Owing a Google My Business (GMB) profile is very important for businesses looking to build an established online presence.
However, circumstances may occur in which the primary ownership of such a profile must be transferred to another entity. This article seeks to offer thorough, step-by-step advice on how to carry out this move successfully. We also have a video added below to explain further.
Whether you are changing ownership due to organizational change, a business sale, or another reason, following these recommendations can help ensure a smooth transition.
Google My Business Ownership Roles
To properly transfer primary ownership, you must be a primary owner. If you are not the principal owner, you must request ownership from the existing primary owner.
Before starting the ownership transfer, it’s important to understand the various roles associated with a Google My Business profile:
- Primary Owner: This role has the highest level of access and control over the business profile. The primary owner can add or remove other users and transfer primary ownership.
- Owner: Owners have almost the same permissions as the primary owner, except they cannot remove the primary owner or transfer primary ownership.
- Manager: Managers have more limited access than owners. They can perform most tasks, like managing reviews and business information, but they cannot add or remove users or transfer ownership.
Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Ownership
Step 1: Sign in to Your Google My Business Account
The first step to begin the process is for you to make sure you sign into your Google account that holds your Business profile, the account that holds full ownership rights.
- Go to the Google My Business website.
- Click on the “Sign In” button in the top right corner.
- Enter your credentials and log in to the Google account that is linked to your GMB profile.
Step 2: Navigate to the Users Section
- On the dashboard, select the business profile you want to manage.
- In the left-hand menu, click on Users. (This will open a list of all users associated with the business profile, including their roles).
Step 3: Select the User to Transfer Ownership To
To transfer primary ownership, make sure that the person you want to transfer it to is already a user with the Owner or Manager status.
- If the user is already on the list, continue to the next step. If not, select the Add users icon (a person with a “+” symbol) in the top right corner.
- Enter the email address of the person you wish to add.
- Select the relevant role (Owner or Manager) and click Invite. The new user will receive an invitation to join the profile.
Step 4: Begin the transfer of primary ownership.
This is the next step to take after the user accepts the invitation you sent them via their mail.
- Return to the Users area from the left-hand menu.
- Locate the user to whom you wish to transfer primary ownership.
- Click the drop-down arrow next to the current role of the user.
- Choose Primary Owner from the list of roles. A confirmation dialogue will popup.
Step 5: Confirm the Transfer
To finalize the transfer:
- Review the information in the confirmation dialog carefully.
- Click Transfer to confirm the change. Google will notify both you and the new primary owner via email of the successful transfer.
Step 6: Verify New Ownership Status After the transfer is completed:
- Both parties should check their email for confirmation from Google.
- Log back into your Google My Business account to make that the new ownership status is accurately reflected in the Users section.
The above were the proven ways to transfer ownership of a Google Business Profile from one person or organization to another, I hope it helped you, however, you can also check out the below video to guide you if you find the above-written steps hard to follow.
Why Transferring Primary Ownership is Important
When there are changes in business operations, such as management transfers, changes in business alliances, or even the sale of the business, it is necessary to transfer primary ownership.
Properly managing this process ensures that your company maintains its online presence, trustworthiness, and consistency in client interactions.
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