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Google Business Profile access

Grant manager access without sharing passwords or transferring ownership.

Use this guide when a customer wants Ionia or an agency partner to help manage a Google Business Profile.

The customer should keep primary ownership. Do not ask the customer to share a Google password.

What Access Does

Google Business Profile access can allow an authorized user to:

  • Update business information, hours, services, phone numbers, and website links.
  • Publish posts and photos.
  • Respond to reviews and questions.
  • Review profile performance.
  • Manage information shown in Google Search and Google Maps.

This invitation grants human access to the profile. It does not automatically connect Google Business Profile data to Ionia. Any Ionia Google data connection or OAuth approval is a separate step completed inside the customer’s portal.

Choose the least-privileged role that supports the work.

Manager

Use Manager by default.

A manager can maintain business information, services, posts, photos, reviews, and profile activity. A manager cannot add or remove users or remove the Business Profile.

Owner

Use Owner only when Ionia or the agency must manage other profile users or perform an ownership-level administrative task.

The customer should remain the primary owner. Do not transfer primary ownership as part of normal onboarding.

Add Ionia Or An Agency Partner

  1. Sign in to the Google Account that owns the Business Profile.
  2. Search Google for the exact business name and city, or search for my business.
  3. Open the profile management controls.
  4. Select the three-dot More menu.
  5. Select Business Profile settings.
  6. Select People and access.
  7. Select Add in the upper-left corner.
  8. Enter the access email supplied by the Ionia or agency operator.
  9. Choose Manager unless the operator has documented why Owner is required.
  10. Select Invite.

The invited user receives an email and can accept the invitation. The profile owner can review pending and active users from People and access.

Google does not allow a Google Group to be added as an owner or manager. Invite a specific Google Account.

Multiple Locations

For one location, invite the operator to that individual Business Profile.

For a multi-location organization, confirm the intended scope before granting access:

  • Invite at the individual profile level when access should cover only selected locations.
  • Use a Business Profile business group when the same operator should manage every profile in the group.

Do not grant group-level access for convenience when the operator only needs one location.

Connect Google Data To Ionia

Profile access and data authorization are separate controls.

After the profile invitation is accepted:

  1. Open the customer’s Ionia or partner portal.
  2. Open Business Settings or the Google connection step provided by the operator.
  3. Sign in with the Google Account that accepted the profile invitation.
  4. Review the requested permissions.
  5. Select the correct business and location.
  6. Approve the connection.
  7. Confirm the expected profile appears in the workspace.

Never authorize a different location merely because it appears in the same Google Account.

Confirm Access

After the invitation is accepted, verify:

  • The correct business name and location are visible.
  • The user role is Manager or the specifically approved role.
  • Hours, phone, website, categories, and services can be viewed.
  • No unrelated locations are in scope.
  • The Ionia workspace maps to the same tenant and location.
  • Google data access, if required, has been authorized separately.

If The Profile Is Not Verified Or Has Another Owner

Do not create a duplicate profile.

  1. Find the existing profile in Google Search or Maps.
  2. Confirm whether the customer recognizes the current owner.
  3. Use Google’s ownership request process when another account controls the profile.
  4. Complete Google’s verification process if the profile has not been verified.
  5. Resume the access invitation only after ownership is clear.

Only the business owner or an authorized representative should verify and manage the profile.

New User Limitations

Google applies a seven-day restriction to some ownership administration actions for newly added owners and managers. During that period, a new user may be unable to remove other users, delete or restore a profile, or transfer primary ownership.

Normal profile management can begin after the invitation is accepted, but ownership changes should not be scheduled for the first week.

Remove Access

The customer can remove access at any time:

  1. Open the Business Profile.
  2. Select More.
  3. Select Business Profile settings.
  4. Select People and access.
  5. Select the user.
  6. Select Remove person.

Only an owner can remove other owners and managers. Removing a user does not remove the user’s historical replies, posts, or other past activity.

Security And Privacy

  • Never share Google passwords or recovery codes.
  • Keep the customer as primary owner.
  • Use named accounts rather than shared credentials where possible.
  • Remove former employees, vendors, and agencies promptly.
  • Do not put private customer, patient, resident, or client information in posts, reviews, messages, or public profile fields.
  • Confirm the correct location before editing hours, services, or links.

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