You bought the business. You did not buy back its reputation. The Google listing still carries reviews written about a place that, in practice, no longer exists — different owner, often different staff, different standards. New customers reading those reviews are judging the previous operator, and it is costing you bookings you have not even had the chance to earn.
Do not start a new listing
It is tempting to want a clean slate, but deleting or abandoning the existing Google Business Profile throws away years of review history and local ranking authority. That history is an asset even when some of it is unflattering. The move is to take ownership of the existing listing and reframe it, not replace it.
The 90-day reframe
- ·Claim the listing and update everything: hours, photos, description, services, and a post announcing new ownership and what has changed.
- ·Reply to the recent reviews — the last six to twelve months — as the new team. Keep it short: "New owners here as of [month]. We've changed [one concrete thing]. We'd love the chance to show you."
- ·Start collecting fresh reviews from day one. Every new review pushes the old ones down the page and shifts the average toward the business you are actually running.
- ·After 90 days of steady new reviews, the top of the listing reflects the new operation, and the average has moved with it.
What to say in the ownership post
Keep it honest and specific. "Under new ownership since March. New kitchen team, new menu, same location." or "New owners as of this spring — we've retrained the front desk and fixed the booking system." Vague claims like "under new management, come give us another try" do less than one concrete change a reader can verify.
Handling the inherited bad reviews
You do not need to defend decisions you did not make. A brief, forward-looking reply works: "This was before our time — we took over in [month] and have changed how we handle [the issue]. If you're open to it, we'd like to make it right." That reframes an old complaint as a resolved one for every future reader.
FAQ
Should I delete the old Google reviews when I buy a business?
You cannot delete reviews you disagree with, and you should not want to. The review history and local ranking authority are valuable. Take over the listing and reframe it with new reviews and an ownership update instead.
Can I remove reviews about the previous owner?
Only if a specific review violates a Google policy. A review being about the old management is not grounds for removal. Reply to it as the new team and let fresh reviews move it down.
How long does it take to reset a business's Google reputation?
About 90 days of steady new reviews is enough for the top of the listing and the visible recent activity to reflect the new operation. The lifetime average moves more slowly but follows.
Should I announce new ownership on Google?
Yes. Post it, update the profile, and mention one or two concrete changes. Customers reading old reviews need a signal that the business has actually changed, not just the sign out front.