Your Google Business Profile got suspended. Here's why, and how to get it back.

One morning your profile is gone from Maps, the phone goes quiet, and Google's only explanation is a line that says the profile "has been suspended." No person to call. Here's what's usually behind it and how to work the appeal.

First: which kind of suspension?

• Soft suspension — your listing still shows, but you've lost the ability to manage it. Usually a verification problem.
• Hard suspension — the listing is removed from Search and Maps entirely. This is the one that kills the phone.

Log in to your Business Profile. If it says "suspended" and the listing isn't public, you're hard-suspended.

The usual causes for contractors

1. Keywords in the business name. "Joe's Roofing" is fine. "Joe's Roofing — Best Roofer Tampa" is not. If your name on Google doesn't match the name on your truck, license and website, that's your answer.
2. An address you shouldn't be showing. Home-based businesses must hide their address and set a service area. A visible residential address, a PO box, a UPS Store, or a virtual office all trigger suspensions.
3. Duplicate profiles. An old listing from a previous address, or one an employee created, or a second "location" that's just a phone number.
4. Recent edits that look suspicious. Changing name, address and category all at once looks like someone took over the listing.
5. Category mismatch. A profile categorized as "Plumber" whose website and reviews are all about pressure washing.
6. A service-area radius the size of a state. Pick the cities you actually drive to.

Before you appeal: fix it first

Google reviews appeals once, sometimes twice. Don't appeal until the profile would pass a cold look:

• Name on the profile exactly matches your legal/DBA name (no extra words).
• Address hidden if customers don't come to you; service area set to real cities.
• One profile only — find and deal with duplicates first.
• Website live, with the same name, phone and services as the profile.
• Primary category matches what you mostly do.

What to gather

Have these ready as PDFs or clear photos. The appeal form asks for some of them and it helps to have all of them:

• State contractor license (or business license) showing the business name.
• Proof of address matching the profile: utility bill, lease, or business registration.
• Photos of your truck/signage with the business name, and of your storefront if you have one.
• Your website URL.

Writing the reinstatement request

Keep it short and factual. Something like:

"[Business name] is a licensed [trade] contractor serving [city] since [year]. The profile was suspended on [date]. I have reviewed it against the guidelines and corrected [what you fixed — e.g. removed extra words from the name, hidden the home address and set a service area]. Attached: state license, business registration, and photos of our vehicle signage. Please reinstate."

Don't argue, don't paste the guidelines back at them, and don't submit three appeals at once.

How long it takes

A few days to a few weeks. If the first appeal is denied, you can usually reply with more documentation. If you get nothing for two weeks, follow up on the same thread rather than starting a new one.

While you wait

Your website is the only thing still representing you. Make sure it loads fast, lists your services and cities, and has a working phone number and contact form. If you've been putting off a real site, this is the week to do it.

If you want help

Reinstatement help is one of the fixed-price Quick Wins: I go through the profile against the guidelines, help you fix what's actually wrong, and write the appeal with you. If you're not sure what's wrong, start with the free Visibility Score and I'll tell you what I see.