How to Transfer Ownership of a Google My Business Account

Transferring ownership of a Google Business Profile may seem complicated, but it's a straightforward process once you understand the steps involved. Whether you've sold your business, are handing off duties to a team member, or bringing on a marketing agency, this guide will walk you through exactly how to change the primary owner of your Google Business Profile smoothly and securely.

First, Understand the User Roles

Before you transfer anything, it’s important to know the difference between the three main user roles in a Google Business Profile. Giving someone the wrong level of access can cause major headaches down the road.

Primary Owner

This is the big one. There can only be one Primary Owner per business profile. This person holds all the power and is the only user who can:

• Transfer primary ownership to someone else.
• Delete the business profile entirely.
• Perform all the actions that Owners and Managers can.

You cannot remove yourself from a profile until you have transferred primary ownership to another user.

Owner

You can have multiple Owners on a single business profile. An Owner can do almost everything the Primary Owner can do, including:

• Add or remove other users (Managers and other Owners).
• Edit all business information.
• Respond to reviews, create posts, and manage photos.

The only thing an Owner cannot do is transfer primary ownership or delete the account. They have to be promoted to Primary Owner first.

Manager

This is the most limited role and is perfect for employees, interns, or a social media agency helping with day-to-day tasks. A Manager can:

• Update business information like hours, address, and phone number.
• Create Google Posts, upload photos, and respond to customer reviews.
• View insights and analytics.

However, a Manager cannot add or remove users, change user roles, or edit the most critical business details. Think of this as the "daily operations" role.

Step 1: Add the New Person as an Owner

You can’t just hand over the keys in a single click. The first step in the transfer process is to invite the other person to become an owner of the profile. They must have been an owner for at least seven days before you can promote them to the primary owner role.

How to Add a New Owner or Manager:

1. Sign in to Google Business Profile. Go to business.google.com and sign in with the account that is currently the Primary Owner.
2. Select Your Business. If you manage multiple businesses, choose the one you want to transfer. You'll be taken to your dashboard.
3. Access People and Access. In the menu on the left (or find it on the main dash), click the three vertical dots (kebab menu) and select "Business Profile settings." From the pop-up menu, choose "People and access."
4. Invite the New User. In the top right corner of the "People and access" panel, click the blue "Add" button. A new window will pop up.
5. Enter Their Email and Choose a Role. Type in the email address of the person you want to invite. It must be associated with a Google Account. Below the email field, select either "Owner" or "Manager." For this process, you must choose "Owner."
6. Send the Invitation. Click "Invite." Google will now send an email invitation to that person.

The person you invited must open the email and click the "Accept" button to gain access. Until they do, their status will appear as "Invited" in your People and access panel.

Step 2: Wait for 7 Days (This is the Important Part)

This is the step where most people get tripped up. Once the new person has accepted their invitation to become an Owner, you must wait seven full days before Google allows you to transfer primary ownership to them. This is a security measure designed to prevent hostile account takeovers.

If you try to make the transfer before the seven-day waiting period is up, the option simply won't be available, which can be confusing. So, be patient. Set a calendar reminder and come back in a week.

Step 3: Transfer Primary Ownership

After the seven-day waiting period has passed, you're ready to make the final transfer. The process is simple and only takes a moment.

1. Return to "People and access." Log back into your Google Business Profile, go to "Business Profile settings," and then click "People and access" again.
2. Select the New Owner. You'll see the list of all users. Find the person you added a week ago and click on their name.
3. Make Primary Owner. A new panel will slide out showing their details. You will now see an option that says "Make primary owner." Click on it.
4. Confirm the Transfer. A warning message will pop up to make sure you understand that you're handing over full control. Confirm that you want to proceed.

And that’s it! The transfer is complete. The other person is now the Primary Owner, and your role will be automatically downgraded to Owner. You've successfully transferred control of the profile.

Optional Step 4: Remove Yourself from the Profile

If you have sold the business or are an agency ending a contract, your final step is often to remove yourself from the business profile completely. After transferring primary ownership, your role is changed to 'Owner', which still gives you a lot of access.

How to Remove a User:

1. Go back one last time to the "People and access" page.
2. Find your name in the list of users and click the "X" on the far right of your name.
3. A small confirmation screen will appear letting you know this will remove you completely from the profile. Click "Remove" to complete the action. You will immediately lose access and all ability to make edits or changes to anything.

Worst-Case Scenario: What if You Can’t Access the Primary Owner’s Account?

Things don't always go smoothly. Sometimes the person who owns the Google Business Profile leaves the company - and you can't reach them. Other times, a firm you've hired is no longer responding to calls or emails. Whatever the case may be, don’t fret because there's still a way forward by requesting access directly from Google.

Here’s how to claim an already-verified listing:

1. Find Your Business on Google. Go to Google Search or Google Maps and search for your business name and location.
2. Look for the "Own this business?" Link. Click on your public profile. Typically, right below the main business details or near the address, you'll see a link that says, "Own this business?" Click it!
3. Request Access. A new screen will appear. If the listing is already managed by another address, type your name into the prompt box, agree to all terms, and submit your request to take ownership and manage this profile.

This action sends an automated email to the current primary owner asking them to either grant you access or deny it. Google provides a few clues to the email address by displaying a version of it where the first half is visible but the domain is partially hidden. This might help you identify an old address a senior team member might still have access to.

If the current account owner does not respond to your request after 3-7 days, Google may give you an option to take back your profile. This verification process could involve confirming a code sent by postcard to the business address or submitting documentation that verifies your role and identity.

This process requires patience and persistence, but it provides a clear path forward when the original owner is unavailable. Follow Google's instructions to recover your listing and regain control.

Final Thoughts

Transferring ownership of your Google Business Profile is a clear-cut procedure grounded in security. By understanding the roles, inviting the new person as an Owner, honoring the seven-day waiting period, and then making the final transfer, you can ensure a seamless and safe handoff of one of your most valuable digital assets.

Managing your digital presence effectively means having the right people managing all your profiles. After you've streamlined your Google Business Profile ownership, your focus naturally shifts to managing your social media. That’s exactly where our work comes in. At Postbase, we simplify your entire social workflow - from planning content in a visual calendar to scheduling posts across all platforms and handling all your DMs in one unified inbox. We designed our platform for the modern social media landscape so you can conquer Reels and TikToks without pulling your hair out.