When your Google Business Profile (GBP) gets suspended, it can feel like your business just disappeared overnight—and in a way, it has. You’re no longer visible on Google Maps or local search, your reviews are hidden, and customer calls may drop instantly.
But don’t panic. There’s a clear path to getting reinstated—if you follow the right steps and avoid common mistakes.
1. Understand the Type of Suspension
Google suspends profiles in two ways:
Soft Suspension
You can still access your profile, but it’s no longer visible publicly on Maps or Search. Your listing appears “unverified.”
Hard Suspension
Your profile is completely removed, and you can’t access it from your dashboard. This usually happens when Google suspects policy violations or fake listings.
2. Common Reasons for Suspension
Before you can fix the problem, you need to know what caused it. Some of the most common issues include:
- Incorrect or misleading business name
- Using a virtual office or P.O. box address
- Violating category or service area rules
- Multiple listings for the same business
- Inconsistent NAP info across the web
- Making frequent edits (especially to address, categories, or phone)
For tips on avoiding these issues in the future, see:
optimize your Google Business Profile
3. Don’t Create a New Listing
It might be tempting to just start over—but don’t. Creating a new profile can lead to permanent suspension of all listings associated with your account.
Stick with the original profile and focus on reinstatement.
4. Gather the Right Documentation
Before submitting your reinstatement request, make sure you can prove you’re a legitimate business:
- Utility bill showing your business name and address
- Business license
- Tax registration certificate
- Photos of your storefront or vehicle with branding
- Lease agreement (if you have a physical location)
If you’re a service-area business, include proof that you operate in the stated region (like customer invoices, contracts, or mobile service vehicle photos).
5. Submit the Reinstatement Form
Once you’ve reviewed your profile and gathered your documents, head to the official Google Business Profile Reinstatement Form.
Tips for the form:
- Be honest and concise
- Explain what changed (if anything)
- Include all required documents up front
- Don’t spam with multiple submissions
Once submitted, it can take 3–7 business days (sometimes more) to get a response.
6. Follow Up (If Needed)
If you haven’t heard back after a week, reply to the email confirmation you received from Google support. Keep it polite and to the point.
Still no luck? You can also post your case (with details and reference number) in the Google Business Profile Help Community.
Sometimes experienced contributors can escalate your case.
7. Don’t Make Edits During the Review
This one’s important: once you submit the reinstatement request, don’t touch your listing. Any changes you make can reset the review process or trigger another suspension.
Let Google review what’s already there.
8. After Reinstatement: Stay Compliant
Once your listing is reinstated, keep everything squeaky clean to avoid future suspensions:
- Don’t stuff your business name with keywords
- Avoid switching categories frequently
- Keep NAP details identical across your local citations
- Don’t create multiple listings for one location
- Ask customers for reviews naturally (avoid incentives)
And if you operate in multiple cities, make sure you’re using proper service area pages, not fake listings.
A suspended Google Business Profile can be a major headache—but it’s usually fixable. The key is to stay calm, review your listing honestly, and provide solid documentation to Google.
Most importantly, don’t cut corners after reinstatement. A clean, optimized profile backed by strong local signals is your best protection against future issues.
Need Help Getting Reinstated?
At Maple Web Design, we’ve helped dozens of Canadian businesses get their profiles reinstated—and keep them live with proper optimization.
Whether you’ve been suspended for the first time or dealing with repeated issues, we can help. Get Expert Help with Google Business Suspension
