25/06/2026
A small business owner came to us after spending three months wondering why their business was not showing up in Google Maps, even though they had "set up their Google account."
They had a Google account. They did not have a Google Business Profile. And once they did create one, it was unverified — which means it was invisible in every local search result.
If you are a local business and you have never set up a Google Business Profile, here is exactly how to do it.
Go to business.google.com and sign in. Search for your business name first — Google may already have a listing you can claim from third-party data. If not, create a new profile.
Enter your business name exactly as it appears on your signage. Do not add keywords or location terms to your name — this violates Google's guidelines and risks suspension.
Select your business category. This is the most important step. Choose the most specific option available. "House Cleaning Service" outperforms "Cleaning Service." "Dentist" outperforms "Medical Clinic." Your category determines every search query you are eligible to appear for.
Add your address if customers visit you, or set a service area if you travel to customers. Add your phone number and website — these must match exactly what appears on your website and other directories.
Verify your listing. This step is non-negotiable. An unverified profile does not appear in search results at all. Most businesses receive a postcard with a verification code within five to fourteen days. Do not change your name, address, or category while verification is pending — it cancels the process.
After verification, complete everything: business hours, a 750-character description that starts with your service and city, every individual service listed with descriptions, all applicable attributes enabled, and a minimum of ten photos uploaded.
The business owner in this story completed the full setup in one afternoon. Within three weeks, they appeared in the local pack for their primary service query for the first time.
Three months of invisibility. One afternoon of correct setup. That is the difference a properly set up Google Business Profile makes.