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Why was my Google Business Profile suspended, and how do I get it back?

Ascent Vision · Published October 20, 2026

Google says it may suspend or disable a Business Profile that does not follow its guidelines, which bar, for example, extra words in the business name, an address the business does not really operate from, and more than one profile per location. To get it back, fix what broke the rules, then file an appeal in Google's appeals tool, optionally with documents such as a business license or utility bill. Google says appeals can be submitted only once, and not to create a new profile.

What Google says leads to a suspension

Google's guidelines open by saying that, to make sure a profile is not suspended, a business must avoid prohibited content and behavior, reflect the business accurately and follow the product guidelines. Google also says it reserves the right to suspend access for businesses that break the guidelines. Some of the rules that can trip owners up, as the guidelines state them:

• Adding unnecessary information to the business name, which Google says could result in suspension; the related answer on putting keywords in your business name covers this.
• Using a P.O. box or a remote mailbox, which Google says is not acceptable.
• Listing a virtual office, an address the business rents but does not operate from, which is not eligible.
• Listing a co-working office without clear signage, customers received there during business hours and staff on site.
• Creating more than one page for each location, in one account or several.

A suspended profile or a restricted account

Among the cases Google's help page on suspensions describes, two matter most to owners. When Google removes a profile, the public cannot go to it and the owner and managers cannot act on it, though they can ask for it back. When an account is restricted, every profile it manages is suspended and the owner cannot create or claim other profiles.

For a restricted account, Google says to appeal the account first from the My accounts page, then appeal the profile once the restriction is lifted. Who can use a profile at all is covered in the related answer on what local SEO is.

How to ask for it back

• Read the guidelines and fix whatever does not follow them before appealing.
• Open Google's Business Profile appeals tool, confirm the account, then choose the profile and the decision to appeal. Google says the tool shows the reason for the decision and a link to the policy it says was broken.
• Add evidence if you have it. Google names official business registration, a business license, tax certificates and utility bills, and says to check that the name and address on them are the same as on the profile.
• Use the text box to explain why the profile should be reinstated.
• Google says it reviews the appeal and emails the decision. If it is denied, it may allow an additional review with new evidence.

What not to do

Google's page says plainly: "Do not create a new Business Profile for the same business". It also says appeals can only be submitted once, so it usually pays to gather every document before sending one. There is usually no shortcut around this process; an unsolicited caller offering one deserves the caution in the related answer on how to spot an SEO scam.

Sources

1. Google, "Fix suspended or disabled profiles", Google Business Profile Help
2. Google, "Guidelines for representing your business on Google", Google Business Profile Help

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