How to Cancel Yelp Advertising in 2026

Updated February 2026 • Difficulty: Hard • $150-1,000+/month

🚨 Yelp advertising contracts are notoriously difficult to cancel. They auto-renew, require phone cancellation, and the sales team uses aggressive retention tactics. Document everything.

Step 1: Find Your Contract Renewal Date

Log into biz.yelp.com and go to Billing to find your contract end date. Most Yelp ad contracts are 12 months with auto-renewal. You need to cancel at least 30 days before the renewal date.

Step 2: Call to Cancel

Call 1-877-767-9357 (Yelp for Business)
Say: "I want to cancel my advertising program"
They WILL offer discounts and try to keep you — be firm
Request a cancellation confirmation email
Get the agent's name and the cancellation reference number

Step 3: Follow Up in Writing

After calling, also send a cancellation request in writing. Email or use the Yelp for Business dashboard contact form. This creates a paper trail in case they "forget" your phone cancellation.

Keep screenshots of:

Your billing page showing the contract terms
The confirmation email (if they send one)
Call duration and date from your phone log

Stuck in a Contract? Your Options

Wait it out: Continue paying until the contract ends, then cancel before renewal.
Negotiate: Call and ask to reduce your monthly spend. Yelp would rather lower your rate than have you dispute charges.
Dispute with your bank: If Yelp refuses to honor a valid cancellation, dispute the charges. Document your cancellation attempts first.
BBB complaint: Filing a Better Business Bureau complaint sometimes triggers faster resolution from Yelp's escalation team.

Yelp's Reputation with Advertisers

Yelp advertising has one of the worst reputations in small business marketing. Common complaints:

Aggressive cold calls to businesses (multiple times per week)
Difficulty measuring actual ROI from Yelp ads
Auto-renewal with price increases
Perception that Yelp suppresses positive reviews for non-advertisers (Yelp denies this)
Minimum 12-month commitments at $150+/month

Better Advertising Alternatives

Google Business Profile — free listing, appears in Google Maps and Search
Google Ads (Local) — target your exact service area, pay per click, no contracts
Facebook/Instagram Ads — flexible budget, no minimum contract
Nextdoor Business — free business page, paid ads available
Yelp free listing — claim your business page, respond to reviews, add photos — all free

💰 Annual Cost

Yelp Ads (low end): $150/month = $1,800/year
Yelp Ads (typical): $300/month = $3,600/year
Google Business Profile: $0
Google Ads (self-managed): flexible, no minimum commitment

💡 Tip: Your free Yelp listing works just fine for most businesses. Respond to reviews, upload quality photos, and keep your hours updated. These free actions often drive more business than paid Yelp ads. Don't let their sales calls convince you otherwise.