Google Business Profile suspended: why, and how to get it back

First, check what kind of suspension it is

Sign in to your Google Business Profile and look for a notice.

• Your profile is not visible to customers. It has been removed from Maps and search. This is the serious one.
• You can no longer manage your profile. It may still show to customers, but you cannot edit it. This often relates to the account or a manager, and the business listing itself may be fine.

Google's notice usually says which applies. Read it carefully, because it tells you where to start.

Common causes

Keywords in your business name. Adding words like "best roofer Plano" to a name that is really "Smith Roofing" is one of the most common reasons for suspension.

An address that is not a real place of business. Virtual offices, mailboxes and co-working desks are not allowed as business addresses.

Showing an address when you should not. Service businesses that travel to customers and do not meet them at their address should usually hide it and set a service area instead.

Duplicate profiles. More than one profile for the same business at the same location.

Big sudden changes. Changing the name, address or category all at once can trigger a review.

Your category or industry. Some trades, such as locksmiths and garage door repair, are watched more closely because of spam, so genuine businesses can be caught up in it.

How to get it back

1. Fix the cause first. Change the name to your real business name, remove a virtual address, hide your address if you are a service area business, and close duplicate profiles.
2. Gather evidence. Typically a business licence or registration, a utility bill or bank statement in the business name at the address, photos of your signage, vehicles and equipment, and your website showing the same details.
3. Submit an appeal through Google's reinstatement process, which you reach from the notice in your profile. Explain clearly and briefly, and upload the evidence it asks for.
4. Wait, and do not create a new profile. Making a new one to get around a suspension breaks the rules and can make things worse.
5. Watch for Google's reply, and answer any request for more information quickly.

How to avoid it in future

• Use your real business name, exactly as on your signage and paperwork
• Use only a genuine address, or a service area with the address hidden
• Make changes gradually, one at a time
• Keep your details consistent everywhere online, see citation building
• Work through the Google Business Profile checklist

If you would like help

We help local businesses through suspensions and reinstatement as part of our Google Business Profile management. Get your free Maps audit and we will look at what happened to yours.

Questions owners ask

How long does reinstatement take?

It varies. Some appeals are answered within days, others take longer, especially if Google asks for more evidence. Fixing the cause properly before you appeal gives you the best chance.

Will I lose my reviews?

When a profile is reinstated, its reviews usually come back with it. Creating a brand new profile instead usually means starting again, and it can also break the rules.

Should I just create a new profile?

No. Creating a new profile to get around a suspension breaks Google's guidelines and can lead to further suspensions. Appeal the original instead.