How to request ownership of a Google Business Profile someone else controls

Requesting ownership is for one situation: a verified profile for your business is owned by someone else, such as a former employee, an old agency or a previous owner. Google's tip: if you can't find a Claim this business or Own this business button on your profile, you might already be the owner. Match your situation first:

Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Resolve duplicate profiles & ownership issues, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Guidelines for representing your business on Google, checked 15 October 2026

For a storefront or hybrid business, Google's steps are:

1. Go to business.google.com/add.
2. Enter the name and address of your business.
3. Choose your business from the list. You'll see a message that someone else may manage this Business Profile.
4. Select Request Access.
5. Fill in the form.
6. Select Submit.

• A service-area business with no shop or office uses Google's contact form instead. In the Tell us what we can help with field, enter Transfer ownership of listing, and choose that as the issue when you submit.
• Accounts that are bulk-verified can also request ownership of existing profiles through the bulk upload spreadsheet.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026

You get a confirmation email, and the current owner is emailed and has 3 days to respond. Check progress by signing in to your Business Profile or using the link in the confirmation email.

1. To claim after 3 days, open the confirmation email about your request.
2. Select View request, then Verify.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to verify your business. You can also sign in to your Business Profile and look for a Claim or Verify button.

Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Resolve duplicate profiles & ownership issues, checked 15 October 2026

Google allows one Business Profile per business, and a profile treated as a duplicate doesn't show on Search or Maps. So don't create a fresh profile while you wait for access. Google's guidance for the common cases:

• You made a duplicate yourself by mistake: remove it from your Google Account. All its content and managers are removed, so check you've picked the right one.
• Two profiles for the same business on Google Maps: report a suggestion on Google Maps to request a merge. Reviews are combined, but replies to reviews may be lost.
• Your business offers several services: list them on one profile rather than making a profile per service.
• Two distinct businesses were wrongly merged: contact support to appeal. If both serve customers at the same place, you'll need evidence of permanent signage showing both.

Source: Google Business Profile Help: Resolve duplicate profiles & ownership issues, checked 15 October 2026

The usual reasons, and what to try:

• There's no Claim or Own this business button. You may already own it: check the Google Accounts you use.
• The owner denied your request. Appeal the decision, or suggest an edit to correct the business info.
• No claim option appeared after 3 days. Google says claiming isn't always available; contact Google through the help centre.
• You got access but some actions fail. New owners and managers must wait 7 days before removing other users, transferring primary ownership, or deleting the profile.
• You're a service-area business. The business.google.com/add route is for storefront and hybrid businesses, so use the contact form.

Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Manage your Business Profile owners & managers, checked 15 October 2026; Google Business Profile Help: Resolve duplicate profiles & ownership issues, checked 15 October 2026

Disclosure: this is our product. A profile that sat untouched while ownership was sorted out usually needs fresh posts. Zolyp writes and designs Google Business updates and events in your brand's style and publishes them to your connected profile once you approve. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.