Two minutes of work, and the single most important thing to get right when you hire anyone to manage your listing: grant access, never transfer ownership. Here is how, and what each permission level actually allows.
How Do You Add a User to a Google Business Profile?
Open your Business Profile, go to business settings, then People and access, select Add, enter the person's Google account email, choose manager access, and send the invite. They get an email and access starts when they accept. It takes about two minutes.
The mechanics are trivial. The decision that matters is which role you grant, and that one is worth thirty seconds of thought.
Manager is the right default — Edits, posts, review replies and insights. Everything an agency needs to do the work, with none of the ability to lock you out.
Owner is for you only — Adds and removes users, transfers and deletes the listing. There is no reason a vendor needs it.
Revocable in seconds — As owner you can remove anyone at any time, without their cooperation, effective immediately.
The Two-Minute Version
From the profile you already manage.
1
Open People and access
Business Profile, then the settings menu, then People and access. If you cannot see this option you are not an owner, which is itself worth resolving before anything else.
2
Invite by Google account email
Add, then the email tied to their Google account, then set the role to Manager. Use a work address rather than a personal one so access survives staff changes.
3
Confirm and diarise a review
They accept by email. Set a reminder to audit who has access twice a year — old agencies and former staff accumulate quietly and nobody notices until something changes.
The Ownership Trap
Three situations we are regularly asked to unpick.
1
The agency that owns the listing
A relationship ends and the profile, with years of reviews, stays with them. Recoverable through Google's process, but slow and stressful. Entirely avoidable.
2
The former employee's personal account
Someone set it up on a personal Gmail and left. Access disappears with them, and reclaiming it means a verification process rather than a phone call.
3
The web designer who never handed it back
Common, and usually not malicious — they simply moved on. Ask for a transfer while the relationship is still cordial.
What We Ask For, and Why
We request manager access and never ownership. It lets us do every part of the work — categories, services, posts, photos, review replies, insights — while you keep the ability to remove us in thirty seconds without asking anyone's permission.
That is a deliberate constraint on us rather than a favour to you. A listing that a client cannot take back is leverage, and leverage is a poor substitute for doing the work well. It is the same reasoning behind everything else staying in your name under our profile management: the site, the pages, the analytics and the listing are the client's assets, and we are granted access to them rather than holding them.
Profile Access Questions
How do I add a user to my Google Business Profile?
Open your Business Profile, go to the business settings and then People and access, choose Add, enter the person's Google account email, select the access level, and invite. They receive an email and access begins once they accept. The whole process takes about two minutes and can be reversed just as quickly.
What are the Google Business Profile access levels?
There are two meaningful roles: owner and manager. Owners can edit everything, add and remove other users, and transfer or delete the listing. Managers can edit business information, post, reply to reviews and view insights, but cannot remove users or delete the profile. The primary owner is the account that ultimately controls the listing.
Should I give my agency owner access?
No. Manager access lets an agency do every part of the work — edits, posts, review replies, insights — without the ability to remove you or take the listing. Granting ownership to a vendor is how businesses lose profiles carrying years of reviews when a relationship ends badly. Any agency insisting on ownership is asking you to accept a risk with no benefit to you.
How do I remove someone from my profile?
In the same People and access panel, select the user and remove them. As an owner you can do this at any time without their agreement, and it takes effect immediately. It is worth doing an access review whenever a vendor relationship or staff member changes.
What if a former agency owns my listing?
Ask them to transfer primary ownership to your account — most will. If they refuse or have disappeared, you can request ownership through Google's process, which involves verifying your connection to the business and typically takes several days, sometimes longer. It usually resolves, but it is far more painful than never granting ownership in the first place.
Can I add someone without their Google account email?
No. Access is tied to a Google account, so you need the email associated with one. If a team member does not have a Google account they will need to create one, and it is worth using a work address rather than a personal one so access survives them leaving.
Paul really is the real deal and knows what he is talking about. If you need someone to help your online presence, I wouldn't go to anyone else but Paul.
JJustin GuidryG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Search Strength help me our when it came to my SEO. I knew nothing about SEO and had no idea how important it was to my business. 10/10
SSarah RileyG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Paul is a very bright person. His knowledge about AI and SEO is impeccable. Look forward to working with him.
Show all 26 reviews
KKelsey WileyG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Want more people to find your business? Paul is your guy!
KKali DurgampudiG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
If you are looking for a highly qualified and effective marketing partner for your website and search engine optimization, look no further than Search Strength SEO. The team here is hard working and dedicated to you and your
Read the full review
business's success.
JJason S.G
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Search Strength SEO is the real deal. He’s an SEO guru who helped get our website ranking and has been great to work with throughout the process. What I appreciate most is how transparent he is—straightforward pricing, clear
Read the full review
communication, and no smoke and mirrors. If you’re looking to improve your Google rankings and actually understand what you’re paying for, I highly recommend Search Strength SEO.
AAdamG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
The team at Search Strength SEO genuinely cares about their work and their clients. They take the time to understand your business and build a strategy around real results. It's clear they're hands-on and invested in helping
Read the full review
clients succeed.
MMarleneG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
I highly recommend this company for anyone looking to improve their website and SEO. They took the time to understand my business and provided tailored, effective solutions that are already making a noticeable difference. Paul's
Read the full review
customer service is exceptional. He listens carefully, communicates clearly, and consistently follows up with valuable updates and practical advice. Their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to their clients make them a true asset. I look forward to continuing to see the results and would not hesitate to recommend them.
HHeather HughesG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
I can't recommend Paul highly enough. Working with him has been an incredible experience, and he has exceeded my expectations in every way. From day one, he has gone above and beyond to help my business succeed, treating it as if
Read the full review
it were his own. His attention to detail is second to none, and nothing slips through the cracks. He's incredibly thorough, strategic, and always thinking several steps ahead. What really sets him apart is his genuine passion for what he does. He's constantly learning, adapting, and staying ahead of industry trends, especially when it comes to SEO, AI, and the latest technology. He doesn't settle for good enough—he's always looking for ways to improve and deliver even better results. Since working with him, my business has gained significantly more online visibility, and I know that's a direct result of his expertise, dedication, and hard work. He doesn't just focus on rankings; he focuses on building a strong online presence that creates long-term success. He's also one of the most responsive and reliable professionals I've ever worked with. No matter how busy he is, he always takes the time to answer questions, explain things clearly, and make sure I feel informed and confident. His communication is excellent, and I always know I can count on him. Beyond his technical expertise, he's simply a great person to work with. He's honest, trustworthy, patient, and genuinely invested in the success of his clients. It's rare to find someone who combines exceptional talent with such integrity and professionalism. If you're looking for someone who is knowledgeable, innovative, hardworking, and truly committed to helping your business grow, look no further. I feel incredibly fortunate to have him in my corner, and I recommend him without hesitation. He has made a real impact on my business, and I'm excited to continue working with him for years to come.
DDoug HulburtG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
I had a great experience with Search Strength SEO, they help in growing and improving our customers. I would recommend them to anyone!
LLeonardo BischofG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Great service and super fast!
CCarson HornishG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Did a amazing job for an amazing price! Would totally recommend to other
AAustin ColeG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Responds fast, works efficiently, and no one else ill use for these services
NNoah PaigeG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Awesome at what they do! Very responsive and top of things. 10/10!
BBlake BerentG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Extremely professional and easy to work with. Handled my issues very quickly and I would recommend them to anyone!
LLucas RodriguesG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
We had such a great experience with the Search Strength SEO team! They made our website look better than ever and handled our Google Business Profile setup flawlessly. Everyone was kind, responsive, and extremely thorough.
Read the full review
Anytime we had a question or needed help, they were right there. We’re so grateful for everything they did for us!
YYonatan GoldenG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Paul helped me get my website setup in less than 24 hours! Turned out amazing and would highly recommend using them. Thanks Paul and team!
BBrian FullerG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Very good at what they do and super responsive. Paul is awesome. 10/10.
MMarkus LovingG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
I’ve recently started working with the team at Search Strength SEO, and I couldn’t be more impressed. They bring a rare blend of deep professional expertise and down-to-earth customer service that’s truly refreshing. Not only do
Read the full review
they know their stuff when it comes to everything from local SEO to website builds, but they also genuinely care about making a difference in their clients’ businesses. They have good hearts and a real commitment to helping clients succeed. If you’re looking for a team that’s willing to go the extra mile, I’d highly recommend them.
LLuke KobitterG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
The Search Strength team has been incredible to work with. They know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to optimizing a Google Business Profile. Our visibility and engagement here in Tampa have noticeably improved thanks to
Read the full review
their strategy, communication, and attention to detail. Highly recommend them to anyone looking to grow their online presence the right way.
HHarrison SpielmanG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Search Strength SEO helped us grow our online presence in Tampa with smart SEO strategies. They played a huge role in helping our business expand in the behavioral health field. Great communication and real results!
MMichael DreaG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Working with Search Strength SEO has been a game-changer for our business. They took the time to understand our goals and built a customized SEO strategy that delivered real results. Our website traffic and lead volume have both
Read the full review
increased significantly. The team is professional, responsive, and truly knows what they’re doing. As a small family company in Waterford, WI we truly are grateful for the impact they have made for our company and business! Highly recommend them to anyone looking to grow their online presence or in need of web development!
KKaytlin LovelyG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
So happy I found Search strength SEO! Their team is so easy to work with and they pay great attention to detail. Would recommend them to anyone!!
JJulie DevineG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
I’m so glad I found search strength SEO. Their team is so knowledgeable and efficient. They made sure to guide me in the right direction and to answer any questions I had. They truly had my best interest at heart and set me up
Read the full review
for success. I can’t recommend them enough for all of your SEO needs
AAndy XueG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
After trying and failing with many other marketing companies for my business, I finally success with searchstrength seo! Paul and his team’s attention to detail and responsiveness is incredible. Our new website is looking
Read the full review
amazing, and the consistent updates of the website means the ranking is consistently improving. This has meant more calls, more appts, and more revenue. The value I have gotten for how much I pay is far more than any company I’ve hired. They are constantly finding ways to improve your visibility online and bring people in the door. They are quick to troubleshoot, and things get done quickly. Not having to worry about my website performance and visibility or finding leads has gave me great peace of mind. This is a newer business, but the owner has been doing this professionally for a long time and will always deliver. 11/10 recommend!
JJayden SneedG
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5
Working with this team has been an absolute pleasure. Their communication is top-notch — always quick to respond, clear, and proactive. They truly understand SEO and deliver high-quality work that drives results. From technical
Read the full review
audits to content optimization, everything was handled with professionalism and attention to detail. Highly recommend for anyone looking to level up their SEO game!
Profile Management, Without the Hostage Situation
We ask for manager access, you keep ownership, and you can revoke us in thirty seconds. That is the whole arrangement.
