Ever stumbled upon a Google Business Profile that’s clearly abandoned, outdated, or perhaps even representing your own business without your knowledge? You’re not alone. Thousands of business owners discover daily that someone else controls their Google presence, and tracking down the actual owner can feel like detective work. Whether you’re trying to claim your rightful business listing, report incorrect information, or simply need to contact the person managing a competitor’s profile, this guide will walk you through the practical methods that actually work.
Let me share something that happened last week. A local café owner contacted me, frustrated that their Google Business Profile showed permanently closed, despite serving hundreds of customers daily. The previous owner had created the listing years ago and vanished. Sound familiar? This scenario plays out more often than you’d think, and knowing how to identify and contact profile owners becomes important for maintaining accurate online presence.
Understanding Google Business Profile Ownership
Before diving into the detective work, it’s important to understand what ownership actually means in Google’s ecosystem. The platform operates on a hierarchical system that many business owners don’t fully grasp until they’re locked out of their own listing.
What Defines Profile Ownership
Profile ownership isn’t just about who created the listing first. Google recognises the primary owner as the individual with complete administrative control over the business profile. This person holds the digital keys to everything: from basic information updates to responding to reviews and accessing insights.
The owner typically falls into one of three categories. First, there’s the legitimate business owner who rightfully created and manages their listing. Second, you’ve got marketing agencies or consultants who set up profiles on behalf of clients. Third, and most problematically, random individuals who’ve claimed unclaimed listings – sometimes with good intentions, sometimes not.
Did you know? According to Google’s verification documentation, approximately 30% of business listings have ownership disputes at some point in their lifecycle, often because the original creator used a personal email that’s no longer accessible.
What makes this particularly tricky is that Google doesn’t publicly display owner information. You won’t find a convenient “owned by” field anywhere on the public-facing profile. This privacy protection makes sense from a security standpoint, but it creates genuine challenges for legitimate people involved.
Primary vs Manager Access Levels
Here’s where things get interesting. Google Business Profile operates with multiple access levels, and understanding these distinctions can save you hours of frustration.
The primary owner sits at the top of the pyramid. They can add or remove other users, delete the entire listing, and transfer ownership. It’s the nuclear option of control levels. Only one primary owner can exist per listing, making this role particularly powerful.
Managers, on the other hand, possess nearly identical capabilities with one necessary exception: they cannot remove the primary owner or transfer ownership. Think of them as trusted lieutenants who can handle day-to-day operations but can’t stage a coup.
Then you’ve got site managers – a lesser-known role that many overlook. These users can respond to reviews and access basic insights but cannot modify core business information. Perfect for customer service teams who need limited access.
Quick insight: If you’re working with an agency, always ensure you’re listed as the primary owner, not them. I’ve seen countless businesses lose access when relationships sour or agencies close shop.
The access level hierarchy becomes particularly important when disputes arise. A manager cannot override primary owner decisions, creating potential deadlocks if the primary owner becomes unresponsive or uncooperative.
Legal Ownership Requirements
Google’s terms of service spell out ownership requirements quite clearly, though few people actually read them. The person claiming ownership must be authorised to manage the business’s presence on Google. Sounds straightforward, right? Not quite.
Legal authorisation doesn’t necessarily mean being the business owner in the traditional sense. An employee with proper authorisation, a franchisee, or even a property management company might legitimately claim ownership of a listing. This flexibility accommodates various business structures but also opens doors for confusion.
What Google explicitly prohibits is third-party ownership without authorisation. That enthusiastic customer who created a listing for their favourite restaurant? Technically violating terms of service. The SEO company that refuses to transfer ownership after contract termination? Also problematic.
Myth debunked: “Whoever creates the listing owns it forever.” False. Google recognises that business ownership can change, and provides mechanisms for legitimate owners to claim their profiles, even if someone else created them initially.
The verification process serves as Google’s primary gatekeeping mechanism. By requiring phone, postcard, or video verification, they attempt to ensure only legitimate representatives gain control. However, this system isn’t foolproof, particularly for businesses that have changed hands or locations.
Interestingly, Google’s approach to ownership disputes has evolved significantly. According to their permissions management documentation, they now offer more reliable dispute resolution processes, though these can take weeks to resolve.
Direct Contact Methods
Now for the practical bit – actually finding and contacting the owner. While Google won’t hand you this information on a silver platter, several legitimate methods can help you identify and reach the right person.
Using the Business Phone Number
The simplest approach often yields the best results. That phone number listed on the Google Business Profile? Ring it. Seriously, it’s that straightforward in many cases.
When you call, don’t launch into accusations or demands. Instead, explain that you’re trying to reach whoever manages their Google Business Profile. Most receptionist or staff members will either know who handles this or can direct you to someone who does. Frame it as a helpful inquiry rather than a confrontation.
My experience with this method has been surprisingly positive. Last month, I helped a client track down their listing’s owner simply by calling during off-peak hours and speaking with the manager. Turns out, their former web developer still controlled it, and a friendly conversation resolved everything within days.
Pro tip: Call during slower business hours when staff have more time to help. Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons when everyone’s either catching up or winding down.
Sometimes, the phone number leads to a call centre or automated system, particularly with larger corporations. In these cases, ask for the marketing department or digital team. They’re usually aware of who manages online profiles, even if they don’t handle it directly.
What if the number’s disconnected or wrong? This often indicates an abandoned or improperly managed listing – valuable information that might support your claim if you’re trying to gain ownership yourself.
Visiting Physical Location
Old school? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely. Nothing beats face-to-face conversation when digital methods fail.
Visiting the physical location works particularly well for small businesses where the owner is often on-site. Explain your situation to whoever’s in charge. Most business owners are surprisingly receptive when they understand you’re trying to help improve their online presence or resolve an issue affecting both parties.
I once helped a restaurant chain discover that their former franchise owner still controlled several location listings. A simple visit to the head office, armed with documentation, resolved what could have been a lengthy legal dispute. The operations manager hadn’t even realised the issue existed until we showed up with printouts of the incorrect information displayed online.
Bring evidence when you visit. Screenshots of the listing, any relevant documentation about ownership or management rights, and a clear explanation of what needs fixing. People respond better to concrete problems with proposed solutions rather than vague complaints.
Real success story: A dental practice in Manchester discovered their Google listing showed them as “permanently closed” for three months, costing them thousands in lost appointments. A visit to the building’s management office revealed that the previous tenant (another dental practice) still controlled the listing. The building manager facilitated a meeting, and ownership was transferred within a week.
For multi-location businesses or franchises, visiting the corporate headquarters might be necessary. The local staff often have no idea who manages their Google presence – it’s typically handled centrally by a marketing team or external agency.
Checking Business Website Details
Websites are goldmines of contact information, if you know where to look. Start with the obvious places: contact pages, about sections, and team directories. But don’t stop there.
Check the footer for less obvious clues. Many websites list their digital marketing agency or web developer here. These companies often manage Google Business Profiles as part of their service package. A quick email or call to them might shortcut your entire search.
Privacy policies and terms of service pages frequently contain legal entity names and registered addresses. This information can help you identify the actual business owner, particularly useful when dealing with DBAs (doing business as) or franchise operations.
According to Google’s guidance on contacting website owners, performing a WHOIS lookup can reveal domain ownership information. While this won’t directly tell you who owns the Google listing, it often points to the same person or organisation.
What if scenario: What if the website’s been abandoned too? Check the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine for historical versions. You might find contact information for previous owners or managers who can point you in the right direction.
Look for “managed by” or “digital marketing by” credits, often tucked away in footers or on contact pages. These agencies frequently retain control of Google listings, sometimes inadvertently after contracts end.
Social media links on the website can provide alternative contact routes. The person managing the company’s Facebook or LinkedIn might know who handles the Google listing, or might even be the same person.
Email Contact Options
Email remains surprisingly effective for reaching business owners, particularly when you craft your message strategically.
Generic addresses like info@ or contact@ might seem impersonal, but they’re often monitored by people who can route your query appropriately. Include a clear subject line like “Urgent: Issue with your Google Business Listing” to ensure it gets attention.
LinkedIn has become very useful for this purpose. Search for the business name and look for employees with titles like “Marketing Manager,” “Digital Marketing Specialist,” or even “Owner.” A polite LinkedIn message explaining the situation often gets faster responses than cold emails.
When crafting your email, be specific about the issue and what you need. Vague messages get ignored. Include screenshots, explain the impact (lost customers, wrong information), and propose a clear next step. People respond to problems they can understand and solutions they can implement.
Email template that works: “Hi [Name], I noticed your Google Business Profile shows [specific issue]. This might be costing you customers because [specific impact]. I’d like to help resolve this. Could we have a quick call to discuss who manages your Google listing? I’m available [specific times].”
For larger companies, try variations like marketing@, digital@, or seo@. You’d be surprised how many businesses use these addresses. If those fail, check if they’re listed in business directories like jasminedirectory.com, which often provides verified contact information for registered businesses.
Legal and Technical Investigation
When friendly approaches fail, sometimes you need to dig deeper using legal and technical resources available to the public.
Business Registration Records
Every legitimate business leaves a paper trail through official registrations. These public records can reveal ownership information that helps identify who should control the Google listing.
Companies House in the UK, or state business registries in the US, maintain searchable databases of business registrations. These show registered owners, directors, and official addresses. While this won’t directly tell you who controls the Google listing, it identifies who should have the authority to claim it.
For example, using resources like Maryland’s Case Search system, you can find business registration details and legal representatives. Similar systems exist in most jurisdictions, though the ease of access varies.
Trade name registrations, also known as DBA filings, can be particularly revealing. That trendy café might legally be registered under the owner’s full name or a parent company you hadn’t considered. This information becomes necessary when disputing ownership with Google.
Did you know? In many jurisdictions, business registration records are updated annually, meaning the information you find might be more current than what appears on the Google listing itself.
Don’t overlook professional licensing boards. Restaurants, medical practices, and various service businesses must maintain current licenses. These boards often list the responsible party or owner, providing another avenue for contact.
Domain Ownership Research
WHOIS databases, while increasingly privacy-protected, still offer valuable clues about business ownership.
Even when domain privacy is enabled, the organisation name sometimes appears. Historical WHOIS data, available through services like DomainTools, can reveal previous owners before privacy protection was added. This historical data has helped me track down numerous listing owners who’d since sold their businesses.
Check for patterns across multiple domains. If a business owns several domains (like .com, .co.uk, .net versions), one might have less privacy protection than others. Also investigate subdomains or related domains mentioned on the website.
SSL certificate information provides another angle. While not always revealing, certificates sometimes display the organisation name or technical contact who might know about Google listing management.
The domain registrar itself can sometimes help. If you have a legitimate legal reason for needing ownership information, some registrars will forward messages to the domain owner while maintaining their privacy.
Review Response Patterns
Here’s a clever bit of detective work: analyse how the business responds to Google reviews. The tone, timing, and signature of responses can reveal who’s managing the listing.
Professional agencies often have telltale signs: perfect grammar, corporate speak, and responses posted during standard business hours. Owner responses tend to be more personal, sometimes emotional, and might happen at odd hours when they’re catching up on admin work.
According to discussions on Local Search Forum about review responses, owners who respond personally often sign their names or titles. This gives you a specific person to contact.
Investigation tip: Check if review responses suddenly stopped or changed style dramatically. This often indicates a change in who manages the listing, providing a timeline for when ownership might have transferred.
Look for responses that mention specific staff members or reference internal processes. These details can help you identify whether responses come from an owner, manager, or third-party service.
Google’s Official Channels
Sometimes, you need to work within Google’s system to resolve ownership issues. While not always the fastest route, it’s often the most definitive.
Claiming Unclaimed Listings
If your investigation reveals the listing appears abandoned or unclaimed, you might be able to claim it yourself – assuming you have the legal right to do so.
Google makes this relatively straightforward for truly unclaimed listings. Search for the business on Google Maps, click “Claim this business,” and follow the verification process. But here’s the catch: if someone already owns it, you’ll hit a wall pretty quickly.
For already-claimed listings, you’ll see “Own this business?” instead. Clicking this initiates a different process where you’re essentially disputing current ownership. Google will contact the current owner, giving them three days to respond. If they don’t, you might gain access.
The verification methods vary based on business type and history. Phone verification works instantly for many businesses. Postcard verification takes 5-14 days but is often the only option for new or disputed listings. Video verification, Google’s newest method, requires showing your business premises and proves you have physical access.
Myth debunked: “Google always sides with the current owner.” Not true. According to Google’s verification documentation, they evaluate ownership disputes based on evidence of legal authority to represent the business, not just who claimed it first.
Timing matters when claiming listings. Avoid weekends and holidays when postcard delivery might be delayed. If you’re taking over from a previous owner, try to coordinate the transition to avoid any gap in listing management.
Requesting Ownership Transfer
The formal ownership transfer process through Google requires patience but often succeeds when you have legitimate claims.
Start by signing into Google My Business and searching for your business. If someone else owns it, you’ll see an option to request access. This sends a notification to the current owner, who has three days to respond. They can approve your request, deny it, or ignore it entirely.
If they approve, brilliant – you’re done. If they deny or don’t respond, you can request management access instead of ownership. This at least gets you in the door, though with limited powers.
For unresponsive owners, Google has an escalation process. After the initial request fails, you can submit additional documentation proving your authority to manage the business. This might include business registration documents, utility bills, or legal documentation of business ownership.
My experience with this process varies wildly. Sometimes it resolves in days; other times, it drags on for months. The key is providing clear, indisputable evidence of your right to manage the listing. Blurry phone photos won’t cut it – scan everything properly.
Support Ticket Process
When all else fails, Google’s support system becomes your last resort. It’s not the fastest route, but it can handle complex situations that automated systems can’t.
Google My Business support has improved significantly over recent years. You can now request callbacks, engage in chat support, or submit detailed tickets with attachments. Choose the method based on your situation’s urgency and complexity.
When submitting a support ticket, front-load your message with the most vital information. Support agents handle hundreds of cases daily, so make yours easy to understand. Include the business name, address, specific issue, and what resolution you’re seeking in the first paragraph.
Success story: A boutique hotel chain discovered that a fired employee still controlled twelve of their location listings. Through Google support, providing employment termination documentation and corporate registration papers, they regained control of all listings within two weeks.
Documentation is everything. Include screenshots of the listing, proof of business ownership, evidence of previous management (like old emails about the listing), and any communication attempts with the current owner. The more evidence you provide upfront, the fewer back-and-forth messages you’ll need.
Follow up persistently but politely. Support tickets can get lost or deprioritised. A gentle nudge every 48-72 hours keeps your case active without annoying the support team.
Alternative Investigation Strategies
When traditional methods fail, creative investigation techniques can uncover ownership information through indirect channels.
Social Media Investigation
Social media platforms are treasure troves of business information, often revealing more than companies realise.
Facebook business pages frequently list administrators publicly, especially older pages that haven’t updated their privacy settings. Check the “Page Transparency” section, which shows page history, name changes, and sometimes page managers.
LinkedIn provides incredible investigation opportunities. Search for the business name and look at employee profiles. Marketing managers, digital specialists, or even the owner often mention managing the company’s online presence in their job descriptions. That’s your person.
Twitter/X business accounts sometimes tweet about their Google reviews or listing updates. A quick search for “[business name] Google review” might reveal who’s managing these platforms. The same person often handles multiple digital assets.
What if scenario: What if the social media accounts are managed by an agency? Check the agency’s website for case studies or client lists. They often showcase their work, inadvertently revealing who manages various digital assets for their clients.
Instagram business profiles can link to Facebook pages, revealing additional contact information. Stories highlights might show behind-the-scenes content featuring the owner or marketing team. Check tagged photos too – employees often tag their workplace, providing more leads to follow.
Don’t underestimate the power of social media comments. Business owners often respond personally to comments, especially negative ones, revealing their identity through their response style or signature.
Marketing Agency Research
Digital marketing agencies control thousands of business listings, sometimes long after their contracts end. Finding the right agency can shortcut your entire investigation.
Start with obvious signs: does the website footer credit a design or marketing agency? Check their portfolio or case studies. Agencies love showcasing successful clients, and they might mention managing Google Business Profiles as part of their service.
Google Ads campaigns often reveal agency relationships. Use tools like SpyFu or SEMrush to see who’s running ads for the business. The same agency probably manages their Google Business Profile.
Industry directories and award sites list agency-client relationships. Check for local business awards, “best of” lists, or industry-specific recognitions. These often credit the agency responsible for digital marketing.
Insider knowledge: Many agencies use proprietary email addresses when setting up Google listings (like clients@agencyname.com). If you can identify the agency, contacting them directly often resolves ownership issues faster than going through Google.
Local business associations or chambers of commerce might know which agencies serve their members. A quick call to these organisations can reveal patterns – certain agencies dominate specific industries or regions.
Historical Data Analysis
The internet never forgets, and historical data can reveal previous owners or managers of Google Business listings.
The Wayback Machine archives websites over time, potentially showing different contact information, ownership claims, or agency credits from months or years ago. This is particularly useful for businesses that have changed hands.
Google’s own cache sometimes retains older versions of business information. Search for “cache:[website URL]” to see Google’s most recent snapshot, which might differ from the current live version.
Review history tells stories. Look for patterns in when reviews were responded to, gaps in responses, or changes in response style. These often correlate with ownership changes. According to case studies on Google updates, major changes in review management patterns often indicate listing ownership transitions.
Check local news archives for business sales, ownership changes, or management transitions. Local newspapers often cover these stories, providing dates and names that help establish legitimate ownership claims.
Did you know? Business listings that haven’t been updated in over six months are 40% more likely to have ownership disputes when someone tries to claim them, often because the original owner used a personal email that’s no longer monitored.
Preventive Measures and Good techniques
Understanding how to find listing owners is important, but preventing ownership issues in the first place saves everyone headaches.
Documenting Ownership Properly
If you’re a business owner, document everything about your Google Business Profile from day one. Screenshot the verification process, save emails from Google, and maintain a record of who has access.
Use a business email address, not personal ones. I’ve seen countless cases where listings become inaccessible because someone used their personal Gmail, then left the company or forgot the password. Create a dedicated email like google@yourbusiness.com specifically for this purpose.
Maintain an access log documenting who has what level of access and why. When you grant agency access, document the agreement terms, including what happens when the relationship ends. This simple step prevents most ownership disputes.
Regular audits help catch problems early. Every quarter, review who has access to your listing and whether they still need it. Remove former employees, ended agency relationships, and anyone else who shouldn’t have access.
Ownership tip: Create a Google Business Profile ownership document that lives with your important business papers. Include login credentials (stored securely), verification methods used, and a history of major changes. Your successor will thank you.
Consider succession planning for your digital assets. What happens to your Google listing if you sell the business or something happens to you? Include digital asset transfer in your business sale agreements or operational documentation.
Establishing Clear Agreements
When working with agencies or consultants, establish clear ownership terms from the start. Who owns the listing? Who has access? What happens when the relationship ends?
Include specific clauses about Google Business Profile ownership in your contracts. Specify that the listing remains your property and must be transferred immediately upon contract termination. Set deadlines and penalties for non-compliance.
Request regular access reports from agencies managing your listing. They should provide screenshots proving you remain the primary owner, not just a manager. Trust, but verify.
For franchises or multi-location businesses, centralise ownership under a corporate account while granting appropriate access to location managers. This prevents individual locations from going rogue while still allowing local management.
| Access Level | Who Should Have It | Key Permissions | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Owner | Business Owner/CEO | Full control, can transfer ownership | Maximum |
| Owner | Marketing Director | Most controls except ownership transfer | High |
| Manager | Marketing Team/Agency | Edit info, respond to reviews | Medium |
| Site Manager | Customer Service | Respond to reviews only | Low |
When transferring business ownership, include digital assets in the sale agreement. Specify exactly which online profiles are included and set a timeline for transfer. Don’t assume this will happen automatically.
Regular Monitoring Practices
Set up Google Alerts for your business name to catch unauthorised listings or ownership changes quickly. You’d be amazed how often duplicate or fraudulent listings appear.
Check your listing monthly, even if you’re not actively managing it. Look for unauthorised changes, new users with access, or signs that someone else might be trying to claim ownership.
Monitor your reviews and responses regularly. If responses appear that you didn’t write, someone else has access. This early warning sign can prevent complete takeover of your listing.
Use Google’s performance reports to establish baselines. Sudden drops in views or interactions might indicate someone has modified your listing or Google has suspended it due to ownership conflicts.
Prevention success: A restaurant group implemented monthly listing audits across 50 locations. They caught three attempted takeovers by former employees and two by competitors claiming their listings were “abandoned.” Early detection prevented any successful hijacking.
Create a response protocol for ownership challenges. If someone tries to claim your listing, you have three days to respond. Make sure multiple people receive these notifications to prevent missing the deadline.
Future Directions
The sector of Google Business Profile ownership continues evolving, with new verification methods and ownership models emerging regularly. Video verification, introduced recently, represents Google’s push toward more secure and foolproof ownership validation. We’re likely to see biometric verification or blockchain-based ownership records in the coming years.
The rise of AI and automation in business management raises intriguing questions about listing ownership. Who owns a listing managed entirely by AI? What happens when businesses operate without traditional human owners? These aren’t theoretical questions anymore – they’re challenges Google will need to address soon.
Privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA are forcing changes in how ownership information is stored and shared. While this protects individual privacy, it also makes legitimate ownership investigations more challenging. The balance between privacy and transparency will continue shifting, affecting how we identify and contact listing owners.
For businesses, the key takeaway is simple: treat your Google Business Profile as the valuable asset it is. Document ownership, maintain proper access controls, and regularly audit who can manage your online presence. The few minutes spent on proper setup and maintenance can save hours of frustration and potentially thousands in lost business.
Whether you’re trying to reclaim your own listing, help a client, or simply ensure accurate information online, the methods outlined here provide multiple pathways to identify and contact the right people. Remember, persistence and professionalism go far in resolving ownership issues. Most people aren’t trying to cause problems – they simply don’t realise they’re creating them.
The digital ownership area will undoubtedly continue evolving, but the fundamental principle remains: legitimate businesses deserve control over their online presence. By understanding the system, using the right investigation techniques, and maintaining proper documentation, you can navigate ownership challenges successfully and maintain control of your digital identity.
