Relocate Business Sites: What to Update When a Local Business Moves

Reddit threads on relocating a business are scattered. Here's the full checklist in the order that causes the fewest problems.

Before the move: lock in one exact address

Pick one exact address and use it everywhere. Look it up on the USPS site and copy its formatting. One r/GoogleMyBusiness user who went through a move said theirs turned out to be "Ste 2," not "Suite 2" (thread). Save the name, address, phone, and hours in one note and paste from it every time.

Prepare for Google verification too: permanent signage by the door (banners aren't accepted, per the same thread) and a lease or utility bill with the new address.

What to update on the website when a business relocates

1. Update every visible address on the site

Change the contact page, header, and footer first, since the footer shows on every page. Then check the About page, location pages, and copy like "located downtown" that no longer fits. Search the site for the old street name.

2. Update the embedded map and directions

Point the map embed at the new location, rewrite parking or directions text, and add a photo of the new storefront.

3. Update the LocalBusiness schema

The address in the page's structured data has to match the visible address. Update the streetAddress, addressLocality, postalCode, and geo coordinates, then run the page through Google's Rich Results Test. If the site doesn't have schema yet, here's how to add LocalBusiness schema.

4. Redirect old location URLs

If a page URL includes the old city or neighborhood (like /downtown-location), 301-redirect it to the new location page instead of deleting it, so links and rankings carry over. If the domain stays the same and URLs don't change, you don't need redirects.

5. Announce the move

Add a "We've moved" note on the homepage for a few months so returning customers aren't confused.

How to move the Google Business Profile

Edit the address on the existing profile. Don't create a second listing, since a duplicate can split reviews or get flagged. Make the address change on its own, without editing the name, categories, phone, or website at the same time, and expect phone or video verification. For the rest of the profile, see how to optimize a Google Business Profile.

Several r/localseo commenters suggest updating the website and main directories first, so the rest of the web already agrees when Google checks.

Update citations and directories

In the first week, update Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yelp, Facebook, and the main industry directory. Then do the chamber of commerce, BBB, and local directories, and recheck in a month for any that reverted.

What Reddit users reported after relocating

• One r/GoogleMyBusiness user said that after adding a new office address to their service-area profile, they had to video verify multiple times, and about 4 months later the listing was bouncing between the top 3 and 5th place or lower (thread).
• An r/localseo poster said a clinic with over 100 reviews that changed locations during their project took about four months to rank (thread).

Those are individual experiences, not guarantees. Distance moved and nearby competitors matter most.

If you build sites for local businesses, Locasly's prospect panel shows each business's address and website as listed on Google Maps, so you can see what Google has before you start.

FAQ

Will I lose my Google reviews if I move my business?

No. If you edit the address on the same profile instead of creating a new one, the reviews stay with it.

Should I create a new Google Business Profile for the new location?

Not for a straight relocation. Only if you're keeping both locations open.

How long do rankings take to recover after a move?

Often a few weeks to a few months. Searches near the old address may not come back, since you're no longer close to those searchers.

Do I need to change my website's URLs when I relocate?

Only if a URL names the old location. Then 301-redirect it to the new page.