How to Reset Google My Business Account

Trying to reset your Google My Business account can be frustrating because reset can mean so many different things. You might be trying to fix wrong information, recover a suspended profile, get rid of bad reviews, or just start completely fresh. This guide will walk you through exactly how to tackle each of these problems, so you can get your Business Profile back on track and working for you.

What Does "Resetting" Your Google Business Profile Actually Mean?

Before we get into the step-by-step instructions, it’s important to clarify what you're trying to accomplish. Unlike a phone or a password, there isn't one single "reset" button for a Google Business Profile (recently renamed from Google My Business). The action you need to take depends entirely on your situation.

Most people searching for a "reset" are facing one of these four common scenarios:

• You need to update or correct old, inaccurate information like your address, phone number, or business hours.
• You need to regain control of your profile from a former employee, agency, or someone who claimed it without permission.
• Your profile has been suspended by Google, and you need to fix the issue to get reinstated.
• You want to hit the "nuclear option" and completely remove your profile to start over from scratch (this is rarely the right move, but we'll cover it).

Once you’ve identified your goal, you can find the right instructions below to fix it.

The Simple Fix: How to Edit and Update Your Profile Info

If your goal is just to fix outdated or incorrect information, you don’t need a dramatic reset. You just need to edit your profile. This is the simplest fix and solves most common problems. Google has made it incredibly easy to manage your profile directly from Search or Maps.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Log In to the Right Account: Make sure you’re logged into the Google account that has owner or manager access to your Business Profile.
2. Find Your Profile: Go to Google and search for your exact business name (e.g., "Main Street Cafe Boston"). You can also just search for "my business." Your business management panel should appear right at the top of the search results.
3. Click "Edit Profile": This is your control center. Here, you'll see options to change all the core details about your business.

What You Should Check and Update:

• Business Information: This is the most important tab. Here you can edit your business name, category, description, and opening date. Be careful with your business name, make sure it's your actual, real-world business name, not a list of keywords.
• Contact Info: Update your phone number, website, and email address. Having an accurate phone number is absolutely essential for local SEO.
• Location & Areas: Correct your physical address and define your service area if you're a service-area business (like a plumber or landscaper) that travels to customers.
• Hours: Set your regular hours, and remember to use the "More hours" and "Holiday hours" features to keep customers informed.

Most edits are approved almost instantly, but some, especially significant changes to your name or address, may go into a pending review status. Be patient. Regularly updating your profile this way keeps it fresh and accurate, which is exactly what Google wants to see.

When You Don't Have Access: How to Reclaim Ownership of Your Profile

It's a common story: a former employee set up the profile and left, or a marketing agency you no longer work with still holds the keys. If you’ve lost access, "resetting" means reclaiming what is rightfully yours. It involves a clear, but sometimes slow, process.

Step 1: See if the Profile is Claimed

First, find your business on Google Maps. Click on the listing. Look for a link that says "Own this business?" or "Claim this business."

• If you see this link: Great! It means the profile is unclaimed. Click the link and follow the on-screen prompts. Google will need to verify that you are the legitimate owner, usually by sending a postcard with a code to your business address, or sometimes via a phone call or email.
• If you don't see this link: This means someone else already has ownership. Don't worry, you can still get it back.

Step 2: Request Access from the Current Owner

If the profile is already claimed, you'll need to request that ownership be transferred to you.

1. Go to the Google Business Profile creation page and enter your business name.
2. Select your business from the list that appears.
3. You’ll see a message that says the listing has already been verified by someone else. There will be an email hint for the current owner (e.g., j******@gmail.com).
4. Click "Request access" and fill out the form. You’ll state your relationship to the business (e.g., owner) and what kind of access you want (Ownership).
5. The current owner will receive an email about your request. They have 3 days to respond.

What if the Owner Doesn't Respond or Denies You?

If the current owner approves your request, you're in! If they deny it, you may need to contact Google support to prove your ownership. If they simply ignore your request and don't respond after 3 days, Google will often give you the option to claim the profile yourself by completing the verification process (like the postcard method mentioned earlier). The key is patience, follow the process and have documentation ready (like your business license) to prove you're the true owner.

The Big Red Alert: Fixing a Suspended Profile

Seeing a notification that your profile is suspended can be terrifying. This is Google's way of putting you in a "time out" for breaking their quality guidelines. The "reset" here isn't deleting anything, it’s about fixing the problem and appealing to get reinstated.

First, the most important rule: Do NOT create a new Business Profile. This will only make things worse and can lead to a permanent ban.

Instead, follow these steps to get your profile back online:

1. Figure Out What Went Wrong

Google doesn't always tell you the exact reason for the suspension, but it's almost always a violation of their guidelines. Review the official Google Business Profile guidelines carefully. Some of the most common reasons for suspension include:

• Keyword Stuffing: Adding cities or keywords to your business name (e.g., "Smith's Roofing - Best Roofers in Denver"). Your name must be your real business name.
• Address Issues: Using a P.O. box, a virtual office, or a home address that isn't staffed during business hours for non-service-area businesses.
• Incorrect Categories: Choosing categories that don’t accurately describe your main business activities.
• Multiple Profiles: Creating more than one profile for the same business location.

2. Fix the Problem in Your Profile

Even though your profile is suspended, you should still have access to the dashboard to make edits. Go through your profile with a fine-toothed comb and correct any potential violations you identified. For example, remove any extra keywords from your business name. Make sure your address is accurate. Put yourself in Google’s shoes and make your profile 100% compliant.

3. Submit a Reinstatement Request

Once you’ve cleaned up your profile, it’s time to appeal. Fill out the official Business Profile reinstatement request form. This is your chance to make your case.

• Be polite and professional.
• Explain that you've reviewed the guidelines and have corrected any issues.
• Provide clear evidence of your business's legitimacy. Attach photos of your permanent storefront signage, a copy of your business license, or a utility bill with your business name and address on it. This documentation can make all the difference.

After you submit the form, you’ll have to wait. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Avoid submitting multiple appeals, as this can slow down the process.

The Last Resort: Removing Your Profile and Starting Fresh

Okay, let's talk about the nuclear option. You might think that deleting your entire profile and starting over is the easiest way to reset things, especially if you have bad reviews or old, stubborn information you can't seem to edit.

Warning: You should only consider this as an absolute last resort. When you remove a profile, you lose everything associated with it permanently. All of your hard-earned reviews, photos, Questions & Answers, and ranking authority will be gone forever. In almost every case, it's better to fix the existing profile than to start from zero.

But, if your business has moved to a completely different city or has undergone such a massive change that the old profile is truly irrelevant, here’s how to proceed. You can either mark it as closed or try to remove it entirely.

How to Mark Your Business as Permanently Closed

This is the best option for most situations. It tells customers and Google that this specific location is no longer in operation, preventing confusion.

1. Find your business in Google Search or Maps.
2. From the management panel, click "Edit profile" > "Hours".
3. Near the top, select the "Permanently closed" option.
4. Save your changes.

The profile will remain on Google but will clearly be marked as closed, directing customers away from it.

How to Remove Yourself and "Delete" the Profile

To fully remove a business from your account (which also makes it unclaimed again if not marked as closed), you can take these steps:

1. Go to your Business Profile Manager.
2. Click on the business you want to remove.
3. Go to "Business Profile settings" > "Remove Business Profile" > "Remove profile managers and content."
4. Confirm that you want to remove yourself and the content.

This removes the listing from your account, but it may not remove it from Google search results. For a complete deletion, you'll still usually need to mark it as closed first and may need to contact Google support to argue for its full removal, which is not guaranteed.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, "resetting" a Google Business Profile isn’t a single quick fix. It's about diagnosing your specific problem - whether it's making simple edits, reclaiming ownership, resolving a suspension, or making the tough call to start over - and following the correct procedure to get your presence on Google back in top shape.

Getting your Google Business Profile organized is a fundamental move for any modern business. Once you've solidified that local foundation, the next step is building a consistent and engaging voice on social media. Managing Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more can feel like a full-time job in itself, which is why we built Postbase. We provide a clean, reliable, and modern platform to help you plan, schedule, and analyze your social content - especially the short-form video that drives so much engagement today - so you can stop juggling apps and focus on growth.