How do I create a Google Business Profile?

What do I need before I start?

You need a Google Account. You can create a new one with a Gmail address or with your preferred email address. You can also use an existing account with any email address.

Your business must be eligible. Google lets a business create a profile if it has a physical location that customers can visit, or if it travels to customers where they are.

Gather your real business name, your address or service area, your phone number, your hours, and a category that describes what you do.

How do I create a Google Business Profile?

First, check that no profile exists yet. Search Google or Google Maps for your business name and city. If a profile already exists, go to the section on claiming it below.

If no profile exists, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Google Account that you want to own the profile.
2. Go to business.google.com/add.
3. Click Add your business to Google.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to add your business details.
5. Check that your address is correct and meets Google’s address guidelines.
6. Select a verification option and follow the steps.

The profile is not fully under your control until you finish verification.

What should I enter as my business name?

Use the name that customers see in the real world. It should match your sign, your website, and your stationery.

Google says the name must not include extra information. Do not add these to the name field:

• Marketing taglines
• Store codes
• Business hours
• Phone numbers or website addresses
• Service or product descriptions
• Location details

Legal terms such as Ltd or Inc are also not allowed unless your real-world signs and documents show them consistently as part of the name. Put the other details in the address, hours, and category sections.

If you use a name that does not follow the rules, Google may suspend the profile.

How do I verify my business?

Verification proves that you own the business. Google decides which methods you can use. You cannot change this list. The options depend on your business type, your public information, your region, or your business hours. Sometimes you need more than one method.

The possible methods are:

• Phone or text. A person must answer the business phone or read the text. An automated phone menu cannot receive the code.
• Email. You must be able to open the email address on the verification screen.
• Live video call. You show your location, your equipment, and proof that you manage the business. The call must take place during the business hours of your location.
• Postcard. Google mails a code to your address.

If video verification is available to you, Google recommends it.

What happens if I choose the postcard?

Most codes arrive within 14 days. While you wait, follow these rules:

1. Do not change your business name, address, or category. If you do, the code will not work.
2. Do not request a new code. A new request makes the first code invalid and can make the process longer.
3. Enter the 5-digit code in the Code field on your profile, then select Submit.

Codes expire after 30 days. Keep the code private. Google will never ask you for it. Do not share it with anyone, even a person who helps manage your profile.

After you finish, Google reviews your information. The review takes up to 5 business days.

What if my business already has a profile?

Do not create a second one. Google says a business should have only one profile. Duplicates can cause problems on Maps and Search.

If the existing profile is unverified, you can claim it:

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Search for your business name and city.
3. Select Claim this business or Manage now.
4. Choose a verification option and follow the steps.

If someone has already verified the profile, you can ask the current owner for ownership. You must be authorized to manage the business.

What if Google suspends my profile?

Google may suspend a profile that does not follow its guidelines. You can submit an appeal in the Google Business Profile appeals tool.

Do not create a new profile for the same business. Evidence can help your appeal. Examples are a business registration, a business licence, tax certificates, and utility bills. The name and address on each document must match your profile.

You can submit an appeal only once, so check your profile against the guidelines first.

What should I do after verification?

Write an honest business description. Describe your services and your history. Do not put links in it. Do not use it for sales, special offers, or prices.

Choose the fewest categories that describe your core business. Keep your name, address, and hours the same as they are on your website and your sign. A profile that is accurate and consistent is the best base you can build.