How to change the owner of a Google Business Profile? Transferring main owner permissions of a Business Profile step-by-step

Transferring main owner permissions of a Business Profile is an important step that ensures smooth management of the listing, especially when the person responsible for this process leaves or changes position. Proper transfer of permissions protects against loss of access and ensures continuity of marketing activities. Learn how to transfer a Google Business Profile step-by-step and what limitations to expect.

Changing the owner of a Google Business Profile – when is it necessary?

Changing the owner of a Business Profile is usually necessary in the following situations:

• employee departure responsible for managing the listing;
• organizational changes in the company (e.g., rebranding, company acquisition by a new entity);
• transferring the Profile to a new company owner, e.g., in case of company sale;
• entrusting listing management to a marketing agency.

How to plan the change of the main owner of a Google Business Profile?

The process of changing the Profile owner is worth planning in advance to ensure a smooth handover of new responsibilities.

• First, designate a new person who will take on the role of main owner.
• Avoid situations where only 1 person has access to the listing, because in case of their absence, change of position, or other unforeseen circumstances, control over the Profile may be lost.

See why it’s worth having a Google Business Profile.

Roles and permissions in Google Business Profile

In Google Business Profile, there are 3 access levels:

• main owner – has full control over the Business Profile. They can add and remove users, transfer their permissions to other people, and can also remove the Profile from Google Manager. Each listing can only have 1 main owner who manages other users;
• owner – has access to most functions, including user management. They can independently take on the role of main owner (if recently added to the account, they must wait 7 days before becoming the main owner). Each Profile can have multiple owners;
• manager – has permissions to edit and manage listing data, but cannot add and remove users, change the owner, transfer the Profile between account directories, or remove the Google listing from Profile Manager. However, they can remove themselves from the listing.

How to perform a Google Business Profile owner change?

Below, we will consider 2 cases of changing a Google Business Profile owner depending on the permission level. In both situations, remember to:

• check if the user already has owner permissions;
• add the user to the Profile if they haven’t held any role so far.

How to change the main owner of a Google Business Profile?

Only individuals with the highest level of permissions can initiate the change of the main owner, i.e., the current main owner (https://support.google.com/business/answer/3403100).

1. Log in to the account associated with the Google Business Profile.
2. Open the Profile and click the menu (3 dots), then select Business Profile settings.
3. Go to the Users and access section.
4. Select the user you want to promote to main owner.
5. Change their role to Main owner and confirm.

Google Business Profile – change from manager to owner

The process of changing from a manager role to a Business Profile owner is similar to transferring main owner permissions.

• However, one of the Profile owners must edit the role in the Profile panel – it cannot be done independently from the manager level.
• Only after being granted the owner role does the user gain full access to Profile management functions.
• A manager can be immediately promoted to main owner. This change must be initiated by an owner or main owner.

How to change the owner of a Google Business Profile? Technical limitations

Changing the owner of a Google Business Profile is a relatively simple process, however, it involves certain technical limitations that should be considered.

• The main owner cannot remove themselves from the Profile. Only after transferring the role to another person can they resign from their permissions.
• The new person must wait 7 days after the owner role transfer. Only after this period do they gain full access to all functions of the Google Business Profile.
• The Profile owner role cannot be transferred to a Google discussion group account. The role can only be assigned to an individual user account.

Also check how to grant access to a Google Business Profile.

How to check who owns a Google Business Profile listing?

If you want to organize access to your Google listing and check who holds the owner role and who holds the manager role, follow the steps below (https://support.google.com/business/answer/3403100).

1. Log in to the account associated with the Google Business Profile.
2. Open the Profile and click the menu (3 dots), then select Business Profile settings.
3. Go to the Users and access section.
4. In the Users section, you will see a list of people who have access to the listing. Next to each of them, the role is visible: main owner, owner, or manager.

How to stop managing a Google Business Profile?

If you are the main owner of the Profile but want to stop managing the listing, follow the steps below.

1. In the admin panel, select the person to whom you want to transfer main permissions, then grant them the main owner role.
2. Stop managing the listing. Select your account from the user list, then click the Remove user option (in the Users and access section).
3. You can also ask the new main owner to remove your account if you are unable to do it yourself.

Remember that after transferring permissions, you lose the ability to make changes to the Business Profile. Although your permissions will be removed, previous actions (responses to reviews, posts, or comments) will remain saved in the Profile history.

Learn more about how to regain control over a Google listing.

How to change a Google Business Profile owner? Summary

Changing the main owner of a Google Business Profile is a process that should be well-planned, especially in situations such as employee departure or company reorganization. The most important step is proper role assignment — the main owner can only transfer their permissions to another owner. To maintain smooth listing management, remember to add new people to the Profile and monitor permissions. This way, you will avoid access issues and maintain control over the listing.