How do I remove my business from Google Maps?

Do you want to remove the listing or only hide some details?

Decide this first. Removing a listing takes your business off Google Maps and Search. Hiding details keeps the listing but shows less information.

Remove the listing if the business closed, or if you never wanted a public profile. Hide details if you still serve customers but do not want the public to see your address or phone number.

How do I remove my business from Google Maps?

You need access to the Google Account that is linked to your Business Profile. Google says you must sign in to that account to edit your business info.

1. Sign in to the Google Account that manages the profile.
2. Search for your business name on Google Search or open the Google Maps app.
3. Open your Business Profile. In the app, tap Business at the bottom right.
4. Open the profile settings and look for the option to mark the business closed or to remove the profile.
5. Follow the on-screen steps and confirm.
6. Search for your business again later to check that the listing changed.

Google’s help pages that we have do not describe the exact wording of the closing and removal options. Menu names change, so follow what you see on screen.

Mark the business closed if it shut down. A closed listing tells customers the truth. A removed listing can leave an old duplicate or a listing that someone else added.

What if I only want to hide my address?

Google lets you hide your address only if you do not serve customers at that address. A home-based plumber who travels to customers is a common example. Google calls this a service-area business.

1. Go to your Business Profile.
2. Select Edit profile, then Location.
3. Next to “Business location,” select Edit.
4. Turn off Show business address to customers.
5. Select Save.

Your profile then shows your service area. If you do not enter a service area, Google chooses a local area for you. You can edit it later.

Do not hide your address if customers visit your shop or office. Google says you should only choose this option if you are a service-area business.

How do I hide my phone number?

You can hide the phone number and keep the rest of the profile.

1. Go to your Business Profile.
2. Select More, then Business Profile settings.
3. Select Advanced settings.
4. Under “Phone number,” turn on Don’t show.

What if the profile belongs to someone else?

Sometimes a former owner, a previous agency, or an employee set up the profile. You may not be able to sign in. In that case, request ownership of the profile first. Google’s help pages describe a process to request ownership from the current profile owner when the profile is verified and you are authorized to manage the business.

If you cannot get access, you can suggest an edit to a profile you do not own or manage. Google reviews suggested edits. It does not promise that it will accept yours.

Why does my old listing still show after I changed it?

Google reviews changes before they go live. Changes usually take about 10 minutes to show up. In some cases they can take up to 30 days. Check back before you repeat the steps.

Should I worry about scam calls about my listing?

Be careful. Google says it will never ask for payment, credit card information, or account passwords. If a caller asks for money to keep your business on Google, the call is not from Google. In Canada, you can report scams of this kind to the Competition Bureau or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

What should I do after I remove the listing?

Check other places where customers find you. Update your website, your social media pages, and any directory sites that still list your address and phone number. A removed Google listing does not remove those other pages.

If you send marketing email or text messages to past customers, remember that CASL still applies to those messages after you close the Google profile.