How to Add a Manager or Owner to Google Business Profile

Published by the Zolyp team · October 15, 2026

What is the difference between an owner and a manager?

Google gives a Business Profile two roles. Each person needs their own Google Account, so nobody has to share a password, and you can't add a Google Group as an owner or manager.

Role	What they can do
Primary owner	Everything an owner can do, and the only person who can transfer primary ownership. A profile has one primary owner.
Owner	Full control: add or remove users, manage profile info, and delete the profile. A profile can have several owners.
Manager	Mostly the same as an owner, such as editing info, replying to reviews and managing posts, but can't add or remove users or remove the profile.

How do you add an owner or manager?

Only owners can invite people. Google's steps:

Go to your Business Profile.
Select More, then Business Profile settings, then People and access.
At the top left, select Add.
Enter the person's email address.
Under Access, select Owner or Manager.
Select Invite.

The person can accept the invite and becomes a user straight away. You get an email when they accept.
Current users and pending invites are listed on the People and access page. To cancel an invite, find the person under Pending and select Cancel invitation.
Everyone with access can see the names and email addresses of the other owners and managers.
Our suggestion: give staff and agencies the Manager role, and keep at least two owners you trust, so the business is never locked out if one person leaves.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Manage your Business Profile owners & managers, checked 15 October 2026

How do you change someone's role or remove them?

Only owners can change roles or remove other owners and managers. To change a role:

Go to your Business Profile and select More, then Business Profile settings, then People and access.
Select the person whose access you want to change.
Next to Access, select Edit.
Select the new role, then Save.

To remove someone, select them on the People and access page, then Remove person.
The person gets an email. They can no longer change business info, but their replies to reviews, posts and comments stay on the profile.
To remove yourself, select your own name, then Stop managing, then Confirm. A primary owner has to transfer primary ownership first.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Manage your Business Profile owners & managers, checked 15 October 2026

How do you transfer primary ownership?

If you sell the business or hand it over, Google says to transfer primary ownership of the existing profile to the new owner rather than starting again, so business info such as reviews is kept. The new owner must already be an owner or manager on the profile, so add them first.

Go to your Business Profile.
Select More, then Business Profile settings, then People and access.
Select the person you want to make primary owner.
Next to Access, select Edit.
Select Primary owner, then Save.

Only the primary owner can transfer primary ownership.
Google's guidelines say that if you take over a business, the previous owner should add you as an owner and transfer ownership to you.

Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Transfer primary ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026

Why can't you add, remove or transfer someone?

Check these before contacting Google:

You can't select other users. You probably have manager access, which can't add or remove people.
You were added in the last 7 days. New owners and managers must wait 7 days before they can delete or undelete a profile, remove other owners or managers, or transfer primary ownership, and get an error if they try.
You're the primary owner trying to leave. Transfer primary ownership to someone else first.
You tried to add a group address. Google Groups can't be owners or managers; invite each person's own account.
Nobody with access can be reached. If someone else owns the verified profile, use Google's request ownership process instead.

Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Manage your Business Profile owners & managers, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Transfer primary ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026

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Common questions

How many owners can a Google Business Profile have?

Google says a profile can have multiple owners but only one primary owner, who is the only person able to transfer primary ownership.

Can a manager reply to Google reviews?

Yes. Managers can edit info, respond to reviews and manage posts. They can't add or remove users or remove the profile.

Why do I get an error when I transfer ownership?

New owners and managers must wait 7 days before they can transfer primary ownership, remove other users, or delete or undelete the profile.

What happens to posts when I remove a manager?

They stay. The removed person gets an email and can't change business info, but their posts, review replies and comments remain on the profile.

Can I add my agency without giving them my password?

Yes. Invite the agency's own Google Account as a manager. Google designed the roles so nobody needs to share a password.

How to add a manager or owner to your Google Business Profile