Step-by-Step Guide

How to Create a Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile is how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. When someone searches for your business name or services like yours nearby, this is what they see. This guide walks you through every step of creating and optimizing yours.

Takes about 20 minutes · plus verification time

What you'll need before you start

A Google account (Gmail) — if you don't have one, you'll create it in Step 1
Your business name (exactly as you want it displayed on Google)
A physical address OR the service area you cover
A phone number where customers can reach you
Your business category (e.g., "Marketing Agency", "Italian Restaurant")
Your business hours for each day of the week
At least 3-5 photos of your business (logo, exterior, interior, products)

Important: Verification is required

Google will need to verify that you own this business. This can take anywhere from a few minutes (phone/email verification) to 2 weeks (postcard verification). Don't worry — you can still edit your profile while waiting for verification.

Follow these 12 steps

1 Go to Google Business Profile Manager

Open your web browser and go to business.google.com. Sign in with your Google account (the same one you use for Gmail, YouTube, or Google Drive).

If you don't have a Google account yet, click "Create account" on the sign-in page, or go directly to accounts.google.com/signup. You'll need to provide your name, create a username (which becomes your @gmail.com email), and set a password.

What you'll see: A blue "Manage now" button on the Google Business Profile landing page. If you're not signed in, you'll see Google's sign-in page first.

2 Click "Manage now" or "Add your business"

Click the "Manage now" button to begin the setup process. If you've previously managed a business profile with this Google account, you may instead see an option that says "Add your business to Google" — click that instead.

What you'll see: A form asking for your business name. This is the start of Google's guided setup wizard.

3 Enter your business name

Type your business name exactly as you want it to appear on Google. Use your real business name — don't stuff keywords in here (e.g., "Joe's Plumbing" is correct, "Joe's Plumbing Best Plumber in Chicago" will get flagged by Google).

As you type, Google may show suggestions. If your business already appears in the list, it means someone (possibly Google) has already created a listing for it. Click on the existing listing to claim it rather than creating a duplicate. Duplicate listings can hurt your visibility.

What you'll see: A text field with autocomplete suggestions as you type. If your business already exists, you'll see it appear in a dropdown.

4 Choose your business category

Start typing what your business does and Google will show you matching categories. Pick the most specific option that fits. For example, "Italian Restaurant" is better than just "Restaurant," and "Personal Injury Attorney" is better than "Lawyer."

This is critical for appearing in the right searches. Your primary category is the single biggest factor in which searches your business shows up for. You can add secondary categories later, but get the primary one right now.

What you'll see: A search field with Google's predefined categories appearing as you type. You must pick from Google's list — you can't create custom categories.

5 Choose whether customers visit your location

Google will ask: "Do you want to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?"

Select "Yes" if you have a physical location that customers come to — a store, office, restaurant, salon, etc. Your address will be shown on Google Maps and people can get directions to you.

Select "No" if you're a service-area business that goes to customers — a plumber, landscaper, mobile dog groomer, consultant who visits clients, etc. Your address won't be shown publicly, but you'll define the area you serve.

6 Enter your business address or service area

If you selected "Yes" in Step 5: Enter your full street address including suite or unit number. This is the address that will appear on Google Maps. Make sure it's accurate — Google may verify this address with a postcard.

If you selected "No" in Step 5: Enter the city, region, or areas you serve. You can add multiple service areas. For example, you might add "Chicago, IL" and "Evanston, IL" if you serve both cities. You can also set a radius (e.g., "20 miles around Chicago").

What you'll see: An address form with fields for street, city, state, and zip code (for physical locations), or a search field to add service areas.

7 Enter your phone number and website

Add your business phone number — this is the number customers will see and call from Google Search and Maps. Use your main business line, not a personal number if possible.

Add your website URL if you have one. If you don't have a website yet, you can skip this and add it later. Google will also offer to create a free basic website for you based on your profile information.

8 Choose a verification method

Google needs to confirm you actually own or manage this business. They'll offer one or more verification methods depending on your business type:

Phone/Text Fastest option. Google calls or texts your business phone with a verification code. Takes about 1 minute.
Email Google sends a code to your business email. Takes a few minutes.
Postcard Google mails a postcard with a verification code to your business address. Takes 5-14 business days. Don't change your business name or address while waiting.
Video Some businesses may be asked to record a short video showing their business location and operations. This is reviewed by Google within 5 business days.
What you'll see: A screen listing your available verification options. Not all methods are available for every business — Google decides which options to offer you.

9 Start filling in your profile details

While waiting for verification (especially if you chose postcard), start building out your profile. Click "Edit profile" from your Business Profile dashboard to add details.

You can edit your profile even before verification is complete. The more information you add now, the faster your profile will be ready to attract customers once verified. Fill in everything you can: business description, services, attributes, and more.

Your Google Business Profile is taking shape!

Posts on your Google Business Profile appear directly in Google Search and Google Maps results — that's prime real estate that most businesses aren't using. SocialBotify automatically publishes posts to your Google Business Profile alongside your other platforms, keeping your listing fresh and active with zero extra effort. Try it free for 7 days.

10 Set your business hours

Click on "Hours" in your profile editor and set your regular hours for each day of the week. Toggle each day on or off, and set your opening and closing times.

If you have a lunch break or split hours (e.g., 9 AM - 12 PM and 1 PM - 5 PM), you can add multiple time slots per day. You can also add special hours for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any day where your hours differ from normal. Keeping these accurate prevents frustrated customers showing up when you're closed.

What you'll see: A weekly schedule grid where you toggle each day on/off and set times using dropdown menus.

11 Add photos of your business

Photos are one of the most important parts of your profile. Businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks to their website than businesses without. Upload at least 3-5 high-quality photos:

Logo — Your business logo (used as your profile picture)
Cover photo — The main image people see (choose your best one)
Exterior — A clear shot of your storefront or building so people can find you
Interior — Show what it's like inside your business
Team — A photo of your team or yourself (builds trust)
Products/Services — Show what you sell or the work you do
Tip: Use well-lit, clear photos. Avoid stock photos — Google and customers can tell. Real photos of your actual business perform much better.

12 Write your business description

You have 750 characters to describe your business. This description appears in your Google Business Profile when people find you on Search or Maps. Make it count.

Do: Describe what you do, who you serve, what makes you unique, your history, and include relevant keywords naturally. Write in a friendly, conversational tone.

Don't: Stuff keywords unnaturally, include URLs or links (Google will reject your description), add promotional content like "50% off sale!", or use ALL CAPS.

Example: "Family-owned Italian restaurant serving handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza in downtown Austin since 2012. Our ingredients are sourced from local Texas farms and imported directly from Italy. Join us for dinner, weekend brunch, or book our private dining room for events up to 40 guests."
Your Google Business Profile is set up!

Once Google verifies your business, your profile will go live on Google Search and Maps. Now let's optimize it to get the best results.

Optimize your profile for maximum visibility

Creating your profile is just the beginning. These optimizations will help you rank higher in Google Maps and attract more customers.

Add Business Attributes

Add attributes like wheelchair accessible, free wifi, outdoor seating, women-owned, veteran-owned, and more. These appear as badges on your profile and help customers filter search results.

Respond to Reviews

Reply to every review — positive and negative. Thank happy customers by name and address complaints professionally. Google has confirmed that responding to reviews improves your local ranking.

Use Google Posts

Publish updates, offers, events, and news directly to your profile. These posts appear in Google Search and Maps results. Post at least once a week to signal to Google that your business is active.

Monitor the Q&A Section

Anyone can ask (and answer) questions on your profile. Check regularly and answer questions yourself before random strangers answer them incorrectly. You can also seed common questions and answer them proactively.

Add Products or Services

List your products or services with photos, descriptions, and prices. This helps customers understand what you offer before they even visit your website and gives Google more information to match you with relevant searches.

Check Insights & Analytics

Google provides free analytics showing how customers find you, what searches they use, how many people called you, requested directions, or visited your website. Use these insights monthly to understand what's working and adjust your strategy.

Keep your Google Business Profile active automatically

Google Business Profile posts appear directly in Search and Maps — and businesses that post weekly get significantly more engagement than those that don't. But most business owners forget to post regularly. SocialBotify keeps your GBP active with fresh, AI-generated posts that match your brand voice, improving your local SEO ranking automatically while you focus on running your business. Start your free trial.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Google Business Profile is completely free to create, verify, and manage. There are no paid tiers or hidden fees. Google offers this service because it helps them provide better, more accurate search results — and it helps businesses get found by customers. You can add your business information, photos, posts, and respond to reviews all at no cost.
It depends on the method Google offers you. Phone or text verification is instant — you receive a code within seconds. Email verification typically takes a few minutes. Postcard verification takes 5-14 business days because Google physically mails a postcard with a code to your business address. Video verification is reviewed by Google and usually takes up to 5 business days. You can start editing your profile while waiting, but your profile won't appear publicly until verification is complete.
Yes. If you're a service-area business — meaning you travel to your customers instead of them coming to you — you can create a profile using a service area rather than a physical address. Examples include plumbers, electricians, house cleaners, photographers, personal trainers, and consultants. During setup, select "No" when asked if customers visit your location, then define the cities or regions you serve. Your home address will be used for verification but won't be displayed publicly.
They're the same thing — just different names. Google rebranded "Google My Business" to "Google Business Profile" in November 2021. The features and functionality remain identical. If you see articles or tutorials referencing "Google My Business" (or "GMB"), they're talking about the same product. Google made this change to simplify the branding and make it clearer that the profile is managed directly from Google Search and Maps.
Google ranks local businesses based on three main factors: relevance (how well your profile matches the search), distance (how close you are to the searcher), and prominence (how well-known your business is). Here's what you can do to rank higher:
  • Complete every single section of your profile — Google favors complete profiles
  • Get more positive reviews and respond to all of them (both positive and negative)
  • Post regularly using Google Business Posts to show your business is active
  • Add high-quality photos frequently (aim for new photos monthly)
  • Keep your hours, phone number, and other details accurate and up to date
  • Make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across your website and all online directories

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