Video verification is one of the ways Google can confirm that your business is real and that you run it. Google decides which verification methods you see, and it recommends the video when your business is eligible. This guide covers the video only: the rules for recording it, what to show and what to do if Google does not accept it.
For the other methods, such as a phone code, email or postcard, read the main guide to verifying a business on Google.
Step by step
Check that you can use video verification
Video verification works for businesses with a shop front, for service-area businesses and for hybrid businesses that do both. A business that works only online, with no in-person service, is not eligible for a Business Profile and cannot be verified. You also cannot pick the method yourself, because Google decides which ones to show.
Decide whether you are a shop front or a service-area business
A shop front business serves customers in person at a place with permanent signage. If yours has no permanent signboard at the place, Google says to list it as a service-area business instead. A service-area business that does not serve customers at its own address should not show that address on the profile.
Plan the walk-through before you press record
The video has to be filmed live, so you cannot record it earlier or offline and upload it later. It must be one complete recording with no breaks and no editing, at least 30 seconds long. Walk the route in your head first: outside, signboard, inside, then proof that you manage the place.
Keep private details out of the frame
Do not show bank account, tax or ID numbers, or other private information about you or anyone else. Do not film other people’s faces. If you use a document as proof, choose one that shows the business name and nothing sensitive.
Start recording from your phone
Open your Business Profile on a mobile device and tap Get verified. You may be asked for your phone number first. Choose Business video, read the requirements and allow access to location, camera and microphone if you are asked. Then start recording.
Show the three things Google looks for
Show where the business is, show proof that it exists and show proof that you manage or represent it. What counts for each depends on your business type, so follow the lists below for a shop or a service-area business.
Review the video, then upload it
Play the video back and check that it shows everything. If something is missing, choose Try again and record it again. When you are happy with it, upload it from the same screen.
Wait for Google’s review
Google reviews the video and says this can take up to 5 business days. If it is accepted, Google tells you that the business is verified. If it is not, Google shows the reasons so that you can film a new one.
What our team at MapBoost does instead
The video has to be filmed live at your business, on a phone, so we cannot film it for you from our office. What we can do is check that your business name, address and category are right and consistent before you start, so that the video matches the profile. We then keep the rest of the profile in order after you are verified.
If you are stuck on verification, tell us on a call and we will say plainly what we can help with. Google makes the decision on every video.
India: ₹2,499* per location per monthEurope: €49 per location per month (or €39 billed yearly) + VAT where applicableRest of the world: $49 per location per month (or $39 billed yearly)
*Plus GST (India)
What to film at a business with a shop front
This applies to shops, showrooms, restaurants and hybrid businesses that serve customers at their place and also visit or deliver to them. The video has to show all three of these.
- Where you are: street signs, building numbers, neighbouring businesses or well-known places nearby, so Google can match the spot to the location on Maps.
- That the business exists: the shop front, showroom or signage. The business name has to be printed on something permanent, such as a signboard, a wall or a window, and it has to match the name on your profile.
- That you manage it: do something only staff can do, such as opening the cash register, going into the kitchen or storage room, or using the point-of-sale system.
What to film for a service-area business
A service-area business goes to its customers, such as a plumber or a locksmith. The video still has to show three things, but they look different.
- Where you work from: street signs, landmarks or other markers at your business address. Avoid empty land or a spot with nothing recognisable. If you run the business from home, Google says you can film landmarks and signs in your immediate neighbourhood.
- That the business exists: your tools, equipment or products, your workspace, business cards, or branded clothing worn by staff.
- That you manage it: show yourself doing a job or opening something only the business uses, such as unlocking a van that carries your branding. You can also show a business permit, an invoice or a utility bill that carries the same name as your profile.
The rules for the recording at a glance
| Rule | What Google asks |
|---|---|
| How it is filmed | Live, in one complete take with no breaks and no editing. A pre-recorded video, or one recorded offline and uploaded later, is not allowed. |
| Length | At least 30 seconds. |
| Device | Recorded and uploaded from a mobile device, through your Business Profile. |
| Keep out of the frame | Bank account, tax or ID numbers, private information about you or others, and other people’s faces. |
| Name | For a shop front, the name you show has to match the name on your profile. |
Why a verification video is not accepted
When a video does not pass, you see a Review issues message on your profile, and Google shares why the first video was not accepted. Google gives three examples of reasons: the business name was not visible on the shop front, no nearby area was shown, and proof that you are authorised to run the business was missing.
A video can also fall short if it breaks one of the recording rules above. These are the common ways that happens.
- The signboard is not in the shot, or the name on it differs from the name on the profile.
- The video shows only the building and no street sign, neighbouring business or landmark.
- Nothing in the video proves that you manage the place, such as opening a till, a kitchen or a business document.
- The video has a cut, was edited, is shorter than 30 seconds, or was not filmed live from a phone.
- A service-area business filmed an empty plot, or showed no tools, vehicle or documents.
What to do after a video is not accepted
Do not edit or trim the old video. Open your profile on your phone, tap Review issues and read each reason. Then record a new video that includes everything you showed the first time and everything that was missing. Upload it for another review.
If you are asked to verify again after you change business details, follow the same steps shown on the profile. If the video will not upload, try uploading it again. If you are still stuck, Google says to try any other verification method it offers you before you contact support.
Deleting your verification video
You can delete the video at any time. If you do not, Google deletes it later. On your phone, open Business Profile settings, then Advanced settings, and choose Delete videos under Video uploads. If you cancel an upload part way, neither you nor Google can see that video.
Common mistakes
- Pre-recording the video or filming it at home and uploading it later. It has to be captured live.
- Cutting the video into clips or editing it. Google wants one complete take.
- Filming only the shop front. Show the street, the signboard and proof that you manage the place.
- Showing a signboard name that is different from the name on the profile.
- Showing bank, tax or ID numbers, or other people’s faces, while you film.
- Listing a business with no permanent signboard as a shop front. Google says to list it as a service-area business.
Questions people ask
What does Google want to see in a verification video?
Google wants to see where your business is, proof that it exists and proof that you manage it. For a shop, that means street signs or neighbours, your signboard and you opening the till or kitchen. For a service-area business, it means landmarks, tools or a branded vehicle, and a document with your business name.
How long does the video need to be?
At least 30 seconds, filmed in one complete take with no breaks. It must be recorded live and uploaded from a mobile device through your Business Profile.
Can I upload a video I recorded earlier?
No. Google does not allow pre-recorded videos, and you cannot record offline and upload later. The video has to be captured live from the Get verified screen on your phone.
How long does Google take to review the video?
Google says the review can take up to 5 business days. If the video is accepted, you are told that the business is verified. If it is not, Google shows the reasons so you can record a new one.
Why was my verification video not accepted?
Your video did not meet every requirement. Google’s examples are a business name that was not visible on the shop front, no nearby area shown, and no proof that you run the business. Tap Review issues on your profile to see the reasons for your video.
Can a business without a shop front use video verification?
Yes. A service-area business can verify by video. Show where you work from, your tools or a branded vehicle, and a document such as a permit, invoice or utility bill that carries your business name.
Is a video recording the same as a live video call?
No. A video recording is filmed and uploaded for review. A live video call is a separate option where you show your business to a support representative, and it works only during the business hours of your location. Neither is available to every business.
Can I delete my verification video?
Yes, at any time. On your phone, open Business Profile settings, then Advanced settings, and choose Delete videos under Video uploads. If you leave it, Google deletes the video later.
Terms used in this guide, in the glossary: Verification, Video verification, Service area business.