Part of our complete guide: Google Business Profile: the complete guide for owners.
A Google Business Profile is the box that appears on Google Search and Google Maps when someone looks for your business. It shows your address, hours, phone number, photos and reviews. If you do not have one, customers cannot easily find you or call you from the map.
Step by step
Sign in with the right Google account
Use an email address that belongs to the business and that you will keep. A free Gmail address is fine. Avoid a personal account that you might lose or hand to someone else.
Search for your business first
Go to business.google.com and type your business name. If a profile already exists, claim it instead of creating a second one. Duplicates cause problems later.
Enter your business name exactly as on your signboard
Do not add a city, a service or keywords. Extra words are a common reason for suspension.
Choose your main category
Pick the most specific description of what you do, for example Dentist and not Doctor. You can add more later.
Tell Google if customers visit you
If people come to your shop, clinic or court, add the address and place the map pin on the exact spot. If you travel to customers, choose service area and list the places you cover.
Add a phone number and website
Use a number that your team answers. A website is optional, so skip it if you do not have one.
Verify the profile
Google will ask you to verify with a code or a video. Until you do, your profile does not show to customers.
Complete the rest of the profile
Add opening hours, a short description of up to 750 characters, your services or products, and photos. A complete profile gives customers more reasons to choose you.
What our team at MapBoost does instead
We keep your profile right: hours, attributes, categories, services, menu and booking links. We also add fresh photos every month and publish a post every week.
Start with our free audit. It checks your profile and shows what is missing.
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 you need before you start
- Your exact business name, as written on your signboard.
- Your full address and the right map location.
- A phone number that works.
- Opening hours, including special hours for holidays.
- A few clear photos of the outside and inside.
- A business document in the same name, in case Google asks for proof.
Common mistakes
- Creating a profile without searching first. You may end up with two profiles for one business.
- Adding keywords or the city to the business name.
- Choosing a very broad category such as Store or Business.
- Using a home address for a business that visits customers, without choosing service area.
- Leaving the profile half-empty after verification.
- Using an email address that will be lost when an employee leaves.
Questions people ask
How do I create a Google Business Profile?
Go to business.google.com, sign in, search for your business, and if it is not listed add its name, category, address or service area and phone number. Then verify it and complete hours, photos and services.
How much does it cost to set up a Google Business Profile?
Nothing. Creating and managing a Business Profile is free for eligible businesses. Anyone asking for money to list you on Google is selling a service, not a requirement.
How do I add myself to Google Search?
Create a Business Profile for your business. Once it is verified, it can appear on Google Search and Maps when people look for you or for what you offer nearby.
How do I get my business to appear first on Google?
No one can guarantee first place. A verified, complete profile with the right category, regular photos, reviews and replies gives you the best chance. Where you appear also depends on where the customer is.
Do I need a website to create a Google Business Profile?
No. You can create and verify a profile without a website. You can add one later.
Can I create a Google Business Profile without a shop?
Yes, if you serve customers at their location. Choose service area, list the places you cover and keep your address private. Google still needs to verify that the business is real.
How long does it take for a new profile to show on Google Maps?
Once verified, the profile can show quickly, though some details take longer to appear. Unverified profiles do not show to customers.
Can I have more than one Google Business Profile?
You can have one profile for each real location. Do not create several profiles for the same place, because duplicates can lead to suspension.
Was Google My Business renamed Google Business Profile?
Yes. Google My Business was the old name. Today you manage the profile directly on Google Search and Maps.
Terms used in this guide, in the glossary: Google Business Profile, Google My Business, Primary category, Service area business, Map pin, NAP.