Home / Google Business Profile guide
Be the businessthey find.
To set up a Google Business Profile, sign in at google.com/business, add or claim your business, pick the most specific category, set your address or service area, add your phone, website and hours, then verify it using the method Google offers. It is free, and it only shows publicly once verified.
- 01
Sign in and add your business
Go to google.com/business with the Google account you want to manage it from, and search for your business name. If it already exists, request access rather than creating a duplicate.
- 02
Choose the right primary category
Pick the most specific category that describes what you do ("Dog walker", not "Service"). You can add a few secondary categories later.
- 03
Set your location or service area
Shops and offices show an address. If you visit customers, hide the address and list the towns or postcodes you cover.
- 04
Add contact details and hours
Phone number, website and opening hours exactly as you answer them. Add special hours for bank holidays.
- 05
Verify the profile
Google picks the method — often a short video of your premises or signage, or a code. Your profile only appears publicly once verified.
- 06
Fill in services, photos and description
List your real services, add photos of your work, vehicle or premises, and write a plain description of what you do and where.
- 07
Ask for reviews and reply to them
Ask happy customers for a review with your profile link. Reply to every review, good or bad, briefly and politely. Never buy or swap reviews.
Coming soon
Want it done for you?
We're preparing a done-for-you setup and monthly upkeep service for local businesses, starting in Bedford and Milton Keynes. You'll approve every change; Google verification still needs you.
Not taking bookings yet.
Google profile questions, answered.
Is a Google Business Profile free?
Yes. Creating and managing a Google Business Profile is free. Be wary of calls claiming you must pay Google to keep your listing.
How do I verify my business on Google?
Google chooses the verification method for your business, which can include a video recording, a phone or text code, or email. Follow the steps shown in your profile; verification can take several days.
Can I have a profile without a shop?
Yes. Service-area businesses that visit customers — plumbers, dog walkers, mobile caterers — can hide their address and list the areas they serve instead.
What helps a profile show up in local searches?
Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. Complete, accurate information, the right primary category, and genuine reviews you reply to all help; nobody can guarantee a position.
Based on Google Business Profile Help, checked 19 October 2026. Local Sorted is independent and not affiliated with Google.