Create a free Google Business Profile at google.com/business, choose an accurate primary category, verify the business, then fill in hours, service area, phone, website, photos and services. Keep it updated and ask happy customers for reviews. A complete, accurate profile linked to your own website gives you the best chance of showing up on Google Maps.
- A Google Business Profile is free.
- Your primary category is one of the most important choices.
- Service-area businesses can hide their street address.
- Link the profile to your own website, not only to social media.
- Keep hours and details current, especially on holidays.
What a Google Business Profile is and why it matters
A Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the listing that shows up on Google Maps and in the local results when someone searches for things like “house cleaning near me” or your business name. It shows your hours, phone, reviews, photos and a link to your website.
It is free to create and manage. Google decides which businesses to show based on factors it describes publicly as relevance, distance and prominence. You cannot pay for a better organic position on Maps, but you can make sure your profile is complete, accurate and active.
Step by step: create and verify your profile
- Go to google.com/business and sign in with a Google account you control. Use a business account you will keep, not an employee’s personal email.
- Search for your business name. If a listing already exists, request ownership instead of creating a duplicate.
- Choose your primary category. Pick the one that best describes your main service, for example “Car detailing service” or “House cleaning service.” You can add secondary categories later.
- Add your location or service area. If customers come to you, add your address. If you go to them, add the cities or areas you serve and hide your address.
- Add your phone number and website.
- Verify. Google offers different verification methods depending on the business, such as a phone call, text, email or a video. Follow the steps it shows you. Your profile will not be fully visible until it is verified.
Use your real business name, exactly as customers see it on your truck, sign or invoices. Adding keywords or city names to the name goes against Google’s guidelines and can get the profile suspended.
Check it for free: Google's official speed test, mobile, contact options and how Google sees you. About 30 seconds.
Fill it out completely
Once verified, go through every section. A complete profile helps customers decide and gives Google more information to match you with searches.
- Hours, including special hours for holidays.
- Services, with short descriptions and, if you want, starting prices.
- Business description: what you do, where you work and what makes you different, in plain language.
- Photos: your work, your team, your vehicle or storefront. Real photos beat stock images.
- Website link pointing to your own site, not just a social media page.
- Attributes that apply to you, like online estimates or the languages you speak.
- Messaging or booking links, if you can respond quickly.
| Profile field | What to write | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Business name | Your real name only | Stuffing in keywords or cities |
| Primary category | Your main service | Choosing something too broad |
| Service area | Cities or areas you actually serve | Listing places you rarely go |
| Website | Your own site | Linking only to Facebook or Instagram |
| Hours | Real, current hours | Forgetting holiday changes |
Connect it to a real website
Your profile and your website work as a team. The profile gets you seen; the website answers the questions the profile cannot: your full list of services, before-and-after photos, service area, how pricing works and a simple form to request a quote.
Make sure your name, phone number and address (or service area) match exactly on both. Then check whether your site is fast, mobile-friendly and easy to contact from with our free website checkup.
Add a link to your Google Maps listing on your website, and your website on your profile. Customers can move between the two without searching again.
Mistakes that hold profiles back
Some problems quietly hurt a profile, and a few can get it suspended. Watch out for these:
| Mistake | Why it is a problem | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate listings | Splits reviews and confuses Google and customers | Claim the existing listing or ask Google to merge or remove duplicates |
| A virtual office or P.O. box as your address | Generally not allowed as a business location | Use a real location or set up a service-area business |
| Changing key details too often | Can trigger a new review or verification | Make changes only when something really changes |
| Different phone numbers everywhere | Customers and Google get mixed signals | Use the same number on your profile, website and social pages |
| Ignoring customer edits | Anyone can suggest edits to a listing | Check your profile regularly and correct wrong suggestions |
If you want a second pair of eyes, ask us for a free preview. We look at your current profile while building it and point out anything that looks off.
Keep it active
A profile that looks abandoned makes people hesitate. A few habits go a long way:
- Add new photos every month or two.
- Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and briefly.
- Answer questions in the Q&A section if it is available for your listing.
- Post occasional updates or offers.
- Update hours before holidays.
Reviews are a big part of this. We wrote a separate guide on how to get more Google reviews, with message templates.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Business Profile free?
Yes. Creating and managing a Google Business Profile is free. Be wary of calls from companies claiming to be Google and asking for payment to keep your listing.
Do I need a physical address?
You need a real business location or a real service area. If you serve customers at their homes or job sites, you can set up a service-area business and hide your street address.
How long does verification take?
It depends on the method Google offers you. Some are instant, others take a few days. Follow the instructions in your profile dashboard and avoid editing key details while verification is pending.
Why is my business not showing up on Google Maps?
Common reasons are an unverified or suspended profile, a category that does not match your service, incomplete information, or simply being farther from the searcher than competitors. Check each of those first.
Can I have a profile without a website?
Yes, but a website gives customers more reasons to choose you and gives Google more information about your business. Many profiles that link only to social media look less complete.