Google is Suspending Business Profiles—Here’s Why It Might Not Be Your Fault
Many business owners assume if they’re following the rules—no fake reviews, no keyword stuffing, no duplicate content—they’re safe. But what they don’t realize is that Google looks at account history, not just business activity.
If any account tied to your business profile has a record of shady SEO tactics, spammy behavior, or violations, your business listing can get suspended—even if your own hands are clean.
That means:
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A past marketing agency you hired.
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A freelancer who did an audit years ago.
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A team member who used the same email to manage multiple listings (including spammy ones).
All of those situations can put you at risk.
How to Check Who Has Access to Your Google Business Profile
This step takes less than five minutes and could save you from losing your most valuable local SEO asset. Here’s how to check:
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Log in to the Gmail account that manages your Google Business Profile.
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Click on the three-dot menu next to your business listing.
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Go to Business Profile Settings → People and Access.
Here, you’ll see every account that currently has management or ownership access to your profile. In Joe’s example (Joe Burnich from Big West Marketing), he saw two of his own accounts and his SEO Director, Wendy—people he trusts. That’s exactly what you want.
But if you see a name or email you don’t recognize, or someone you haven’t worked with in years, that’s a red flag.
What To Do If You See Suspicious Users
If someone is on your profile who shouldn’t be there anymore, remove them immediately:
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Click on their profile photo or email.
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Select “Remove person.”
This stops them from making changes, but more importantly, it severs the connection between their account history and your business profile.
Even if they’re not actively doing anything spammy now, their past history could still trigger a suspension.
Why Google Is Doing This
Google’s goal is to clean up spam and protect users. Unfortunately, that sometimes means legit businesses become collateral damage when they’re connected to marketers or agencies that play dirty.
We’ve seen this happen with our own clients at Big West Marketing—good businesses suddenly suspended, traffic plummeting, phones going silent—all because of an old account they forgot about.
Suspension appeals take time, and there’s no guarantee you’ll be reinstated. Prevention is your best defense.
The Bottom Line: Clean Up Your Account Access Now
Google Business Profile suspensions can crush a local business’s momentum. If your listing disappears, so do your leads, your visibility, and your credibility.
Don’t wait until it happens. Do this now:
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Log into your Business Profile account.
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Review all users under “People and Access.”
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Remove anyone you don’t recognize or no longer work with.
This is especially important if you’ve worked with multiple SEO providers, marketing consultants, or virtual assistants over the years.
