How to Remove a Location from Google My Business

Removing a location from your Google My Business profile isn't always as simple as hitting a delete button, mainly because there are several different reasons you might need to do it. This guide cuts through the confusion, showing you exactly how to mark a business as permanently closed, remove a profile from your account if you no longer manage it, and what to do when a listing should never have existed in the first place.

Understanding Your Options: Closed vs. Removed vs. Deleted

Before you take any action, it's vital to understand what you're trying to accomplish. Google offers different solutions for different scenarios, and picking the wrong one can cause headaches for your customers or negatively impact your online presence. There are three main paths you can take.

1. Marking a Location as 'Permanently Closed'

This is the most common and recommended option for businesses that have shut down a specific location. When you mark a business as 'Permanently Closed,' the profile doesn't disappear from Google Search or Maps. Instead, it remains visible but is clearly labeled as closed, preventing customers from showing up at an empty storefront. This strategy preserves all your hard-earned reviews and photos, serving as a historical record of your business.

• When to use this: Your business has ceased operations at this address, either permanently or while relocating.
• What happens: Your profile is updated with a prominent "Permanently Closed" status. Customers can still see it and read reviews, but they can't get directions or call.
• Why it's smart: It provides a clear and final answer to customers searching for your old location, preventing confusion and frustration.

2. Removing a Business Profile from Your Account

This option applies when a business is still open and operating, but you personally are no longer managing it. Maybe you're a marketing agency and your contract with a client has ended, or perhaps you sold the business to a new owner. Removing the profile from your account simply revokes your access to manage it, the profile itself remains active and public.

• When to use this: You've sold the business, you're an employee who has left the company, or you're a third-party manager whose work is complete.
• What happens: The Business Profile is delinked from your Google account. You will no longer be able to edit information, respond to reviews, or view insights. The public listing is not affected.
• Why it's smart: It’s proper digital hygiene. You clean up your dashboard and pass control to the rightful owner without disrupting the business's online presence.

3. Requesting Removal of the Entire Profile

This is the most drastic measure and is reserved for specific situations where a business profile is invalid. This could be a duplicate listing, a profile created for a business that never actually opened, or a listing created by someone else with incorrect information. Unlike the other two options, this isn't something you can do directly from your dashboard. It involves suggesting an edit to Google, which they must then review and approve.

• When to use this: The business never existed, the listing is a duplicate of another profile, or it contains fraudulent information.
• What happens: You submit a request to Google's team. If they approve it, the profile will be completely deleted from Google Maps and Search.
• Why it's smart: It helps maintain the accuracy of Google Maps for everyone and protects your brand from misinformation or duplicate listings that can split customer reviews and traffic.

How to Mark a Business 'Permanently Closed'

If your business location has shut down for good, providing that clarity to customers is a must. This process is straightforward and keeps interested searchers in the loop, preventing them from driving to an empty address. Here's how to do it.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Go to your Business Profile. The easiest way to get there is to open Google and search for your exact business name. If you're signed into the correct Google account, a management panel will appear directly in the search results.
2. Select "Edit profile." This button is usually near the top of the management panel, alongside options like "Add update" and "Read reviews."
3. Navigate to 'Hours.' Inside the "Edit profile" section, click on the "Hours" tab. This will display your current operating hours.
4. Find and select "Permanently closed." Next to "Opening hours," you should see a pencil icon to make edits. Click it. A menu with options will appear. Select the radio button next to "Permanently closed."
5. Save your changes. Click the "Save" button to confirm. Google will process the update, which can sometimes take a few minutes. Once approved, your profile will be publicly labeled as 'Permanently Closed.'

Doing this ensures that the digital footprint of that location ends on a clear note, respecting the time of customers who might be trying to find you.

What If Your Business Moved? Don’t Remove - Update!

This is an incredibly common mistake business owners make. If your business is simply relocating to a new address, do not mark it as permanently closed or try to delete it. Your Google Business Profile holds valuable SEO history - customer reviews, photos, ranking signals, and questions and answers. Deleting it and starting over means throwing all of that away.

Instead, all you need to do is update your address.

Here’s how to properly handle a business move:

1. Go to your Business Profile by searching for it on Google.
2. Click on "Edit profile" and then select the "Location" tab.
3. Next to "Business location," click the pencil icon to edit your address.
4. Enter your new address and adjust the pin on the map if needed. Click "Save."

Important Note: Changing your business address will likely trigger a re-verification from Google. They need to confirm that your business is genuinely operating at the new location. This often involves them sending a postcard with a verification code to the new address, so be prepared for that small delay.

How to Remove a Business Profile From Your Account

If the business is still operating but you're no longer managing it, you'll want to remove it from your personal or agency dashboard. This process is quick and won't affect the live profile at all.

Removing a Single Location

For consultants, former employees, or anyone managing just one or two client profiles, this is the way to hand off the keys.

1. Sign into your Google Business Profile Manager.
2. Choose the business location you want to remove yourself from.
3. In the menu on the left, click "Business Profile settings." If you don't see those words, look for the three-dot menu icon.
4. Select "People and access." This will show you a list of every user with permission to manage the profile.
5. Find your own name and email address in the list and click the "Remove" option next to it.
6. A confirmation prompt will appear. Confirm the removal, and you will immediately lose access to the profile.

Removing Multiple Locations in Bulk

This is a lifesaver for agencies or managers overseeing dozens of locations. Removing them one by one would be tedious. Fortunately, Google offers a bulk removal tool.

1. Navigate to your Google Business Profile Manager dashboard where all your locations are listed.
2. Use the checkboxes on the left to select all the business profiles you wish to remove from your account.
3. Once you’ve selected them, an "Actions" button will appear at the top of the list.
4. Click "Actions" and from the dropdown menu, select "Remove businesses."
5. A final warning will pop up explaining that you are removing the profiles from your account. Confirm by clicking "Remove." The selected profiles will no longer appear in your dashboard.

Remember, this action only impacts *your* access. The listings remain live for a seamless transition to the new owner or manager.

Deleting a Fake or Duplicate Profile That Shouldn't Exist

Sometimes, a listing is just plain wrong - a duplicate created by mistake, a test profile someone forgot about, or one made for a business that never launched. In these cases, marking it 'permanently closed' isn't accurate. You need to request its complete removal from Google.

This is done by using the "Suggest an edit" feature directly on Google Maps.

1. Open Google Maps and search for the business name and address of the profile you want to delete.
2. Click on the profile listing in the map results to bring up its information panel.
3. Scroll down in the panel and click on "Suggest an edit."
4. In the next window, select the option "Close or remove."
5. Now, you'll need to provide a reason for the removal. The options include:
   • Permanently Closed
   • Doesn't Exist Here
   • Duplicate of another place
   • Moved to a new Location
   • Spam, fake, or offensive
   • Other
   Select the option that best fits your situation, like "Doesn't exist here" or "Duplicate of another place." You can add photos or comments to support your claim.
6. Click "Submit."

Your request will be sent to Google for review. This process is not instant and can take several days or even weeks. Google's team will verify your claim before taking action. If successful, the incorrect profile will be permanently wiped from their systems.

Final Thoughts

Managing your digital storefront starts with accuracy. Whether your business has closed a location, moved, or you’re simply tidying up your management dashboard, choosing the right method - marking as closed, updating your address, or removing yourself as a manager - ensures both current and future customers get the correct information about your brand.

Just like keeping your Google Business Profiles clean and accurate, wrangling your social media presence across numerous platforms takes organization and the right system. We built Postbase to bring that same order to the daily chaos of content calendars and community management. If you feel like your current social media tools are stuck in the past and only complicate your workflow, our platform helps centralize your planning, scheduling, and engagement into one modern dashboard so you can focus on building your brand.