To log in to Google Business Profile, open business.google.com with the Google account that manages the profile, or search your business name on Google while signed in: the profile appears with its management tools. To give someone access, add them as a manager in the profile settings, never by sharing your password. Here is also how to recover a profile when nobody has access any more.
Signing in to your profile
- Open business.google.com in your browser.
- Sign in with the Google account that created or claimed the profile.
- If you manage several locations, choose the one to edit.
- Alternatively: signed in to the same account, search your business name on Google or Google Maps. The management buttons appear above the results.
On a phone, the Google Maps app also takes you to the profile: tap your profile picture, then your business.
I can’t see the management tools
In the vast majority of cases you’re signed in with the wrong Google account. Check the address at the top right and try the business’s other accounts: info@, the founder’s personal address, a former employee’s or a former agency’s.
Nobody has access: requesting ownership
- Search your business on Google Maps, signed in with the company account.
- Tap “Own this business?” or “Claim”.
- If the profile already has an owner, Google offers to request access: fill in the form.
- Google forwards the request to the current owner, who can accept or decline.
- With no reply after a few days, Google may let you verify the profile yourself.
If a former agency refuses to hand the profile back, keep a written record of your requests. The profile belongs to the business, not the provider.
Owner or manager: the roles
| Role | Can do | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Primary owner | Everything, including deleting the profile and transferring primary ownership | The company Google account |
| Owner | Manage everything, add or remove users | A partner or the managing director |
| Manager | Edit information, reply to reviews, post, add photos | An employee, an agency |
Adding a manager, step by step
- Open your profile (business.google.com or Google Search).
- Tap the three dots, then “Business Profile settings”.
- Open “People and access”, then “Add”.
- Enter the person’s or agency’s email address.
- Choose the “Manager” role, then “Invite”.
- The person receives an email invitation to accept.
You stay the owner and can remove access at any time: that’s the right way to work with an agency or provider, including us.
Transferring primary ownership
If the profile was created with an employee’s personal account, transfer primary ownership to the company account: first add it as an owner, then in “People and access” transfer primary ownership to it. Google may require a waiting period between adding an owner and the transfer.
Security rules to follow
- Never share the Google account password: invite the person as a manager.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification for the owner account.
- Remove access for former employees and providers when the work ends.
- Review the “People and access” list once a quarter.
- Be wary of emails or calls asking for your credentials “on behalf of Google”.
Once signed in: what to check first
- Primary category and opening hours.
- Edits suggested by Google or users, to accept or reject.
- Unanswered reviews.
- The performance stats: searches, calls, directions.
Next, the full checklist is in optimize your Google Business Profile, and the overview in Google Business Profile: the complete guide.
Working with an agency: good practice
- The business stays primary owner; the agency is a manager.
- Record in writing who has access, since when and why.
- Ask for a monthly summary of changes.
- Remove access on the last day of the contract.
Access at a glance
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| New employee who will reply to reviews | Add them as a manager |
| Partner who must be able to manage everything | Add them as an owner |
| Profile created on the founder’s personal account | Add the company account as owner, then transfer primary ownership to it |
| Employee leaving the business | Remove their access in People and access |
| Former agency no longer responding | Request ownership from the profile |
Managing the profile from your phone
The Google Maps app lets you reply to reviews, add photos, change hours and post updates. Handy for replying to reviews the same day or photographing a finished job.
Frequently asked questions
How many managers can I add?
Several. Only add people who actually work on the profile and remove them when the work ends.
Can a manager delete my profile?
No. Only an owner can delete the profile or manage users; only the primary owner can transfer primary ownership.
Has business.google.com changed?
No, it still works. Google moved much of the management into Google Search and Google Maps, but the address takes you to your profiles.
I have two Google accounts and don’t know which manages the profile
Open business.google.com with each: only the right account shows your locations.
Can an agency work without being an owner?
Yes, and it’s recommended: the manager role covers all day-to-day work, and you keep control.
Can I manage several profiles with one account?
Yes. One Google account can manage several locations; they all appear in business.google.com.