Finding that your Google Business Profile has been suspended is stressful. Your listing may disappear from Maps, and calls stop. The good news is that many suspensions can be fixed. Here's what usually causes them and how to recover.
Two kinds of restriction
- Suspended listing: the profile may disappear from Maps and Search, or you lose the ability to manage it.
- Limited or restricted features: the profile is visible, but you can't edit certain things or respond to reviews.
Google normally shows a notice in your Business Profile explaining that something is wrong, sometimes with a reason.
Common causes
Keywords in the business name
"Lanka Dental Clinic | Best Dentist in Colombo | Teeth Whitening" breaks the guidelines. Your name must match your real-world business name.
Address problems
- Using a virtual office, shared co-working desk or PO box
- Showing an address for a service-area business where customers don't visit
- Moving without updating the listing
Multiple listings for one business
Creating several profiles for the same location, or separate profiles for each service, is not allowed.
Suspicious edits
Sudden changes to name, address, category and phone at the same time can trigger a review.
Business type not eligible
Some business types, such as online-only businesses without face-to-face contact, aren't eligible for a profile at all.
Review violations
Buying reviews, review gating or rewarding customers for reviews can lead to restrictions.
How to fix a suspension
Step 1: Read the guidelines
Read Google's guidelines for representing your business on Google. Compare them honestly with your profile.
Step 2: Fix everything that breaks them
- Change the name to your real business name
- Correct the address, or hide it if you're a service-area business
- Remove duplicate listings
- Remove keyword-stuffed descriptions and services
Step 3: Gather evidence
Google may ask for proof that your business is real and operates at that address. Useful documents include:
- Business registration certificate
- Utility bill or lease agreement for the premises
- Photos of the permanent signboard and the premises
- Your business licence, if relevant
Make sure names and addresses on the documents match your profile exactly.
Step 4: Submit a reinstatement request
Use the appeal option shown in your Business Profile and upload your evidence. Be clear and factual.
Step 5: Wait and don't repeat
Reviews can take days or weeks. Don't create a new listing while you wait; that usually makes things worse.
Preventing future problems
- Keep the name exactly as on your signboard
- Make major changes one at a time
- Keep one profile per real location
- Check your profile monthly for suggested edits from others
- Never buy or incentivise reviews
Need help?
If your profile has been suspended and you're not sure why, our local SEO service includes a profile audit and help with reinstatement. Read our Google Business Profile guide to set it up correctly from the start.