How to Delete Business Account on Google: A Step-by-Step Guide

When you have a Google Business Profile, it’s more than just a routine task of optimising it—it’s the bridge that connects your business to your potential customers.

But when managing a business, there are obviously ups and downs. So what happens when you need to take a step back and decide to close down your business? What happens to that Google Business Profile?

We understand that it might be a daunting task to navigate through this whole process, that’s why we’re here to help you!

Whether the reason for closing down is because you’re rebranding or closing it down for good, these steps can help you go through the process with ease.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting a Google Business Account

If you’re unclear on which steps to take first, don’t worry. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide that can help you get through each part with ease and assurance.

Step 1: Mark your business as permanently closed

When closing down a business, it’s important to let your customers know that your business won’t be operating anymore. So, firstly:

1. Log into your Google My Business dashboard and select the business you wish to close down.
2. Click on ‘Edit profile’.

3. At the header section, click on ‘Hours’ and choose the edit option.

4. There, you can click on ‘Permanently closed’.

5. Click ‘Save’.

This action won’t remove from your business listing from Google search results but it will let your customers know that you are no longer operating.

Step 2: Remove profile content and managers from Business Profile Settings

Now that your business is marked as closed, it’s time to clear out your digital storefront.

1. Go to your official Business Profile account.
2. Select ‘More’ and the ‘Business Profile settings’.

3. Click on ‘Remove Business Profile’ and select ‘Remove profile content and managers’.

4. Choose ‘Continue’ and then click on ‘Remove’ and ‘Done’.

Step 3: Wait at least 24 hours

Now that you’ve done all of the steps, you need to know that changes made to Google Business Profiles don’t happen instantly.

Wait at least 24 hours for Google to process all of the information and updates made.

How to Remove A Business From Your Mobile Device

If you find yourself needing for a quick solution due to you being outside and not having a laptop or a browser anywhere near you, don’t worry! You can also remove your Google My Business Profile via your mobile device!

1. Open the Google Maps app on your mobile device using your Google Business Profile account and select the business you’d like to remove.
2. Click on ‘Edit profile’.

3. Click on the ‘Hours’ tab.

4. Click the pencil icon to edit the working hours.

5. Choose the ‘Permanently closed’ option.

6. Click ‘Save’ and you’re done!

How to Mark A Business As Temporarily Closed

Though now it seems like taking the action to permanently delete your Google My Business is the right thing to do, you might find yourself wanting to reopen the business one day.

When that happens, marking your business as temporarily closed instead of permanently might be the option to take. Here’s how:

1. Log into your Google My Business dashboard and select the business you wish to close down.
2. Click on ‘Edit profile’.

3. At the header section, click on ‘Hours’ and choose the edit option.

4. There, you can click on ‘Temporarily closed’.

5. Click ‘Save’.

How to Remove Multiple Business Profiles

If you’re managing multiple business profiles on Google and need to streamline your online presence by removing some of them, here are the steps to ensure a clean and effective process:

1. Sign in to your Business Profile Manager.
2. Choose which profiles you would like to remove.
3. Click ‘Actions’ on the right side.

4. Choose ‘Remove businesses’ and follow the prompts to officially remove the business profile.

How to Request the Removal of a Business Listing from Google Maps When You’re Not the Owner

1. Go to Google Maps
2. Choose the business you want to remove from the map.
3. Click ‘Suggest and edit’ on the left side of the screen.

4. Select ‘Close’ or ‘Remove’ from the list.

5. Fill in the prompts to complete the Google Maps deletion.

How to Reopen Google Business Profile

If your Google Business Profile was closed accidentally and you need to reactivate it, here are the steps to follow:

1. Head over to your Business Profile.
2. Click on ‘Edit profile’.

3. At the top, select the ‘Hours’ tab and click on the pencil icon to edit the information.

4. Choose the ‘Open with main hours’ option.

5. Set your business hours.
6. Click ‘Save’.

What Will Happen to My Business Listing? Is It Permanently Deleted?

You might assume that closing your business listing on Google Maps means it’s completely removed. However, that’s not entirely the case, even if you own the business. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Visibility and Data Retention

After you’ve marked your business as closed, the listing might still appear in Google search results for some time, typically showing the status as permanently or temporarily closed.

This is because Google retains some data from closed profiles to enhance its service and user experience.

• Removal Process: Once all owners and managers are removed from the business profile, Google may eventually remove the listing. However, the timing and decision to completely delete the profile from Google Maps and Search are out of our control and are managed by Google’s internal processes.
• Google’s Control Over Business Profiles: Google plays a decisive role in managing the fate of a business profile marked as Permanently Closed. If Google verifies that the business is a legitimate entity, it won’t completely erase the business from its local database. Instead, it will retain the profile marked as Permanently Closed. In such cases, the business will no longer appear in category searches but will still show up when searched by its specific business name.2. Impact on Local SEO

When marking your business as permanently or temporarily closed, it will affect your local SEO.

While your profile won’t actively appear in local searches, it will be kept as a historical reference to help Google enhance search algorithms and accuracy.

3. Retention of Reviews and User Contributions

User reviews and content related to your business remain accessible on Google even after closure. This information helps users understand your business’s history and can inform future decisions.

Why Businesses Deactivate Their Google Business Profiles?

Whether you’re a frequent user of Google Maps, wondering why local businesses shut down or a business owner contemplating whether you should or should not deactivate your Google Business Profiles, there are several factors that influence this decision-making process.

Changing business models

With the current nature of the business market, a lot of businesses often evolve or change their models to adapt to new opportunities or market demands.

When that happens, it usually involves a shift from having a physical store to an only online operation, or even a complete transition to a different type of business.

In these cases, the existing Google Business Profile may no longer reflect the company’s new direction–which evidently, leads to a deactivated business.

Mergers and acquisitions

Some businesses go through mergers of two or more companies. When this happens, primary owners of the new entity might choose to consolidate the online presence of the two companies.

This often leads to closing down one of the multiple listings on the companies’ Google Business Profiles to unify the brand’s online presence under one cohesive profile.

Rebranding efforts

One common factor that influences the shutting down of a Google Business Profile is the company’s rebranding efforts.

More often than not, businesses undergo a rebranding process. Therefore when this happens, they need to make sure that all online elements reflect the new brand identity accurately.

This can include the company’s name, its Google business listing, its logo, and any other key branding elements that are done better by creating a new profile rather than editing the current one (which could take a lot of time).

Closure of business

Aside from all that, one of the most straightforward answers to a deactivated: Google Business Profile listing is the closure of the business.

Whether the owner is going into retirement, market conditions, or any other factors, closing down a business is a reality for many.

When Not to Delete Your Google Business Profile

While you may think that deleting your Google Business Profile is the way to go, there are actually a few cases in which you don’t have to go down that road.

Here are a few cases for your consideration:

1. Business is temporarily closed

If your business is currently closed temporarily due to renovations or relocating to a new address, it’s better to mark the business as temporarily closed rather than deleting it.

Through this approach, your business will maintain its history and rankings; and will inform your customers that you plan to reopen.

2. Plan to sell or transfer the business

If there’s a potential to sell or transfer your business to a new owner, keep the profile active. A well-maintained Google Business Profile can be a valuable asset for new owners due to its history and customer base.

3. Negative reviews

It might be tempting to delete your profile if it has negative reviews, but this is generally not advisable.

Instead, address the feedback constructively and work on improving your services or products.

Engaging with customers and correcting the issues can turn a negative situation into a positive one.

Conclusion

Navigating the complexities of managing business information in a Google Business Profile, whether you’re marking it as closed, removing it, or even reopening it, requires careful consideration and strategic planning.

Each action, from deletion to reactivation, plays a crucial role in how your business’ online reputation is perceived online and can significantly impact your digital footprint.

If you require additional support or wish to enhance your local SEO outcomes further, feel free to reach out to Digital Workie. Our dedicated team is prepared to assist you in boosting your local business’s digital presence and improving your engagement with customers.