Short answer: Ask the current owner through Google first. Go to business.google.com/add, find your business, choose Request access and fill out the form. Google emails the current owner, who has 3 days to answer. If they don't respond, you may get the option to claim and verify the profile yourself. If they refuse, you can appeal.
First, make sure it isn't you
Google says that if you can't find a "Claim this business" or "Own this business" button on your profile, you might already be the owner. Before you file anything, sign in with every Google account the business has used, including any account a former employee, relative or past web designer set up for you.
The request, step by step
- 1. Go to business.google.com/add.
- 2. Enter your business name and address.
- 3. Choose your business from the list. You'll see "Someone else may manage this Business Profile."
- 4. Select Request access, fill out the form and submit it.
Google sends you a confirmation email and notifies the current owner by email. They have 3 days to respond.
What happens next
- Approved: you get an email and can manage the profile.
- Denied: you can still suggest edits to the profile, and you can appeal the decision.
- No answer after 3 days: you may be able to claim the profile. Open your confirmation email, choose the verify option and follow the steps. Google notes that the claim option isn't always available.
No storefront? The steps are different
If you go to your customers and nobody visits your address, such as a plumber or a cleaning service, Google says to contact its support team instead and choose "Transfer ownership of listing" as the issue.
Then lock it down
Once it's yours, add anyone who helps you as a manager, not an owner. Keep your verification code to yourself: Google says it will never ask you for it.
Also asked
How long does a Google ownership request take?
The current owner has 3 days to respond. If they don't, you may get the option to claim the profile and verify it yourself, and Google's verification review can take up to 5 business days.
Can I just make a new Google profile instead?
No. Google's guidelines say there should only be one profile per business, because duplicates cause problems with how your information shows on Maps and Search.
More answers: Should my web designer own my Google Business Profile? · How long does Google Business Profile verification take? · My business shows up twice on Google Maps. How do I fix it? · All answers →
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help, "Request ownership of a Business Profile": https://support.google.com/business/answer/4566671
- Google Business Profile Help, "Verify your business on Google": https://support.google.com/business/answer/7107242
- Google Business Profile Help, "Guidelines for representing your business on Google": https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177