You can delete a Google Business Profile in a few minutes through Google Search or Maps, but the process depends on whether you own the business or manage it for someone else

A Google Business Profile is the listing that appears when someone searches your business name on Google Search or Google Maps. It shows your hours, phone number, address, photos, and customer reviews. If you no longer want this profile public, you can delete it permanently — but Google keeps the deletion on file for a few months in case you change your mind.

The deletion process is straightforward if you have owner access to the profile. If you are a manager or employee with limited access, you cannot delete it yourself; only the owner can. Either way, the profile disappears from Google Search and Maps within a few days.

Key Takeaways

  • Only the profile owner can delete a Google Business Profile; managers and employees cannot do this themselves.
  • You delete the profile through Google Business Profile settings, not through your personal Google account.
  • The deletion takes effect within a few days, and the profile is recoverable for about three months if you change your mind.
  • If you want to keep the profile but hide it temporarily, you can close it instead of deleting it.
  • Deleting the profile removes it from Google Search and Maps but does not remove customer reviews that were already posted.

How to delete the profile if you are the owner

Sign into Google Business Profile at business.google.com using the Google account that owns the profile. If you manage multiple profiles, select the one you want to delete from the list on the left side of the screen.

Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner, then scroll down and select Settings. At the bottom of the Settings page, you will see a section called Close or delete your business. Click Delete this business. Google will ask you to confirm by typing the business name. Type it exactly as it appears, then click Delete.

The profile will disappear from Google Search and Maps within a few days. Google keeps a record of the deletion for about three months, so you can recover it during that window if you change your mind. After three months, the deletion becomes permanent.

What happens to reviews and photos after deletion

Deleting your profile removes the listing from Google Search and Maps, but it does not remove reviews that customers already posted. Those reviews stay on Google and may still appear in search results or on other websites that pull Google review data. You cannot delete individual reviews unless you wrote them yourself or they violate Google's policies.

Photos you uploaded to the profile are removed when the profile is deleted. However, if customers uploaded photos, those remain visible in Google's system and may still appear in search results.

If you want to remove negative reviews before deleting the profile, you can flag them to Google as inappropriate or request their removal through the profile settings. Google reviews violations of its policies — such as fake reviews, spam, or personal attacks — but does not remove reviews straightforward because you disagree with them.

Closing the profile instead of deleting it

If you might want to reopen your business later, consider closing the profile instead of deleting it. A closed profile still appears on Google Search and Maps but shows a "Permanently closed" label. Customers can still see your hours, address, phone number, and reviews, but they cannot call or message you through the profile.

To close the profile, go to Settings in Google Business Profile, scroll to Close or delete your business, and select Close this business. You can reopen it at any time by returning to the same menu and selecting Reopen this business. Reopening takes effect within a few days.

If you are a manager or employee without owner access

You cannot delete a Google Business Profile if you do not have owner access. Only the account owner can perform this action. If you manage the profile for someone else and they want it deleted, ask them to sign into their own Google account and follow the deletion steps above.

If the owner is unavailable or the profile was created by someone who no longer works with the business, you can request ownership transfer through Google Business Profile settings. Go to Settings, select Users, and look for an option to request owner access. Google will send a verification request to the current owner's email address.

Recovering a deleted profile

If you delete a profile by mistake, you have about three months to recover it. Sign into Google Business Profile with the same account you used to delete it, and you should see an option to restore the profile. Click Restore this business if the option appears.

After three months, the deletion becomes permanent and cannot be undone. If you need the profile back after that point, you will have to create a new one from scratch, which means starting over with photos, hours, and other information.

What to do before you delete

Before deleting, save any information you might need later — such as your business hours, phone number, address, or customer reviews. You can take screenshots or read your profile information through Google Takeout, which lets you export data from Google services.

If you have multiple locations, make sure you are deleting only the profile you intend to remove. Deleting one location's profile does not affect the others. If you plan to transfer your business to a new owner, consider transferring ownership instead of deleting; this keeps the profile history and reviews intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting my Google Business Profile remove my business from Google Maps?

Yes. Your business will no longer appear in Google Maps search results or on the map itself. However, if other websites or directories link to your business, those links may still show up in search results, though they will not lead to an active Google profile.

Can I delete my profile if I have pending customer messages or reservations?

Yes, you can delete the profile at any time. However, any pending messages or reservations through Google will be lost. If you use Google's messaging or booking features, make sure to respond to or cancel any active requests before deleting.

What if someone else created the Google Business Profile for my business?

If you did not create the profile, you do not have owner access and cannot delete it. You can request ownership through the profile settings, and Google will verify your identity and send a confirmation to the current owner's email. If the original creator is unresponsive, you can contact Google Business Profile support to request a transfer.

Does deleting my profile affect my Google Search ranking?

Deleting your profile removes your business listing from Google, so it will no longer appear in local search results. This may affect how often your business shows up in searches, especially for location-based queries. If you want to maintain your online presence, closing the profile instead of deleting it is a better option.

Can I delete my profile and create a new one with different information?

Yes. After deletion takes effect, you can create a new profile with updated information. However, the new profile will start with zero reviews and no history. If you want to keep your existing reviews and profile history, edit your current profile instead of deleting and recreating it.