Confirm eligibility first
Check Google's current rules for the business type and how it serves customers. Online-only businesses and some other arrangements may not qualify. Do not create a profile just because a trading name exists.
Use real business details
Provide the name, category, address or service-area arrangement and contact details that reflect the actual operation. Follow guidance about when an address should be hidden. Do not add promotional keywords to the name.
Complete the supported verification
Use the options Google offers for the specific profile. Verification methods and access arrangements vary. Keep ownership with the business and grant appropriate manager permissions rather than sharing passwords.
Maintain and measure
Update opening information and services and respond appropriately to real reviews. A verified profile does not guarantee top placement. Monitor genuine customer actions and correct inaccurate details instead of inventing locations or endorsements.
Keep ownership with the business
The person operating the business should know which account owns the profile and how to recover it. A supplier can be given appropriate manager access without becoming the only person able to make changes.
Questions about this guide
Can I use a virtual address just to appear in another town?
Check Google's eligibility and address rules for your actual business. Represent where and how the business operates accurately rather than inventing a customer-facing location.
Should a service-area business display a private home address?
Follow Google's current service-area guidance and the reality of whether customers visit that location. Review the address visibility settings before publishing the profile.