How to get your business on Google

1. Check that your business can have a profile

Google Business Profile is for businesses that make in-person contact with customers during their stated hours: either customers come to you, or you go to them (like a plumber or a cleaner).

Managing your profile is free. You can pay for Google Ads separately if you want, but you don't need to in order to have a profile.

Source: [1] Google Business Profile Help: Business Profile policies and eligibility

2. Add your business, or claim it if it's already there

Search for your business name on Google Maps first. If it's already listed, open it and choose the option to claim the business ("Claim this business", then "Manage now").

If it isn't listed, go to business.google.com, choose to add your business, and enter your business name, category, and where customers can find you or where you serve them.

Source: [2] Google Business Profile Help: Add or claim your Business Profile

3. Set your address or service area correctly

If you serve customers at their homes or offices and don't see them at your address, you're a service-area business. Google asks you to remove your address from the profile if customers don't visit you there, and to add a service area instead.

You can add up to 20 service areas, such as cities or postcodes. Google's guidance is that the area shouldn't extend farther than about 2 hours' driving time from where your business is based.

Source: [4] Google Business Profile Help: Manage your service area

4. Verify your business

Google needs to confirm you run the business before your profile is fully public and editable. Methods include phone or text, email, a live video call, and a postcard, and the options you're offered depend on your business.

Google says reviews of verification can take up to 5 business days. Postcards usually arrive within 14 days, and the code in them expires after 30 days.

Some businesses can be verified instantly, for example if the business website is already verified in Google Search Console.

Source: [3] Google Business Profile Help: Verify your business on Google

5. Fill in the profile completely

Add your hours, phone number, website, services and a few real photos of your work or premises. Keep everything consistent with your website, so customers and Google see the same details everywhere.

Ask happy customers to leave a review, and reply to reviews you get.

6. Get your website into Google Search

A Business Profile covers Maps and local results. To show up in regular search results you also need a website. Google says you don't have to submit it: Google automatically looks for sites to add, and it can take a few weeks to notice a new one.

Add your site to Google Search Console to see whether your pages are in Google, which searches bring people, and any errors to fix. Submitting a sitemap there helps Google find all your pages.

Source: [5] Google Search Central: Get on Google

How to make a website for your small business →

7. Link the two together

Put your website address in your Business Profile, and your phone number, service area and hours on your website. Every ElmSite site includes the technical setup Google reads (page title, description, structured data and a sitemap), and we show you how to add it to Search Console.