Is Google Business Profile free?

Is Google Business Profile really free?

Yes. Google’s help pages say you can add or claim your business at no charge. The profile lets customers find your business on Search and Maps. After you add or claim it, you control how your business information shows up on Google.

Only businesses that are eligible can add or claim a location. Google asks that the business has a physical location that customers can visit, or that it travels to customers where they are.

Can anyone charge me for the profile?

Google does not charge for the profile. Some companies sell help with the profile, such as setup, photos, or posts. That is a service from that company. It is not a Google fee.

Ask any company what you get for the money. Check that you stay the owner of the profile. The owner account must be yours.

How do I claim or add my business?

First, check whether a profile already exists. Search for your business name and city on Google.

1. Sign in to the Google Account you want to use. Any email address can work with a Google Account.
2. If no profile exists, go to business.google.com/add and select Add your business to Google.
3. If an unverified profile exists, open Google Maps, search for your business, and select Claim this business, then Manage now.
4. Enter your business details and check that your address meets Google’s address guidelines.
5. Choose a verification option and follow the on-screen steps.

If a verified profile already exists and you are authorized to manage the business, you can request ownership from the current owner.

How do I verify my business?

Verification gives you ownership. You need it to edit your business name or hours and to talk with customers.

Google decides which verification options you see. You cannot change them. The options depend on your business type, public information, region, and business hours. The options can include:

• Phone or text
• Email
• Live video call
• Postcard by mail

If you choose phone, make sure a person can answer the number. An automated phone menu will not get the code. Google recommends video verification if your business is eligible.

How long does postcard verification take?

Most postcards arrive within 14 days. The code expires after 30 days.

While you wait, do not edit your business name, address, or category. If you do, the code will not work. Do not request a new code either. A new request cancels the code in the mail.

After you enter the code, Google reviews your information. That review takes up to 5 business days.

Google will never ask you for your verification code. Do not share it with anyone.

What can get my free profile suspended?

Google can suspend or disable a profile that does not follow its guidelines. These are the common causes:

• A business name with extra words, such as a tagline, a phone number, or hours.
• Legal terms or special characters in the name, unless your signs and invoices show them.
• Links in the business description.
• Prices or sale offers in the business description.
• More than one profile for the same business.

Use your real business name, as customers see it on your sign and your website. Put your address, hours, and service area in their own fields. Choose the fewest categories that describe your core business.

If Google suspends your profile, use the appeals tool. Do not create a new profile for the same business. You can submit an appeal only once, so read the guidelines first. Evidence such as a business registration, a licence, or a utility bill can help. The name and address on each document must match the profile.

What should an Ontario business owner watch for?

Treat the profile as a public record of your business. Keep your hours, address, and phone number correct.

If you email customers to ask for reviews, CASL may apply to those messages. Get advice on consent before you send them. Do not buy reviews or write fake ones. The Competition Bureau treats misleading reviews as a problem.

A free profile does not promise a high place in the results. It gives you control over what customers see when they find you.