BY REASON
Suspended for a virtual office address
Can a Google Business Profile use a virtual office address?
Generally no: Google's guidelines say a virtual office, which is a rented mailing address where the business doesn't operate, isn't eligible for a Business Profile.
The rule: what Google says
Google's guidelines say a rented mailing address where the business doesn't operate, also known as a virtual office, isn't eligible for a Business Profile. Google also says P.O. boxes, and mailboxes at remote locations, aren't acceptable as a business address. For service-area businesses, Google says a "virtual" office can be listed only if it is staffed during business hours. An office at a co-working space has conditions too: clear signage, customers received during business hours, and staffing by the business's own staff during business hours.
How to tell if it applies to your profile
Google tells businesses to create the profile for their actual, real-world location. An address you only rent for mail, with no operations there, matches the virtual office description. Google says businesses that show their address should maintain permanent fixed signage of the business name at that address, so you can check your listed address against that. A business that serves customers at its address and also sets a service area should have that location staffed by its team and able to receive customers during its stated hours.
What to fix before you appeal
Google's suspension page says to make sure the profile follows all the guidelines before you submit an appeal. Google says a service-area business should hide its business address from customers. It also says not to put information in address lines that doesn't pertain to the business's physical location, such as URLs or keywords. The appeals tool lets you add optional evidence to support an eligible appeal, and Google advises that the business name and address on any evidence documents match the profile being appealed. Appeals can only be submitted once, so the fixes should be in place before you submit. Google says not to create a new Business Profile for the same business.
Sources: support.google.com/business/answer/4569145 · support.google.com/business/answer/3038177
Published 20 October 2026 · All guides