select the Correct Business Profile

If you manage only one business, you’ll likely be taken straight to your dashboard. However, if you're an agency or business owner managing multiple locations, you'll see a list of profiles. Be sure to select the specific business profile whose address you need to change.

Step 3: Access the Profile Editing Section

Once you're on your business's dashboard, look for the main editing options. Google frequently updates its user interface, but you should see a prominent button labeled "Edit profile." Click on it to open up all the editable details of your listing.

Step 4: Navigate to the Location Tab

Inside the editing panel, you'll find several tabs or sections for different types of information, such as "About," "Contact," "Hours," and "Location." Click on the "Location" tab. You'll see your current business address displayed.

Step 5: Edit the Address and Adjust the Map Pin

This is the most critical step. Click the pencil icon next to your business address to start editing.

• Carefully enter your new street address, including the suite number, city, state, and zip code. Avoid any typos or abbreviations - use the official street name (e.g., "Street" instead of "St.").
• Pay close attention to the map pin. After you type in the new address, the map will automatically adjust. It's often close, but not always perfect. Manually click and drag the red pin to the exact entrance of your new building. This is incredibly important for customers relying on Google Maps for last-minute directions. Placing it right on your front door removes any confusion.

Step 6: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve triple-checked the new address and perfected the map pin's placement, click the "Save" button. Your change isn't live just yet. Google will now review your edit before publishing it, which usually involves a verification step.

What Happens Next? Understanding the Verification Process

Changing a core piece of information like your physical address often triggers a re-verification process from Google. This is a security measure to prevent fraudulent edits and protect business owners. Your address change will likely show a "pending review" status until verification is complete.

Here are the most common verification methods you might encounter:

Postcard by Mail

This is the classic and most common verification method. Google will mail a physical postcard to your new business address. This postcard contains a 5-6 digit verification code. Once it arrives (usually within 5-7 business days), you simply log back into your GBP dashboard and enter the code. Important: Do not edit your name, address, or business category while you are waiting for the postcard, as this can cancel the request.

Phone Call or Text Message

Some businesses are eligible for verification via an automated phone call or text message sent to the business's listed phone number. The call or text will provide a verification code that you can enter into your dashboard immediately. This is much faster, but it's not available for every profile.

Email Verification

Similar to phone verification, some businesses might be given the option to have a verification code sent to an official email address associated with the business domain (e.g., info@yourbusinessname.com).

Video Verification

This method is becoming more common. Google will ask you to record a short, continuous video that proves your location and business legitimacy. You’ll typically need to capture:

• Your new business location and surroundings (street signs, nearby businesses).
• Permanent business signage (your logo on the door, building, etc.).
• Proof of management, like unlocking the door with a key or showing non-public business documents or tools of the trade.

Try to capture all the required elements in one smooth take to get approved quickly.

Common Challenges & Fixes When Updating Your Address

Sometimes, the process isn’t as smooth as you'd like. Here are a few common hiccups and how to handle them.

Problem: My address edit has been "Pending for Review" for weeks.

Solution: If you're long past the normal verification timeline (e.g., your postcard never arrived after a few weeks), your first step should be to request another verification code. If that doesn't solve it, reach out to Google Business Profile support. You can do this through the help section in your GBP dashboard. Have your Business Profile ID handy and explain the situation clearly.

Problem: My old address is still showing up on Google Maps.

Solution: The update can sometimes take a few days to fully propagate across all of Google's systems even after verification. If it has been more than 72 hours since your edit was approved, first clear your browser cache and check again. If it still shows the old location, contact GBP support. It may be a sync issue that they can resolve on their end.

Problem: I am moving to a home office and don't want to show my address. What do I do?

Solution: If your business no longer serves customers at a physical location (for example, you're a plumber, landscaper, or an online-only business) you can switch to a "Service Area Business." In the "Location" tab, you'll have an option to clear your physical street address. After you clear it, you will be prompted to add service areas by listing the cities, zip codes, or regions you serve. This will hide your physical address from the public while still helping you appear in local search results for the regions you cover.

Beyond the Update: Managing Your Brand's Digital Footprint

Changing your address on Google is a massive step, but your work isn't quite done. A physical move requires a full update of your digital presence to maintain that critical NAP consistency.

• Update Your Website: The first place to update is your own website. Go through your contact page, header, footer, and any location-specific pages to reflect the new address.
• Announce the Move on Social Media: Turn your move into exciting content! Post "we've moved" announcements with pictures or videos of the new space. Pin the new address to the top of your Facebook page and update your Instagram bio.
• Check Other Online Directories: Yelp, TripAdvisor, Apple Maps, Bing Places, and industry-specific directories all need to be updated. You can do this manually or use citation management services to help streamline the process.
• Update Your Local Presence: Don't forget marketing materials like email signatures, business cards, and print ads.

Final Thoughts

Changing your address on your Google Business Profile is a foundational task for any business move. Getting it right involves a simple editing process followed by a crucial verification step to maintain your local SEO ranking and ensure customers can find you without any frustrating mishaps. Plan ahead, be patient with verification, and you'll be set up for success in your new location.

Once your new address is officially verified, it's time to share the good news everywhere. Announcing your big move is a fantastic opportunity for engaging social media content - a behind-the-scenes look at the new space, an official "grand re-opening" announcement, or a Reel touring the neighborhood. At Postbase, we designed our visual calendar to make planning out content like this effortless. You can draft your "We've relocated!" posts, see how they fit into your schedule, and queue them up across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn from a single dashboard using Postbase. This allows you to handle the exciting task of telling your community about your move without the extra stress of platform-hopping.