First, work out who has it
Google will tell you the first characters of the owner's email address when you request access. That usually identifies a former agency, designer or employee. If you recognise them, a direct message asking them to transfer ownership is the fastest route, and Google's ownership transfer takes minutes when the current owner cooperates. If you do not recognise the address, or they refuse, use the formal request below.
Request ownership through Google
- Go to Google's add-a-business page, enter your business name and address, and choose the existing listing when it appears.
- Google reports that someone else has verified it and offers a request-access form. Choose owner access, give your real name, role and a working email, and submit.
- Google emails the current owner. They have three days to approve or deny.
- If they approve, ownership transfers. If they deny, Google emails you and you may be able to appeal with evidence. If they do nothing for three days, Google usually lets you verify the profile yourself.
Evidence that wins a contested request
- Companies House record naming you as an officer, or for a sole trader, insurance and invoices in your name.
- A utility bill, lease or business rates letter for the address on the profile.
- A photo of the signage, and of you at the premises if verification is by video.
- Any earlier Google emails showing the profile was previously yours.
- For a bought business: the sale agreement or the updated regulator registration showing the new owner.
Three situations that need different handling
- The profile was hijacked. If the details were changed by whoever holds it, phone, website, name, secure your own Google account and treat it as a recovery, not a routine request. See the hacked-profile guide.
- The previous owner of the business still holds it. Ask them first; most transfer willingly. If they will not, the sale documents and the updated registration are your evidence.
- You do not want that listing. If the profile is wrong, duplicated or for a location you no longer trade from, requesting ownership and then removing or merging it is still the right route. A stray listing you cannot control is a suspension risk for the one you can.
We can handle it
Send the profile link, what Google told you about the current owner, and how the listing came to exist, through the form below. Within one working day we tell you the fastest route back, what evidence to gather, and a fixed quote if you would like the request, the follow-up and any clean-up done for you. We never ask for your Google password, and ownership ends up with you, not us.