How do I get my business on Google Maps?
Claim your free Google Business Profile, fill in every part of it, and verify it. That listing is what shows up on Google Maps.
The seven steps
Check whether you already have a listing
Search your business name and city on Google Maps. Google often makes a listing on its own from public information, so yours may already exist. If it does, open it and choose "Own this business?" or "Claim this business".
Sign in to Google Business Profile
Go to business.google.com with a Google account you will keep. Use an account the business controls, not one that belongs to a past employee or a web designer.
Add your name, category and contact details
Use your real business name, exactly as it appears on your sign or paperwork. Pick the category that best describes what you do. Add your phone number and website.
Choose an address or a service area
If customers come to you, add your address. If you go to customers, like a plumber or a cleaner, add the cities you serve and hide your street address.
Verify the listing
Google asks you to prove the business is real before the listing shows up properly. It picks the method: often a short video of your sign, tools or workspace, and sometimes a phone call, a text, an email or a postcard. Review can take several days.
Fill in everything else
Add your hours, your services, a description of the business, your logo, a cover photo and real photos of your work. A complete listing gives Google more to match against what people search.
Start asking for reviews
Send happy customers a direct link to your review page. Reply to every review, good or bad. Reviews are one of the things Google looks at when it decides which businesses to show.
What decides who shows up first
Google says it ranks local results on three things.
- Relevance
- How well your listing matches what someone searched. A complete listing with the right category and services matches more searches.
- Distance
- How far your business is from the person searching, or from the place they typed. You cannot change this one, which is why the other two matter.
- Prominence
- How well known your business is. Google looks at reviews, your rating and what the rest of the web says about you, including your own website.
Common questions
How do I get my business on Google Maps?
Create or claim a free Google Business Profile at business.google.com, add your details, then verify it. Once Google approves it, your business can show up on Google Maps and in local search results.
Does it cost anything to be on Google Maps?
No. A Google Business Profile is free. You only pay if you choose to buy Google ads, which are separate and optional.
How long does it take to show up?
Verification can take several days, and Google may need longer if it asks for more proof. After that, changes to your listing can take a few days to appear.
Can I be on Google Maps without a storefront?
Yes. Service businesses can list the area they serve and keep their street address hidden. Customers will see your service area instead of a pin on your house.
Why does my business not show up when I search?
The listing may not be verified yet, it may be missing details or the right category, or other businesses nearby may have more reviews. Google decides what to show based on relevance, distance and prominence.
Can someone set this up for me?
Yes. Our Google listing tune-up is $149, paid once. We claim and verify the listing under your own Google account, fill in every part of it, add your photos, and send you a before and after report.
Find out what a customer sees when they search for you.
Tell us the name of your business or its website. You get a one-page report with the top three things to fix.