How to set up your Google Business Profile
The Doily team
Reviewed by the Doily team, Oct 2026 Updated 4 min read
Quick answer
Search for your business, claim or add the profile, verify it by the method Google offers, then complete every field. Use your real-world business name, choose the fewest accurate categories, set a precise address or service area, add hours and photos, and follow Google's guidelines to avoid suspension.
Why it matters
Your Business Profile is often the first thing a local customer sees, and Google says businesses with complete and accurate info are more likely to show up in local search results. If the information is wrong, it says the profile may not show for relevant searches in your area.
Google also takes edits seriously. Its guidelines say adding extras such as taglines or keywords to your name can lead to suspension, so shortcuts that look helpful can cost you the profile.
Key takeaways
- Verification is required to edit your business details and interact with customers.
- Use your business name exactly as it appears on your signs and branding, with no taglines or keywords added.
- Choose the fewest categories that describe your core business, led by a specific primary category.
- One profile per business, and a service-area business should set a service area instead of showing a home address.
Step by step
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Find or add your business
Sign in to the Google Account that will own the profile, then search for your business name and city. If it already appears, claim it. If not, add it. Use an account tied to the business, not a personal one that an employee might take with them.
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Verify it
Google determines the verification methods you see, and they cannot be changed. Options include phone or text, email, and a live video call. If video verification is offered, Google recommends it. Make sure you can answer the business phone, since automated phone systems will not receive the code.
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Enter your business name correctly
Use the name as it appears on your storefront, website, and stationery. Google's guidelines do not allow marketing taglines or unnecessary information in the name, and it says that can result in suspension. Put the city, service, and hours in their own fields instead.
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Choose categories
Select the primary category that best matches what your business is. Google says to use as few categories as possible, to be specific but representative, and not to use categories only as keywords. Add secondary categories only when they describe other core parts of the business.
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Set your address or service area
If customers visit you, enter the full address and pin location. If you travel to customers, you can hide your address and set a service area. Google says service-area boundaries should not extend farther than about 2 hours of driving time from where the business is based.
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Complete hours, description, and details
Add regular hours and special hours for holidays. Write a description of what you offer and your history, without links and without promotions or prices, which Google does not allow in the description. Add attributes such as parking or Wi-Fi, and your phone number and website.
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Add real photos and respond to customers
Upload photos of your premises, team, and work. Reply to reviews, which Google says shows you value feedback. Check the profile monthly and after any change in hours, address, or services, since edits are reviewed before going live.
What to avoid
These are the common mistakes that lead to edits being rejected or profiles being suspended, based on Google’s guidelines.
| Mistake | Why it causes trouble |
|---|---|
| Adding a tagline or keywords to the business name | The name must match your real-world signage and branding |
| Creating several profiles for the same business | Google says one profile per business |
| Using a P.O. box or a remote mailbox as the address | Google says these are not acceptable |
| Putting links or sale prices in the description | The description cannot contain links or promotions |
| Choosing many categories as keywords | Categories should describe what the business is |
How Doily helps
Doily's rank tracking includes a local map pack grid, so you can watch how your map position changes across your area after you update your profile.
Questions
Do keywords in my business name help me rank?
Google's guidelines say your name should reflect the real-world name and that including unnecessary information is not permitted and could result in suspension. Do not add keywords to the name.
Can I have more than one profile?
Google says there should only be one profile per business. A service business with separate locations and separate staff at each can have one profile for each location.
How long do edits take to appear?
Google says it reviews your changes before updating them on your profile. You can check the status of an edit in your profile. Timing varies, so recheck after a few days.
Sources
Primary sources, checked Oct 11, 2026.
