How to Create a Google Business Profile

A Google Business Profile is the panel that can appear when someone searches for your business, or for your type of work nearby. It shows your hours, phone number, location or service area, photos and reviews. For a local business, it can be the first thing a new customer sees.

This guide follows Google's own Business Profile Help pages, quoted with the date we checked them. Google changes its tools and wording over time, so check the help pages if a screen looks different.

Check that your business qualifies

Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "If your business either has a physical location that customers can visit, or travels to customers where they are, you can create a Business Profile on Google."

If you work from home and visit customers, you can still have a profile. The same page asks you to "Make sure your address and/or service area is accurate and precise."

Gather your details first

Before you start, have these ready, exactly as customers see them on your signs, invoices and website:

• Your business name. Google's guidelines (checked October 31, 2026) ask you to "Represent your business as it’s consistently represented and recognized in the real world across signage, stationery, and other branding."
• Your address or service area.
• Your phone number and website.
• Your opening hours, including any special hours for holidays.
• A short list of the services you offer.
• A few good photos of your work, your premises or your team.

Add or claim your profile

Search for your business name and city on Google or in Google Maps. One of two things happens:

• There's no profile yet, so you create one and follow the on-screen steps.
• A profile already exists, because Google or someone else created it. If it's unverified, you can claim it.

Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "You can add or claim your business at no charge."

Verify your business

Verification proves to Google that you run the business. Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "Verification methods are automatically determined by Google and can’t be changed." Use whichever option you're offered and follow the steps.

On timing, the same page says: "To help maintain the integrity of your Business Profile, verification reviews take up to 5 business days."

Fill in your details

A complete profile can help people decide. Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "Businesses with complete and accurate info are more likely to show up in local search results."

• Categories: Google's guidelines say to "Choose the fewest number of categories it takes to describe your overall core business." Pick the one that describes your main work.
• Hours: keep them current, including holiday changes.
• Services and a short description: say what you do and where, in plain words.
• Photos: show real work and real places. Update them when your work or premises change.
• One profile only: the guidelines say "There should only be one profile per business".

Reply to reviews

Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "When you reply to customer reviews, it shows that you value their feedback."

• Reply to every review, good or bad, in a calm, short way.
• For a complaint, acknowledge it, and offer to sort it out by phone or email.
• Ask every customer the same way when you ask for reviews. The guide to collecting testimonials covers the FTC's US rules on this.

Understand how local ranking works

Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "Local results are mainly based on relevance, distance, and popularity." It's also clear that ranking can't be bought: "There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google."

So the work is practical: fill in every field truthfully, match your name, address and phone number across the web, add photos, and keep earning and answering reviews.

Keep it current

Set a reminder once a month to check your hours, photos and services, and to reply to any new reviews or questions. Update the profile the day anything changes: a new phone number, new hours or a move.

Worked example: a year of upkeep

Sample figures for one profile:

• Monthly check of hours, photos and services: 15 minutes × 12 = 180 minutes, or 3 hours
• Review replies: 4 reviews a month × 5 minutes × 12 = 240 minutes, or 4 hours
• Total for the year: 3 + 4 = 7 hours

Put the monthly check on a fixed date, so the profile gets a look every month.

Where Billed fits

Ask for a review once the job is finished and paid. Billed's invoice software page says: "After a client pays, you can send them a payment receipt." Follow it with a short, personal review request that includes a link to your profile.

Related Articles

• How to Build a Business Website
• How to Collect Customer Testimonials
• Local SEO for Small Business
• Branding Tips for Small Business

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Google Business Profile cost anything?

Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "You can add or claim your business at no charge."

How long does Google Business Profile verification take?

The same help pages say: "To help maintain the integrity of your Business Profile, verification reviews take up to 5 business days."

Do I need a storefront to get a Google Business Profile?

No, not if you travel to your customers. Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "If your business either has a physical location that customers can visit, or travels to customers where they are, you can create a Business Profile on Google."

Can I pay Google to rank my profile higher?

No. Google Business Profile Help (checked October 31, 2026) says: "There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google."