Having a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a great way to attract customers, but there may come a time when you need to remove your listing. If you’re closing your business, rebranding, or simply no longer want it to appear on Google, deleting your profile is an important step. However, the process isn’t as straightforward as hitting a “delete” button.
Before removing your business profile, consider whether you want to permanently delete it or just mark it as closed. Google offers different options, including removing ownership, hiding the profile, or requesting deletion. If not done correctly, your business information could still show up in search results.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of closing your business profile so you can delete your business account the right way and avoid confusion for customers searching for your business online.
Understanding Your Options: Delete, Remove, or Mark as Closed
When managing your Google Business Account, you’ll likely come across three options; delete, remove, or mark as closed. While they may seem similar, they aren’t and serve completely different purposes.
Deleting Your Google Business Profile
If you no longer need your Google Business Profile, you have the option to delete it permanently. This means your business will no longer appear on Google Search or Maps, and customers won’t be able to find your details. Before deleting, consider marking it as closed or removing certain information as a better, less permanent option.
To delete your profile, log into Google Business Profile Manager, select your business, go to Settings > Remove Business Profile, and follow the steps from there. Keep in mind that deletion is permanent and you won’t be able to recover your account once it’s official.
Removing Content From Your Google Business Profile
If you want to update or clean up your Google Business Profile, you can remove specific content instead of deleting the entire profile. This includes business hours, photos, posts, or outdated details that may no longer be relevant to your business.
To remove content, log into Google Business Profile Manager, select your business, and navigate to the section you want to edit. You can delete individual photos, update descriptions, or remove old posts. However, reviews left by customers cannot be removed manually, you can only request to have them taken down but only if they violate Google’s guidelines.
Google’s Review Guidelines
- No spam
- No fake reviews
- No personal information, offensive language, or hate speech
- No illegal content
- The review cannot be off-topic, it must be relevant to the business.
Marking Your Google Business As Closed
If your business is no longer operating or has temporarily shut down, you can mark it as closed instead of deleting it. This option lets customers know your business is no longer active, but it preserves the profile in case you need to reopen or access past information.
To mark your business as closed, log into Google Business Profile Manager, select your business, and go to Info > Close or remove this profile > Mark as permanently closed.
This is a great option if you may reopen in the future or need to retain your business history without completely removing your profile.
What Happens After You Delete Your Business Profile?
Once you delete your Google Business Profile, it is permanently removed from Google Search and Maps within 24 hours. This means customers will no longer be able to find your business, leave reviews, or contact you through Google. Any data associated with the profile, such as posts, photos, and insights, will also be lost.
However, deleting your profile does not erase all business-related information from Google’s search results. Some third-party websites or directories may still display your business details. If you change your mind after deletion, you will need to create a new profile from scratch, as Google does not allow the recovery of deleted profiles.
FAQ’S
Can I Recover My Google Business Profile After Deleting It?
No, once deleted, your Google Business Profile cannot be recovered. If you need it again, you will have to create a new profile from scratch. That’s why it’s always recommended to remove content from your account instead of deleting it.
Will My Business Still Show Up On Google After Deletion?
No, your business will be removed from Google Search and Maps.
Can I Delete My Business Profile If I No longer Own The Business?
If you’ve transferred ownership, you should remove yourself as the owner instead of deleting the profile. You can do this by Signing in to Google Business Profile Manager and then Selecting Your Business. Once you’re there, you’ll go to users, enter the new owner’s email, and select “Owner” as their role. For the last step, you’ll confirm the transfer by clicking “Transfer Primary Ownership”.
Does Deleting My Profile Remove Customer Reviews?
Yes, all reviews, photos, and posts associated with the profile will be permanently erased.
What If I Just Want To Close My Business Instead Of Deleting The Profile?
You can mark your business as “Permanently Closed” in Google Business Profile Manager, which informs customers without fully deleting the profile.
Overview
Deleting your Google Business Profile is a permanent decision that removes your business from Google Search and Maps. It’s important to note that once you delete your profile, you cannot recover it. Instead, you would need to make a new profile. That’s why it’s very important to consider all your options before making a decision that could potentially impact your business.
