Google Business Profile (GBP) is a powerful tool for local businesses, helping them gain visibility and attract new customers. But having your GBP suspended can be a nightmare, potentially cutting off your online presence and harming your business.

Unfortunately, Google doesn’t always disclose the exact reason for a suspension, making it frustrating to resolve. To avoid this hassle, let’s look at five common reasons why Google might suspend your business profile.

1. Address Violations

Google has strict rules about what types of addresses can be used for a GBP. Common violations include:

• Using a P.O. Box or UPS Box as your business address.
• Listing a virtual office or co-working space address (unless you meet specific requirements).
• Displaying your home address when you don’t have permanent signage or don’t see customers there.
• Service area businesses (SABs) that operate from home should hide their address and only list the areas they serve. Violating these address rules can lead to suspension.

2. Making Major Changes to Your Profile

Editing critical details like your business name, address, phone number, or business category can sometimes trigger a suspension. Google sees frequent changes to this information as suspicious.

While updates may be necessary, be cautious when making modifications, and ensure all details align with Google’s guidelines.

3. Keyword Stuffing Your Business Name

Adding extra keywords to your business name (like city names or services) might seem like a good idea for ranking higher, but it’s against Google’s rules.

For example, a real estate agent should only use their actual name as the business name—adding terms like “realtor” or “real estate agent” is considered keyword stuffing and can lead to suspension.

As you can see, she’s keyword-stuffed her business name with “realtor” and “real estate agent.”
(Realtors are among the big offenders of the business name guidelines.)

4. Two Businesses Sharing the Same Address or Phone Number

Google generally doesn’t allow multiple businesses to use the same address or phone number unless they operate in distinct ways (e.g., different businesses in a mall or office building).

Common violations include:

• Home-based businesses creating multiple profiles for different services.
• A single business setting up multiple profiles at the same address to manipulate rankings.
• Instead of creating a second GBP, businesses should add additional service categories to their existing profile.

5. Someone Reported Your Profile

Google allows users to report violations via the “Suggest an Edit” feature or the Business Redressal Complaint Form. If a competitor or customer flags your profile for breaking the rules, Google might suspend it.

To avoid this, always follow GBP guidelines and ensure your listing complies with Google’s policies.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons why Google might suspend a Business Profile, and some are not even publicly disclosed. The best way to avoid suspension is to follow all of Google’s guidelines carefully.

Recovering a suspended profile can be time-consuming and stressful. Instead of taking shortcuts or bending the rules, focus on maintaining a legitimate, optimized profile that aligns with Google’s best practices.

If your GBP gets suspended, identifying the issue and resolving it quickly is crucial to getting back online and keeping your business visible in local search results.