Can You Ask Customers for Reviews? What’s Allowed and What’s Not

Yes — asking is allowed, expected, and how most reviews happen. But there are real lines, from both Google and the FTC. Here they are in plain English.

Allowed

• Asking any customer, verbally or with a card, sign, receipt, email, or text.
• Making it easy: direct links, tap cards, QR codes.
• Asking at the point of sale, at the peak moment.
• Replying to reviews, including negative ones.

Not allowed

• Paying for reviews in cash, discounts, freebies, or raffle entries. Violates Google policy, and undisclosed paid endorsements violate FTC rules — with real fines.
• Review gating: pre-screening sentiment and only routing happy customers to Google.
• Fake reviews: reviews from owners, employees, family posing as customers, or purchased accounts. The FTC finalized a rule in 2024 that makes buying or selling fake reviews federally punishable.
• Suppressing negatives: contracts or threats that stop customers from posting honest reviews are barred by the Consumer Review Fairness Act.

The simple compliance test

Would you be comfortable if every customer — happy or not — saw exactly how you ask? A card on the counter that says “Tap to review” passes. A whispered “leave us 5 stars and get 10% off” doesn’t.