How to Change Ownership of Google My Business

Switching the ownership of a Google Business Profile can feel daunting, but breaking it down makes the process straightforward. Whether you're selling your business, passing the torch to a new manager, or reclaiming an old profile, this guide walks you through every step. We’ll cover how to directly transfer ownership and how to request access if the profile is currently managed by someone else.

Why You Might Need to Change Ownership of Your Profile

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is a powerful asset, often serving as the first impression customers have of your brand. Keeping the ownership information accurate and in the right hands isn't just an admin task - it's essential for business operations. You'll likely need to perform an ownership transfer in a few common situations:

• Selling Your Business: When a business changes hands, the new owner needs full control over its digital presence, and your GBP is right at the top of that list.
• Changes in Management: A marketing manager, social media coordinator, or GM might leave the company. Transferring ownership from their business account to another team member or main company account is critical.
• Agency Transitions: If you hired a marketing agency to set up or manage your profile, ownership might be under their account. When you part ways, you'll need them to transfer primary ownership back to you.
• Consolidating Accounts: You might realize an old profile was created with a personal Gmail account and want to move it to a centralized business email for better security and access management.

First, Understand the Roles: Primary Owner, Owner, and Manager

Before you start clicking buttons, it's important to understand the different levels of access you can grant on a Google Business Profile. Not everyone on your team needs the same level of control.

Primary Owner (One per profile)

The primary owner is the top-level administrator. They have the ultimate power over the profile and are the only one who can transfer primary ownership to another user. You can think of them as the account's super admin.

• Can edit all business information
• Can add or remove other owners and managers
• Can respond to reviews and post updates
• Can delete the business profile
• Most importantly: Can transfer primary ownership to another owner (after that person has been an owner for at least 7 days).

Owner (Multiple per profile)

An owner has nearly all the capabilities of a primary owner, but they cannot transfer primary ownership or delete the profile. You can have multiple owners on a single profile, which is great for business partners or senior managers who need high-level access.

• Can edit all business information
• Can add or remove other managers (and even other owners, but not the primary one)
• Can perform all day-to-day management tasks (respond to Q&As, post photos, create updates)

Manager (Multiple per profile)

A manager role is best for employees or agency partners who handle daily social media and reputation management tasks. They have sufficient access to manage the profile's content and interactions but cannot make high-level changes.

• Can respond to reviews, update hours, upload photos, and create posts
• Cannot edit core business details like the name or address
• Cannot add or remove users
• Cannot delete the business profile

Understanding these roles helps you give the right permissions to the right people without handing over the keys to your entire digital storefront unnecessarily.

How to Transfer Ownership of a Google Business Profile

There are two primary paths for transferring ownership, depending entirely on your starting point: either the current owner is cooperative and gives you access, or they aren't, and you need to request it from Google directly.

Method 1: When The Current Owner Transfers It to You (The Easy Way)

This is the ideal scenario. It's fast, simple, and requires cooperation from the person who currently holds the primary owner title. If you're buying a business or taking over from a manager, send them these instructions.

Step 1: The Current Owner Adds You as an Owner

1. First, the current primary owner needs to sign in to the Google account associated with the Business Profile.
2. They can then navigate directly to their profile by searching for their exact business name on Google Search or by going to google.com/business.
3. On the business profile management page, they'll click the three-dot menu icon and select "Business Profile settings."
4. From there, they'll choose "People and access" (or "Managers").
5. In the top left, they'll click the "Add" icon, then enter your email address (the one you want to own the profile with).
6. Under "Access," they must select the "Owner" role and click "Invite."

Step 2: You Accept the Invitation

You will receive an email from Google with an invitation to become an owner. Open it and click the "Accept" button. And just like that, you are now an owner with nearly full permissions. However, the original Primary Owner still holds that specific title.

Step 3: Transferring Primary Ownership

For a complete handover, the final step is to make you the Primary Owner. There's a small catch: a new owner has to be on the profile for at least seven days before primary ownership can be transferred to them.

After seven days have passed, the original primary owner can follow these steps:

1. Go back to the "People and access" section.
2. Find your name in the list of users and click on it.
3. Select "Transfer primary ownership."
4. Confirm the transfer.

The original owner will then be downgraded to a regular owner and can be removed from the profile entirely if needed. You now have complete control.

Method 2: How to Request Ownership if You Don't Have Access

This path is for situations where the profile already exists but you're locked out. This happens often when an old employee set it up and left, or an agency never handed over the credentials.

Step 1: Find the Profile and Start the Claim Process

1. On Google Search or Maps, search for your business name and location.
2. When you find the profile, look for a link that says “Own this business?” or “Claim this business.” Click it.

If you don't see this option, it might mean the profile isn't verified or that it's a duplicate. If it says it's already been claimed, move to the next step.

Step 2: Request Access from the Current Owner

When you click to claim the profile, Google will show you a partial, hidden version of the current owner’s email address (e.g., j******@gmail.com). If you recognize it, you might be able to contact them directly and ask them to add you using Method 1.

If you don't recognize the email, proceed by clicking the “Request access” button and filling out the details requested. The form will ask for:

• The level of access you need (select “Ownership”).
• Your name and phone number.
• Your relationship to the business (e.g., Owner, Employee).

Step 3: Wait for a Response

Once you submit the request, the current owner has 3 days (this was formerly 7) to respond. One of three things will happen:

1. They Approve Your Request: You'll receive an email confirming you are now an owner of the profile. Success! You can then proceed to make yourself the primary owner after the 7-day waiting period if necessary.
2. They Deny Your Request: You'll get an email telling you the request was denied. If you genuinely own the business, you can appeal this decision. We'll touch on that below.
3. They Don't Respond: This is the most common outcome with old, abandoned profiles. If 3 days pass with no response, Google will give you the option to claim or verify the profile yourself.

Step 4: Verify Your Connection to the Business (If No Response)

After the 3-day window closes, you should get an email from Google prompting you to verify your profile. You'll need to prove you are the legitimate owner of the business operating at that location. Verification methods can include:

• Postcard by Mail: Google sends a postcard with a verification code to your business's physical address.
• Phone or Text Call: A code is sent to your business phone number listed on the profile.
• Email Verification: A code is sent to a business email with your company's domain (e.g., yourname@yourwebsite.com).
• Live Video Call: You may need to have a video call with a Google representative to show them proof of location (like your storefront signage), business documents, and that you have keys to the building.
• Video Recording: You'll submit a short video showing your location, branding, and proof of management (like accessing a register or unlocking the doors).

Once you successfully complete the verification, you’ll gain ownership of the profile.

What If Your Ownership Request is Denied?

If the current profile owner denies your request, but you are the legal and rightful owner of the business, don’t give up. The denial email you receive from Google should contain a link to file an appeal. When you appeal, be prepared to provide business documentation to support your case. This could include:

• Business registration documents
• A lease agreement for your physical storefront
• Utility bills in the business's name
• Business license

Google Support will review your documents and can manually grant you ownership if they determine your claim is valid. This process can take some time, so be patient and provide all the information clearly.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're executing a clean handover or wrestling control back from an old account, managing your Google Business Profile ownership is a non-negotiable step for any business owner. The process is clear-cut when you have cooperation and still provides a reliable path forward even when you don't. Staying in control of this profile helps you manage your reputation, engage with customers, and drive local search traffic.

Getting your digital business assets organized, like solidifying ownership of social profiles, is the first step toward building a cohesive online presence. Once you've streamlined access to your GBP, you can apply that same principle to the rest of your channels. At Postbase, we built a modern social media management platform focused on making that possible. From a single visual calendar, you can plan and schedule content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and more, all without the confusion of managing each one separately. It brings the same feeling of control and clarity you get from sorting out your GBP to your entire social media strategy.