How to Transfer Google My Business Ownership
Transferring Google My Business ownership involves a specific sequence of steps through the GMB dashboard. The current owner must sign in, locate the business listing, and navigate to the Users section to add the new owner's email address with "Primary Owner" status. The new owner then has seven days to accept the transfer through an email notification. Security measures guarantee identity verification for both parties. The process includes additional considerations for maintaining business continuity and stakeholder communication.
Understanding the GMB Ownership Transfer Process
Transferring ownership of a Google My Business (GMB) profile is a critical process for businesses undergoing management changes, acquisitions, or organizational restructuring. The process begins with proper account access management, where the current owner must guarantee they have full administrative rights before initiating the transfer. Organizations should start by reviewing existing user permissions and verifying that all sharing account access settings are correctly configured within the GMB dashboard.
The transfer process requires the current owner to sign in to their Google My Business account and locate the specific business listing they wish to transfer. Once identified, they must navigate to the Users section, where they can add the new owner's email address. It's essential to use an email address associated with a Google account; if the intended recipient doesn't have one, they must create it before the transfer can proceed.
After adding the new owner's email, the current owner must assign them the "Primary Owner" role. This designation grants full control over the business listing, including the ability to manage other users, update business information, and respond to customer reviews. The new owner will receive an email notification requesting them to accept the ownership transfer, which they must do within seven days, or the invitation will expire.
Security measures are built into the transfer process to protect business listings from unauthorized changes. Both parties should verify their identities and make certain all communication occurs through official Google channels. Once the transfer is complete, the previous owner's role automatically changes to "Manager" unless manually removed from the listing.
Organizations should maintain detailed documentation of the transfer process and inform all relevant stakeholders about the change in ownership. It's recommended to review and update all business information, including contact details, business hours, and service offerings, immediately after the transfer is complete. Regular monitoring of the listing in the weeks following the transfer guarantees continuity in business operations and maintains the accuracy of public-facing information.
