Short answer. Yes. Google lets businesses ask customers to review a genuine experience. It does not allow rewarding reviews, asking only the customers you expect to be happy, or pressuring anyone to review while they are at your premises. Google removes content that breaks these rules.
Here are the rules in plain English, the wording that keeps you safe, and the wording that does not.
What Google allows
- Asking every customer for an honest review.
- Sharing your review link on receipts, emails, signs and stands.
- Making it easy: a short link, a QR code or an NFC tap stand on the counter.
- Replying to reviews, good and bad.
What Google does not allow
These come from Google's Prohibited and restricted content policy for Maps.
- Incentives for reviews. No payment, discounts, free goods or free services in exchange for a review. This includes "10% off when you show us your review".
- Incentives to change a review. No offers in exchange for editing or removing a negative review.
- Review gating. Merchants may not "discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively solicit positive reviews from customers." Sending only happy customers to Google, and unhappy ones to a private form, counts.
- Pressure on the premises. Merchants "should not require or pressure users to leave ratings or write reviews while on the premises."
- Staff quotas and scripts. Updated in April 2026: merchants may not ask staff to collect a set number of reviews, or reviews with specific content. Asking customers to name a staff member falls under this.
- Conflicts of interest. Reviews from current or former staff, contractors or close affiliates are not allowed.
Wording on signs and stands
| Fine | Breaks the rules |
|---|---|
| "Enjoyed your visit? Tap to review us." | "5 stars = free coffee." |
| "Your honest review helps us improve." | "Review us and get 10% off today." |
| "Scan to leave a Google review." | "Happy? Review us on Google. Not happy? Tell us privately." |
| "Thank you for visiting." | "Mention Sarah in your review." |
The third row catches many businesses. Inviting feedback is fine. Splitting customers by mood before they reach Google is gating.
How to ask the right way
- Ask everyone the same way. A stand at the counter does this by default.
- Ask at a natural moment. At payment, at pickup or as the customer leaves.
- Make it one step. A tap or a scan, straight to the review form.
- Leave the choice to them. Mention it once. Do not wait beside the customer while they write.
- Reply to every review. It shows future customers that you listen.
For eight practical tactics, see how to get more Google reviews for your cafe.
Where a tap stand fits
A tap stand is an invitation, not a request at the till. It sits on the counter, asks every customer the same way and offers nothing in return. Your staff can point to it once. The customer decides.
Choosing one? Read our Google review stand buyer's guide.
NFC tap stands for Google reviews
One tap to your review form. No app, no subscription, no incentives needed.
People also ask
Is it legal to ask customers for reviews?
Can I run a giveaway for reviews?
Can staff ask customers for reviews?
What happens if I break the rules?
Policy wording checked against Google's Maps user-generated content policy on 19 October 2026. Google updates its policies from time to time, so check the source before you print anything.
