Plain-English fixes for the Google Business Profile problems local businesses run into most. Each page gives the steps in order, what not to do, and a link to Google's own help article, so you can check everything at the source. All free.
Suspended or not verified
- Google Business Profile suspended or disabled: what to do
Step-by-step: find the reason, fix the profile before you appeal, gather the evidence Google lists, and submit one appeal. Based on Google's own help pages. No guarantees. - Google Business Profile verification failed: what to try next
Verification rejected, 'Review issues' after a video, or 'Get verified' came back? What Google's help pages say to do, the video requirements, and mistakes that cause another fail. - Google Business Profile verification pending or stuck
Verification 'pending' for days? How long Google says reviews take, postcard rules, what not to touch while you wait, and when to contact support.
Categories and description
- How to change your Google Business Profile category
Exact steps to change the primary or additional categories, the re-verification risk Google warns about, and how to pick the right category first. Free guide. - The category you want isn't in Google's list: what to do
Can't find your exact Google Business Profile category? Google's own rule, how to pick the closest accurate one, and categories that may not appear in every country. - Writing your Google Business Profile description (750-character limit)
What Google says to put in your business description, what's not allowed (links, promos, prices, gibberish), the 750-character limit, and a simple structure you can follow.
Visibility, listings and reviews
- Your business isn't showing on Google Maps: find out why
Not on Google Maps at all, or just not ranking? A step-by-step diagnosis using Google's own help pages: verification, suspension, duplicates, edits, and how local ranking works. - Service-area business vs storefront: hide your address or show it?
Google's rules for service-area, storefront and hybrid Business Profiles: when to hide your address, the 20 service-area limit, signage, and common mistakes that lead to suspension. - Duplicate Google Business Profiles: how to clean them up
Two listings for one business, or wrongly marked as a duplicate? What Google's help says: remove your own duplicate, request a merge on Maps, or appeal duplicate status. - Google Business Profile name rules (and why keyword-stuffing gets profiles suspended)
What Google's guidelines say your business name must not include: taglines, keywords, locations, phone numbers, ALL CAPS, legal terms without proof. With fixes. - Google reviews disappeared or not showing: why, and what you can do
Why reviews go missing from a Google Business Profile, per Google's help: policy filters, delays, merges, reinstatement. What you can and can't do about it. - How to report a fake or unfair Google review (and when it can be removed)
Google only removes reviews that break its policies. How to flag a review, use the Reviews Management Tool, check its status, and make the one-time appeal. Based on Google's help. - Someone else owns your Google Business Profile: how to request ownership
A former employee, agency or stranger controls your Google listing? Google's official request-ownership steps, the 3-day window, service-area businesses, and what if it's denied. - Add or remove an owner or manager on your Google Business Profile
Give staff or an agency access without sharing your password, change roles, or remove a former employee or agency. Owner vs manager rights and the 7-day limit, per Google's help. - Your Google Business Profile edits aren't showing (or Google changed them)
Edits pending, not published, or overwritten by 'Google updates'? How long changes take according to Google, why edits get rejected, and how to accept or correct Google's updates.
Want an expert to look at it?
- Suspended or can't verify: GBP Suspension / Verification Appeal Prep, $49: diagnosis, evidence checklist and paste-ready appeal text in 48h. You submit it; no reinstatement guarantee.
- Wrong categories or weak description: Done-for-you GBP Category + Description Rewrite, $49: paste-ready categories, description and services in 48h.
- Not sure what's wrong: GBP Audit + Fix Plan, $29: a full review of your public profile with a prioritised fix plan in 48h.
Independent services, not affiliated with Google. No ranking, reinstatement or verification guarantees. Nobody honest can promise those.
Honest note: This page summarises Google's own public help articles (linked above) plus common-sense checks. We are not Google and can't see inside your account, so we can't promise any outcome: Google alone decides suspensions, appeals, verification and rankings. Google changes its tools and wording often, so if anything here differs from what you see, follow Google's current help page.