This page covers the rules for businesses asking for reviews. If you need to get a bad review removed, read how to remove a Google review. To build the link itself, use the Google review link generator.
What does Google's review policy allow?
Google lets a business encourage reviews. Its Business Profile help says to remind customers and that you can ask them to visit a Google link or scan a QR code. What matters is that the review reflects a genuine personal experience at or with your business. Customers must be signed in to a Google Account to post.
That leaves a lot of room: a receipt line, a follow-up text, a sign at the counter, an email after an appointment. Ours is a short list of what to include. Ask everyone, use plain words, and give the link.
What is not allowed under Google's review rules?
Google's Maps user-generated content policy sets out the lines. The table summarizes the points that matter to a business owner. We checked each against Google's own policy pages in October 2026.
| Practice | Status | What the policy says |
|---|---|---|
| Asking customers for an honest review | Allowed | Merchants may encourage genuine reviews without incentives or influencing the rating or content. |
| Sharing a review link or QR code | Allowed | Google's help page says you can ask customers to visit a link or scan a QR code. |
| Discount, gift, payment or free service for a review | Not allowed | Incentives such as payment, discounts, free goods or services are prohibited. Google calls it fake engagement. |
| Offering a reward to change or remove a negative review | Not allowed | Reviews posted in exchange for changing or removing a negative review are prohibited. |
| Asking only satisfied customers | Not allowed | Merchants may not selectively solicit positive reviews or discourage negative ones. |
| Pressuring for a specific rating, or staff quotas | Not allowed | Coercing customers for specific ratings is rating manipulation. Quotas for staff to solicit reviews are discouraged. |
| Reviews from owners, staff or relatives | Not allowed | Conflict of interest, including employment and family ties, is prohibited. |
| Multiple accounts posting for one person | Not allowed | Content posted from multiple accounts by or at the request of one person is fake engagement. |
Checked October 2026 against Google's policy pages. Policies change, so confirm on the source pages below.
How can I check my review request text?
Paste the message you send customers. The checker scans for wording that matches the prohibited practices above. It is a keyword check on your own text, not a ruling from Google, and it runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.
What do Canadian businesses add on top of Google's rules?
Google's policy governs your listing. The Competition Act governs your marketing. The Competition Bureau of Canada says anyone who writes misleading reviews, or allows them to be written, could be liable. It also says employees who review their employer must disclose their connection, and it suggests businesses train staff and keep a compliance program for employee reviews.
Practically: do not post reviews of your own business. Do not ask staff to post without disclosure. If you send review requests by text or email, CASL consent and unsubscribe rules still apply. Our review request text templates with CASL notes cover that side.
What should a compliant review request look like?
Keep it short, neutral and identical for every customer. A workable pattern has four parts: thank them, ask for an honest review, give the link, and say nothing about stars or rewards.
| Avoid | Use instead |
|---|---|
| "Leave us 5 stars and get 10% off." | "We would value an honest review of your visit." |
| "If you loved it, please review us." | "If you have a minute, tell others about your experience." |
| "Unhappy? Email us first instead." | "Questions about your visit? Reply here and we will help. Reviews are welcome either way." |
| "Mention our Ottawa plumbing service." | "Write in your own words." |
If you want the QR version for a counter or receipt, see the Google review QR code guide. If reviews you earned went missing, start with why Google reviews disappear, and for bad ones see replying to negative reviews.
Google review policy: FAQ
Can I ask customers to leave a Google review?
Yes. Google's own guidance says you can remind customers to leave a review and can ask them to visit a Google link or scan a QR code. The ask has to be neutral. You cannot offer anything in return or steer the rating or the wording.
Can I give a discount or entry in a draw for a Google review?
No. Google's policy lists payment, discounts, free goods and free services as prohibited incentives when they are offered in exchange for a review, a changed review or the removal of a negative review. Google calls this fake engagement.
Is it allowed to only ask happy customers for a review?
Google's merchant guidance says businesses should not selectively solicit positive reviews or discourage negative ones. Send the same request to every customer, and do not add a private feedback step that only happy customers are sent on to Google.
Can my employees or family leave reviews for my business?
Google treats reviews based on a conflict of interest as prohibited, and its examples include current or former employment and family ties. In Canada, the Competition Bureau also warns that employees must disclose their connection to the business in any review they post.
Why did Google remove my reviews?
Common reasons are that the review looked incentivized, came from a pattern that looked like rating manipulation, or came from a conflict of interest. The Google Business Profile review rules apply to your own conduct as well as to what customers post. See our guide to disappearing reviews for a checklist.
Does this apply to businesses in Canada?
Google's policy applies to every Maps listing worldwide. Canadian businesses also face the Competition Act, which covers misleading representations including fake or undisclosed reviews. Neither replaces the other.
Sources
- Google Maps: Prohibited and restricted content
- Google Maps: Fake engagement
- Google Maps: Rating manipulation
- Google Maps: Genuine experience
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips to get more reviews
- Competition Bureau Canada: Online reviews posted by employees
This is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 2026.
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