ReferenceBusiness Profile suspension
Profile suspended
Google suspends a Business Profile that does not follow its guidelines. Appeals can only be submitted once, so gather the evidence first: registration, a business license, tax certificates or utility bills, with the name and address matching the profile. Do not create a new profile for the same business. Then appeal through the appeals tool.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The profile's status in the appeals tool, which lists each decision with its reason.
- What stops
- Depending on the decision, the profile can stop being shown to the public, and owners and managers may not be able to act on it.
- How serious
- Serious for a business that gets calls or visits from Maps. An appeal can be submitted once.
What it means
The appeals tool shows each decision as Submitted, Approved, Not Approved, Can't be appealed or Eligible for appeal. A restricted account suspends every profile it manages, and the account has to be reinstated first.
Google says appeals can only be submitted once. An additional review is possible only after a reinstatement request is denied, and that review can include new evidence.
What actually triggers it
A business name carrying extra words
Taglines, keywords, store codes, location words and legal suffixes added to the name are listed as unnecessary information, and Google says that can lead to suspension. The name must match the signage, the website and the stationery.
A second profile for the same business
A new profile made for a business that already has one is a duplicate. Google says a profile treated as a duplicate does not show on Search or Maps.
A phone number that is not under the business's control
The number must connect to the business location, and the business must control it. A number that redirects users to other numbers or pages is not allowed.
A business that does not meet customers in person
Google requires the business to make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours. Lead generation companies and online-only businesses are not eligible.
Fix it in this order
- Read the decision in the appeals tool, and note its reason and the policy it cites.
- Change the thing the decision names: the name, the address, the phone number, or the type of business the profile claims.
- Gather evidence that matches the name and address on the profile: an official business registration, a business license, tax certificates, or utility bills.
- Check whether the account above the profile is restricted. A restricted account must be reinstated first.
- Submit one appeal with the evidence attached. Do not create a new profile for the same business while it is pending.
If the appeal is not approved, an additional review is possible only after a denied reinstatement request, and it can include new evidence.
When to appeal
Appeal once, when the fix is in place and the evidence matches the profile. An appeal sent before the name, address or phone is corrected spends the one chance on a profile that has not changed.
Ten or more profiles go through a bulk process instead, with a spreadsheet listing each Business Profile ID. The name and address must exactly match the registration.
Often confused with
A disabled profile is turned off, and content and appeals sent while it is disabled are rejected before review. A suspension is a decision on the profile's content and eligibility. Read the status before choosing the route.