- Apr 21
- 9 min read
Updated: May 5
As a business owner, you wear many hats but eventually you might need to hand one off to someone else. Whether you're selling your company, moving on from an agency or simply upgrading from a personal Gmail to a professional business email, getting the right person in control of your Google listing is super important.
Transferring your Google Business account to another email is easy once you know the steps. This guide walks you through everything you need to do, the user roles you should understand and the often-overlooked waiting period that trips people up. By the end of this read, you'll have a clear path to securely hand off your profile and get back to growing your brand.
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TL;DR: how to transfer google business account to another email
Add the new email as an Owner, wait 7 days after they accept the invite, then assign Primary Owner status. All reviews, photos and business details stay on the profile, so nothing is lost during the transfer.
Here's what this guide covers:
User roles and who can actually do what
What to prepare before you start
The full step-by-step transfer process
The 7-day rule and why resetting it makes things worse
How to handle blockers and unreachable owners
Why would you need to transfer your Google Business account?
When you first set up your business listing, you probably used whatever email address was easiest to access. For many, that means a personal email account. While that works in the beginning, tying your public business profile to your private inbox can create headaches down the road.
You might need to transfer ownership for a few common reasons:
Switching to a professional business email: Many profiles start with a personal Gmail. As your business grows, especially once you’re building a website and bringing in customers from search, it makes sense to move everything under a dedicated email like yourname@yourbusiness.com. This keeps your website, domain and Google Business Profile aligned, easier to manage and more secure. Learn more: How to make a website from scratch
Business acquisition or sale: If you sell your business, the new owner needs full control of the Google Business Profile. This allows them to update contact details, manage reviews and keep business information accurate. Leaving the previous owner in place, even as a manager, can create confusion and long-term dependency.
Agency or employee handoff: Marketing agencies or former employees often set up or manage the profile in the beginning. When they step away, ownership should be moved back to an internal account. This keeps control within your business and prevents access issues later.
Consolidating multiple locations: If you manage several business locations, you may want all profiles controlled under one central account instead of different personal emails. Transferring ownership makes it easier to manage updates, reviews and settings consistently across all locations.
Account security or lost access: If the current email tied to the profile has been compromised or you no longer have access to it, transferring ownership to a secure account helps protect your listing and ensures you don’t lose control of customer-facing information.
You can register a domain directly on the Wix website builder and add Whois privacy and domain security for extra protection.
Understanding user roles
Before you start clicking buttons, you need to know exactly who has permission to do what. Google Business Profiles use three distinct user roles. Knowing these roles prevents confusion during the transfer process.
Primary Owner
The Primary Owner has the highest level of control over a Google Business Profile. There can only be one Primary Owner at a time.
This role can manage all settings, add or remove users and transfer Primary Owner status to another person. A key limitation is that the Primary Owner cannot remove themselves directly. They first need to transfer ownership to another user before stepping down or being removed.
Owner
Owners have almost the same level of access as the Primary Owner. They can edit business details, respond to reviews, manage users and help with ownership changes.
The difference is that there can be multiple Owners on a single profile, and only the Primary Owner has full final control over stepping down. Owners can also promote another user to Primary Owner, but the change still follows Google’s approval rules, including the waiting period after a new user is added.
Manager
Managers handle day-to-day activity on the profile. This includes updating business information, replying to reviews and posting updates.
However, Managers cannot manage users or make ownership changes. They also do not have access to transfer settings. In most cases, if someone only has Manager access, they will not see any options related to ownership at all.
Learn more: How much does a business email cost?
Before you transfer: what you need to know
A few things need to be in place before the transfer can go through.
User permissions required: You must be signed in as a Primary Owner or Owner to transfer ownership. Both roles can assign Primary Owner status to another user. Managers do not have access to user settings and cannot start or complete a transfer.
New owner account requirements: The receiving person must have a Google account. This can be a Gmail address or a Google Workspace account. Any email linked to Google works, but a non-Google email alone will not be accepted.
Profile verification: The business profile must be verified before ownership changes are allowed. If the listing is unverified, you’ll need to complete verification first before continuing.
Invite acceptance: The new user must first be added as an Owner and accept the invitation sent by email. Only after they accept can you promote them to Primary Owner.
7-day waiting period: After the invite is accepted, Google enforces a 7-day waiting period before Primary Owner status can be assigned. This is a fixed security step and cannot be bypassed. Avoid removing or re-adding the user during this time, as it can delay the process.
How to transfer your Google Business Profile to another email, step by step
Log in to Google Business Profile Manager
Go to business.google.com and sign in with the account that has Primary Owner or Owner access. If you manage multiple listings, select the correct business profile before continuing.
Open Business Profile settings
From your dashboard, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of your profile. Select Business Profile settings from the dropdown.
Go to People and access
Inside settings, open People and access. This section shows all current users, their roles and any pending invitations.
Add the new user as an Owner
Click Add and enter the email of the person you want to transfer ownership to. This must be a Google account (Gmail or Google Workspace). Assign the role of Owner, not Manager, then send the invite. The transfer process cannot continue until they accept it.
Wait for the invite to be accepted and the 7-day period to pass
Once the new user accepts the invitation, Google starts a mandatory 7-day waiting period. During this time, you cannot assign Primary Owner status. Avoid removing and re-adding the user or changing roles, as this can delay the process.
Assign Primary Owner status
After 7 days, return to People and access. Select the new user, click the edit (pencil) icon next to their role and choose Primary owner. Save the changes. The update usually applies right away.
Adjust your own access (optional)
After the transfer, you can either remove your account or keep it with reduced access like Owner or Manager. Only the new Primary Owner can manage or remove roles going forward.
Use this moment to move to a professional business email
A Google Business Profile transfer is often the point where people notice the account has been running on a personal Gmail. It’s also a good moment to switch to a more structured setup using Wix so your business email and domain name are aligned from the start.
Learn more:
How Wix business email works with Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile works with both Gmail and Google Workspace accounts. Google Workspace is Google’s system for professional email addresses that use your own domain, like yourname@yourbusiness.com. Emails set up through Wix use Google Workspace in the background, which means they work the same way inside Google Business Profile as any other Google account.
There is no special integration between Wix and Google Business Profile. The connection works simply because Google recognizes all Workspace accounts as valid users. So once your Wix business email is created, you can use it directly as the Primary Owner or Manager of your listing without extra setup.
Why switch to a Wix business email
Using a Wix business email keeps your business organized. Instead of juggling personal Gmail with business tools, everything is under one branded identity. This tidies up ownership, especially if you work with a team, agency or across multiple locations.
With Wix, your business email is connected to your domain, keeping your brand consistent in search results, customer emails and your Google Business Profile. It also simplifies adding or removing access later since you’re not using a personal account.
Another big plus is control. A Wix business email is part of your business domain, not someone's personal Gmail. That means if a team member leaves, you can adjust access without affecting your Google Business Profile or losing important account information.
Get a business email at your own domain and use it as the owner account for your Google Business Profile.
What happens after you transfer ownership?
No business data is lost. Reviews, photos, posts and all listing information remain on the profile because they are tied to the business, not the owner account.
Once the transfer is completed, the new Primary Owner usually gets full control right away. They can update business information, respond to reviews and manage users through the profile.
The previous owner keeps whatever role they were assigned after the transfer or can be removed entirely. After ownership is passed over, the new Primary Owner can adjust access levels or remove users if needed. It’s best to agree on who stays on the account before completing the transfer to avoid confusion later.
Can’t transfer your Google Business Profile?
If the transfer isn’t going through, it usually comes down to a few common blockers like permissions, verification or timing. Most issues are easy to fix once you know what is causing them, and you can usually get things moving again without starting from scratch.
The Primary Owner option is greyed out
This is usually caused by the 7-day waiting period after a new Owner accepts the invite. Check when the invitation was accepted and count 7 full days. Avoid removing the user, changing roles or re-adding them during this time since it can delay or restart the process in some cases.
The new user has not accepted the invite yet
You cannot assign Primary Owner status until the invitation is accepted. Ask the new user to check their inbox and spam folder for the invite from Google Business Profile. If the invite expires, you can resend it, but this may restart the waiting period once it is accepted again.
The profile is not verified
Ownership transfers only work on verified profiles. If your listing is not verified yet, you will need to complete verification first using one of Google’s available methods such as phone, SMS, email, video or postcard depending on your business type and region.
The current owner is unreachable
If the Primary Owner is a former employee or agency you cannot contact, go to Google Maps, find your business listing and select “Claim this business” or “Request access.” Google will notify the current owner and give them time to respond. In some cases, Google may review supporting documents such as business registration or proof of ownership, but approval is not guaranteed.
You need to contact Google support
If none of the above works, go to the Google Business Profile Help Center and use the “Contact us” option. Support options vary by region and may include chat, email or phone. Be ready to provide documents that confirm your connection to the business, such as registration details or utility records.
Use a domain name generator if you need help coming up with an idea. Already have an idea? Check the availability with a domain name search tool.
Google Business account transfer FAQ:
Can I use a Wix business email to manage my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Wix Business Email runs on Google Workspace. Google Workspace accounts, including those created via Wix, can be used to own or manage a Google Business Profile in exactly the same way as a Gmail address.
Does the new owner need a Gmail address?
No, they don’t need a Gmail address. They just need a Google account, which can also be a Google Workspace email. A standard email like Outlook or Yahoo won’t work on its own unless converted into or linked with a Google account (Google sign-in). Business emails set up through Wix work too since they run on Google Workspace.
Will my reviews transfer when I change ownership?
Yes. Reviews are tied to the business listing, not the owner account. All existing reviews stay on the profile after the transfer, and the new Primary Owner can respond to all of them.
How long does it take to transfer a Google Business account?
The transfer itself is usually quick once it becomes available. The main delay is the mandatory 7-day waiting period after the new user accepts the Owner invite. In most cases, you should plan for about a week from the time you add the new user.
Can I transfer ownership if the profile is not verified?
No. Transfers are only available on verified profiles. Complete verification before attempting a transfer.
Can a Manager transfer ownership of a Google Business Profile?
No. Managers cannot transfer ownership or access user management settings. To become Primary Owner, a Manager must be upgraded to Owner by the current Primary Owner or an Owner. The 7-day waiting period only starts after they are added as an Owner and accept the invite.
