Can You Transfer Google Reviews To A New Business?

No, Google reviews don’t move to a different business; limited moves occur only for the same business in verified merges or relocations.

If you’re changing names, moving across town, or taking over a brand, reviews can make or break trust on your listing. The big question is simple: can those hard-won stars follow you? The short answer for a brand-new, different business is no. Google ties reviews to real places and real experiences. That said, there are narrow cases where reviews can follow the same business when records are merged or a location change is handled correctly. This guide lays out what sticks, what doesn’t, and how to handle each case with minimal friction.

What “Transfer” Really Means Here

People use “transfer” to describe a few very different moves on Google. Sometimes it means combining two duplicate listings for the same place. Sometimes it means shifting reviews after a move to a new address. Other times it means trying to bring reviews from a closed brand into a fresh venture. Google treats each case differently. The rules lean toward keeping reviews with the place and brand that earned them. When details line up—same business, same ownership, same services—Google may carry reviews forward. When details don’t line up, they stay put or get removed.

Scenarios And What Happens To Reviews

Use this quick table to see how typical situations play out. It covers the most common cases owners run into when asking whether reviews can move.

Scenario	Allowed To Move?	What Usually Happens
Same business moves to a new address (name stays the same)	Often	Reviews can follow the profile after the address change or a records merge.
Duplicate listings for the same place	Often	Google can combine records; reviews may consolidate into the active profile.
Rebrand with same ownership and same services	Sometimes	Reviews can remain if the change is minor; big brand shifts can trigger removals.
New company buys a different company and wants its stars	No	Reviews stay with the old business unless Google treats it as the same entity.
New venture at the same address (different owner or services)	No	Reviews don’t carry over; a fresh profile builds a fresh record.
Franchise swap (Brand A becomes Brand B at same site)	Rare	Large brand changes can lead to review removal rather than a move.

Why Most Transfers Don’t Happen

Reviews reflect a customer’s visit to a place with a name, staff, and service level. Move those stars to a different business and the story no longer matches the experience. That’s why Google keeps reviews tied to the entity that earned them. If the new venture changes owners, offerings, or brand, the experiences described in old reviews no longer map. The platform would rather keep trust high than juice a new listing with ratings that don’t fit.

Close Variation Of The Keyword In Context: Moving Google Reviews To A New Brand Name—What’s Allowed

This section covers rebrands and name tweaks. If you’re making a light change—say, “Oak & Pine Dental” becomes “Oak Dental”—reviews can remain attached to the same profile once the edit clears. If you switch from one franchise to another or shift from one specialty to a very different one, reviews may be removed. The more the brand and offering change, the less likely those ratings stick to your record.

When A Move Can Carry Reviews Forward

There are narrow paths where reviews can follow you:

Address change, same business: You change locations but keep the brand, ownership, and services. Reviews can be moved to the updated listing once the address update completes.
Duplicate clean-up: Two records exist for the same place. When Google merges them, reviews can land on the surviving profile.
Minor rebrand: You refresh the name while keeping the same offering. Reviews often remain in place.

Google explains the move/merge pathway in its Help Center, including cases where contact is needed to request a move. See the article on managing and moving reviews for the platform’s wording and routes.

When Reviews Won’t Move

Here are the cases where the answer is a hard stop:

Different business at the same address: A new venture takes the location; old reviews don’t apply.
Brand swap with a different lineup: Big changes in brand or services can trigger removal of past reviews.
New owners shaping a new model: If the entity isn’t the same, you start fresh.

For policy guardrails that steer these outcomes, check the Business Profile policies. They outline what a listing can claim and how records should reflect the real business.

How To Handle A Relocation The Right Way

A move doesn’t have to erase your history. Here’s a clean path:

Edit the address on the current profile: Don’t create a fresh listing unless Google requires it. Keeping one active record avoids splitting reviews.
Verify the new address: Complete the verification steps so the record is eligible for any review carryover.
Close duplicates: If a second profile pops up, ask for a merge so reviews can land in one place.
Watch for delays: Reviews can take time to settle on the updated profile.

Rebrand Without Losing Hard-Won Stars

Rebrands are common. Keep the process tight so your rating history stays intact where allowed.

Stick with one record: Edit the name on the current listing rather than spawning a new one.
Keep the same categories: Large category changes hint at a different business, which can put reviews at risk.
Keep the same web domain if you can: A brand-new domain plus a brand shift looks like a new entity.
Document continuity: Save proof of ownership and branding continuity in case a reviewer or Google asks questions.

Buying A Company? What Happens To Its Reviews

Mergers and acquisitions raise hopes that reviews will transfer cleanly. In practice, those stars follow the business that keeps the same on-the-ground identity. If Company A buys Company B and shuts down B’s brand, the reviews from B won’t decorate A’s listing. If A truly is the same place and brand with new owners, the reviews can remain on that single, continuous record. If the purchase inserts a different brand or a different service set, those reviews won’t move over to the buyer’s listing.

What Proof Helps When A Move Makes Sense

If your case falls into the “same business” bucket, gather items that show continuity. These help the process if Google needs to review your request.

Business registration showing an address change but the same entity.
Tax or utility mail at both addresses under the same legal name.
Photos and signage that show the brand and services stayed the same.
Public notices or local listings that reflect the move as a continuation, not a new venture.

Step-By-Step: Asking For A Review Move Or Merge

Use this flow only when you’re dealing with the same business and a clean record. If you’re trying to move reviews to a different business, skip this—there isn’t a path.

Prepare the live profile: Make sure the primary listing is verified and shows the correct name, category, and address.
Collect evidence: Keep the items listed above handy to show continuity.
Flag the duplicate or prior record: If there’s a second listing for the same place, note its URL and Business Profile ID.
Request help via the Help Center routes: Use the options linked from the review management article to ask for a move or merge.
Monitor the listing: Give the system time to consolidate reviews. Keep responses to new reviews active during the wait.

What To Expect During A Merge

When Google merges duplicate records for the same place, you may see one listing marked as closed or as a duplicate. Reviews can take time to land on the surviving profile. Some may appear in waves. Edits to name, categories, and hours can also take time to stick. Keep the listing tidy and consistent while the system settles.

Mistakes That Cost You Your Ratings

Plenty of owners lose review history through avoidable missteps. Here are the big ones to avoid:

Creating a new profile for a move: Editing the current record is safer when it’s the same business.
Changing categories too widely: Large shifts look like a different entity.
Leaving duplicates live: Letting two listings run splits reviews and confuses customers.
Chasing reviews for the wrong listing: Always share the review link from the active profile.

Clean-Up Plan If Reviews Don’t Move

Sometimes the answer is final. When reviews won’t move, pivot to a fast, clean growth plan:

Ask after a job or visit: A simple ask with a direct link earns more feedback than a passive approach.
Reply to every review: Short, human replies raise trust and invite more feedback.
Fix friction points that show up in feedback: Parking, wait times, or communication issues often come up. Remove the pain and the rating trend improves.
Use posts and photos: Fresh activity signals that the business is active and engaged.

Owner Changes, Franchises, And Shared Locations

Shared sites, suites, and franchise swaps create extra confusion. If a different brand takes over a space, the old reviews don’t apply. If two brands share a site, each brand needs a clean, separate record that reflects its own name, categories, and phone. Trying to inherit reviews from the other record can trigger edits or removals. Keep the data clear so customers land on the right page and leave feedback for the right team.

Second Table: Quick Checklist For A Smooth Transition

Use this checklist when you’re changing addresses or making a light brand edit and want to keep reviews where that’s allowed.

Step	Owner Action	Proof To Save
Edit the live listing	Update address/name on the existing profile	Before/after screenshots of the same profile
Verify new details	Complete verification steps	Verification emails, codes, postcard photo
Identify duplicates	List URLs/IDs of extra records	Copy of both profile URLs and IDs
Request a merge/move	Use the Help Center route	Ticket numbers and message copies
Monitor results	Track reviews over several weeks	Exported review list before/after

Review Hygiene While You Wait

Keep the lights on while records update. Share the correct review link in receipts, emails, and texts. Respond to every new review with a short, specific reply. Flag content that breaks platform rules, and don’t offer gifts for reviews. Google polices fake or paid feedback and can add warnings or freeze new ratings when it finds abuse. Staying clean protects your long-term rating curve.

FAQs You Might Be Thinking—Answered Within The Flow

Can You Move Reviews From A Closed Brand To A Fresh Venture?

No. If the entity is different, ratings don’t follow.

Can You Keep Reviews After A Light Name Change?

Yes, when the business stays the same and the edit clears on the live record.

Do Stars Follow A Move Across Town?

Often, when the profile is edited rather than replaced, and the brand and services stay the same.

Practical Template For Customer Requests

Here’s a short script you can hand to staff after a job or visit:

“Thanks for choosing us today. If you have a minute, would you share a quick review on Google? Here’s the link: [insert your direct review link]. Your note helps local folks find the right place.”

Bottom Line For Owners

Real reviews map to a real entity. If your new venture is a different business, you start fresh. If you’re the same business and you’re merging records or updating an address, you can keep your history. Keep data consistent, use the Help Center routes for moves and merges, and keep asking customers for fresh feedback. That steady flywheel beats any shortcut.