Someone else already manages your Google Business Profile: how to request access
By Hamza Rivera, updated
Short answer: Go to business.google.com/add, search your business name and address, choose it, then select Request Access when Google says someone else may manage it. Fill in the form and submit. The current owner has 3 days to respond. If they do not, you may be able to claim it, but Google says that option is not always available.
A former agency, an old employee or a previous owner may have set up the profile, and now you cannot edit it. Google says that when a verified profile already exists and you are authorized to manage the business, you should request ownership instead of claiming it.
If you cannot sort out ownership on your own, see our Google Business Profile optimization.
Request ownership
- Go to business.google.com/add.
- Enter the business name and address, then choose your business from the list.
- When you see a message that someone else may manage the profile, select Request Access.
- Fill out the form and submit it.
What happens next
The current owner has 3 days to respond. If there is no response, you may be able to claim the profile by following the on-screen verification steps. Google notes that the option to claim is not always available.
If you have no storefront
Service businesses can have a profile too. See our post on service area businesses and Google Business Profile.
Duplicates
The pages above do not cover duplicate profiles. Google points to a separate help article titled Resolve duplicate profiles and ownership issues for that.
Where to go from here
If a profile is stuck with a former provider, we can help you work through it. See our Google Business Profile optimization service. Passieon is an independent agency and is not affiliated with Google.
Sources
- Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile, read November 11, 2026.
- Business Profile Help: Add or claim your Business Profile, read November 11, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a profile for my business already exists?
Google says that if a verified profile exists and you are authorized to manage the business, request ownership from the current owner instead of claiming it.
How long does the owner have to respond?
Google says the current owner has 3 days to respond.
What if the owner never replies?
You may be able to claim the profile through on-screen verification, but Google says that option is not always available.
Where do I start?
Go to business.google.com/add, enter your business name and address, and choose your business from the list.
Where do I report a duplicate profile?
Google points to a separate help article, Resolve duplicate profiles and ownership issues.
Want this done for your site? See what our Google Business Profile optimization page covers, or read the client results.
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