How You Can Remove a Business Listing Online From Google

A bad business listing can hurt more than your pride. It can cost you clients, affect your search rankings, and confuse the public. For service-based professionals—especially attorneys—accuracy and trust matter. If someone finds your name linked to an old address, a duplicate listing, or a totally different firm, it can get messy.

The good news? You can get bad listings removed. It just takes a bit of strategy and the right tools.

Why Bad Listings Are a Bigger Problem Than You Think

People trust Google—sometimes too much

Most people believe what they see in search results. If your law firm shows up under the wrong name or location, they may assume it’s correct. That can lead to lost leads, negative reviews, or even missed court appearances.

Stat: According to BrightLocal, 68% of consumers would stop using a local business if they found incorrect info online.

This is especially dangerous for law firms. An outdated listing on Google Maps could send a client to the wrong office—or worse, to a competitor.

What a “Bad Listing” Really Means

Not every error is obvious

Some listings are flat-out fake. Others are just wrong. Common issues include:

• Duplicate listings
  
• Wrong business name
  
• Old phone numbers or emails
  
• Closed offices still appearing live
  
• A listing created by a third party (without your consent)
  
• Listings linked to negative reviews from another firm or location
  

Example: One attorney we worked with had three different Google profiles. One had an old firm name. One was linked to a location he never used. The third one was accurate—but it ranked the lowest. Clients were getting confused, and reviews were spread across all three.

Fixing that helped clean up search results and doubled calls to the correct office.

Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Listing

Always take control first

Before you can remove or correct anything, you need to claim your business on Google.

1. Go to Google Maps
   
2. Search for your business
   
3. Click “Claim this business”
   
4. Verify ownership (usually by mail, phone, or email)
   

Once you’re verified, you can edit the listing: name, address, hours, phone, and website. This prevents others from making unwanted changes.

Tip: Keep your listing updated every few weeks. Google favors fresh info and active profiles.

Step 2: Report a Duplicate or Wrong Listing

Use the built-in tools

If you find another listing that’s incorrect, go to the listing and click “Suggest an edit”. Then choose:

• “Remove this place”
  
• Pick the reason (e.g., “Duplicate of another place” or “Doesn’t exist”)
  

If it’s clearly wrong or fake, Google will usually remove it within 3 to 10 business days.

Example: A small law office in Florida found a duplicate listing created by an old marketing agency. It showed the wrong logo and linked to a site they no longer used. After submitting a removal request and verifying the correct listing, the duplicate was gone in four days.

Step 3: Submit a Removal Request to Google

When edits don’t work, escalate

Sometimes the “suggest an edit” option doesn’t get results. If Google rejects your edit or ignores it, you can file a formal request.

Go to the Google Business Profile support page and submit a ticket explaining the issue. Be clear. Provide screenshots. Attach links that prove the listing is outdated, fake, or harmful.

Be professional. Google isn’t fast with vague or emotional complaints.

What If the Listing Is Fake or Harmful?

Misleading listings can be reported for policy violations

If a listing was created to impersonate your firm or mislead the public, it’s a policy issue. You can file a complaint under Google’s Business Redressal Complaint Form.

This is useful if:

• A competitor made the listing
  
• The listing is tied to a negative campaign
  
• The name or info is intentionally misleading
  
• It’s connected to fake reviews or defamation
  

In more serious cases—like fraud, impersonation, or brand abuse—you may want to bring in legal help.

Some listings qualify for google removals under legal grounds, such as false representation or defamation. In those cases, showing harm (like lost business) helps build a stronger case.

What About Reviews on Bad Listings?

Don’t ignore them—they still count

Even if the listing is fake or wrong, reviews on it still affect your reputation.

Step one is to get the listing removed. But while that’s in progress, you can also report specific reviews.

Click the three dots next to the review and select “Report review”. Choose a reason like:

• Not relevant to this business
  
• Spam or fake content
  
• Conflict of interest
  

Google reviews each report by hand. Be ready to explain why the review doesn’t belong.

How to Prevent Bad Listings in the Future

Reputation takes work—so protect it

Here’s how to stay ahead:

• Set Google Alerts for your firm name and attorney names
  
• Audit your listings monthly across Google, Yelp, Bing, and legal directories
  
• Use consistent info across your website and social profiles
  
• Don’t let third parties create listings without your knowledge
  
• Respond to all reviews—even the good ones
  
• Update your listing every 30 days with fresh photos or posts
  

If you see something suspicious, act quickly. The longer a bad listing stays up, the more it spreads.

Reputation Starts with Accuracy

Search engines don’t always get it right. But you can.

A bad listing can damage trust before a potential client even calls you. It’s worth the time to clean it up.

Take control of your profile. Report what’s wrong. Follow up when needed. And know when to escalate if basic steps don’t work.

In law, trust is everything. Don’t let a wrong Google listing get in the way of your next case.