In 2025, removing a business listing from Google Search results remains a complex task—especially if the business once existed and was verified. Google prefers businesses to be marked as “permanently closed” rather than completely removed, which means the listing may still show up in search results even after closure.
If you’re trying to remove your business from Google Search results entirely—whether because the business has shut down, changed, or you no longer want to be associated with it—this guide covers both the official and unofficial (but still effective) methods available.
✅ Official Method: Requesting Removal or Closure via Google Support
Google allows users to mark a business as “permanently closed,” which is the standard approach.
You can contact Google Business Profile support and request removal if you meet one of these criteria:
- The business never existed
- The business is ineligible to appear on Google (for example, it’s not customer-facing)
- The listing has a wrong address or outdated location
If support accepts your case, they will either remove the listing or mark it permanently closed, which significantly reduces its visibility over time.
Important: Just deleting your Google Business Profile account does not delete the listing. Google may retain it and label it “Unverified” or “Closed,” but it can still show up in searches.
❌ When Google Support Won’t Help: Off-Script Strategies
If support refuses to take action and the listing is still live, there are workarounds that many business owners have used successfully to get a listing hidden, suspended, or effectively rendered useless:
1. Remove All Profile Data
- Delete the phone number, website URL, and description
- Change the business name to something irrelevant
- Remove images and products
- Hide the address (switch to “Service Area” and leave it blank)
This will not remove the listing but will make it harder to find or associate with your brand.
2. Change the Business Name & Category
- Change the business name to a generic or spammy term like “24/7 Garage Repair” or “Best Locksmith Deals.”
- Set the primary category to something unrelated (and potentially suspicious)
This often triggers a suspension by Google’s automated systems.
⚠️ Caution: If you change too many main profile fields at once, your listing may get flagged and suspended—this is actually what you want in this case.
3. Force a Suspension (On Purpose)
While it’s not guaranteed, some businesses have successfully triggered a suspension by:
- Frequently changing the business name and category
- Switching categories to spammy industries known for abuse (like locksmiths or garage doors)
- Adding keyword-stuffed names like “Free Estimate Roofing NY”
When flagged, Google may soft-suspend or hard-suspend the listing:
- Soft-suspend: You lose access, but the listing may still appear.
- Hard-suspend: The listing is removed from public view entirely.
Pro Tip: Transfer Ownership Before Triggering Suspension
Google tracks accounts and behavior. If you plan to force a listing into suspension, transfer it to a separate Gmail account first, especially if your main account manages other valuable business listings.
Steps:
- Add a new Gmail as an owner
- Remove your primary Gmail from the listing
- Proceed with the suspension strategy using the throwaway Gmail
- This ensures your main account doesn’t get penalized or flagged.
⚠️ Final Notes & Considerations
- Even suspended listings may still appear in branded search for a while due to cached data or connected entities.
- This process may take several weeks or months to fully remove visibility.
- Suspicious activity can affect other listings connected to the same email or IP address.
- Google’s spam filters evolve constantly, so results may vary.
Need Expert Help?
If you’re stuck with an unwanted Google Business listing or need help with Google Business Profile visibility, profile reinstatement, or listing removal, feel free to contact me through my website for personalized support.
