Can I list a home-based business on Google Maps?

Does Google allow a business that runs from my home?

Yes. Google lets a business create a Business Profile if it has a location that customers can visit, or if it travels to customers. A home-based business usually fits the second case.

The rule that matters is this: Google asks you to show your address only when you have a storefront that is staffed during business hours. A home office is not a storefront.

Will my home address be public?

Not if you hide it. The address on a Business Profile is public by default. If you do not serve customers at your address, you can choose not to show it. Your profile then shows only your service area.

Google says you should hide the address only if you are a service-area business. Do not hide it if customers visit you at a staffed location.

How do I set up the profile?

1. Sign in to a Google Account. If you create a new one, use your business email domain.
2. Go to the Business Profile sign-up page and enter your business name.
3. Choose your business category.
4. When Google asks if you have a location customers can visit, choose No.
5. Enter your service area. Use the cities, postal codes, or other areas that you serve. You can add up to 20 service areas.
6. Enter your phone number and your website address.
7. Review your information. Then choose a verification option.

Customers can find your profile only after you complete verification. Do not skip this step.

What if I already set up the profile with my home address showing?

You must hide it. Open your Business Profile. Select Edit profile, then Location. Next to “Business location,” select Edit. Turn off “Show business address to customers.” Then select Save.

Your profile then shows only your service area. If you did not enter a service area, Google picks a local area for you. You can edit it later.

How large should my service area be?

Keep it realistic. Google recommends that you do not extend your overall area farther than 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based. For some businesses a larger area may be right. Add only the places you really serve.

What mistakes get home-based profiles in trouble?

Google can suspend a profile that does not follow its guidelines. These mistakes are common:

• Showing a home address when no customers visit. Hide it instead.
• Making a second profile. Google asks for one profile for the metropolitan area you serve. Your account may be suspended if Google finds multiple profiles for the same business in the same area.
• Changing the business name. Use the name that appears on your signage, stationery, and website. Do not add keywords, taglines, phone numbers, or a list of services.
• Using an address that is not yours. Google asks you to reflect your business accurately. A false address can also mislead customers.
• Choosing many categories. Choose the fewest categories that describe your core business.

Do I need to check local rules in Ontario?

Yes. Google does not set the rules for what you may do at home. Your municipality does. Many Ontario towns have zoning bylaws for home occupations. These rules can limit client visits, signs, and staff.

Call your town hall or read its zoning bylaw before you invite customers to your home. If you meet customers at home, you may need to treat your home as a customer location. That changes how you set up the profile. Check the Google guidelines for your exact case.

What should I do next?

Create the profile as a service-area business. Complete verification. Then check that your public profile shows your service area and not your street address. Keep the business name, phone number, and website the same everywhere else online.