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Create a Google Business Profile for a service business (2026)

4 min read

What you’ll have at the end

A Google Business Profile for your business, showing the areas you serve rather than a street address, with your phone number and website, and a verification option chosen. Google says customers can find your profile only after verification is complete, so the profile appears once Google has checked it.

Before you start

You’ll need

  • A Google Account, ideally on your business email domain
  • Your business name and category
  • The cities or postal codes you serve (up to 20)
  • Your business phone number, and your website if you have one

What it costs. Google says you can add or claim your business at no charge.

This guide is for a business that visits or delivers to its customers and doesn't receive them at its own address, such as a plumber or a cleaning service. Google calls this a service-area business. If customers also visit your premises during business hours, choose Yes at step 6 instead and enter your address.

Google's guidelines say you can create a Business Profile if your business has a location customers can visit, or travels to customers where they are. A rented mailing address the business doesn't operate from (a virtual office) isn't eligible.

Please have ready your business name, the cities or postal codes you serve, and your business phone number. Google recommends a Google Account on your business email domain if you're creating a new one.

Please create only one profile for the area you serve. Google says it may suspend accounts that have several profiles for the same business in the same metropolitan area.

Steps

  1. 1. Sign in to your Google Account

    On a computer, sign in to the Google Account you'll manage the business with, or create one.

  2. 2. Open the add page

    Go to business.google.com/add. The page shows Find and manage your business.

  3. 3. Enter your business name

    Type your business name. If Google suggests your business as you type, you can select it. If Google says someone else has already verified it, request ownership of that profile instead of creating a new one. If your business isn't in the list, choose Add your business to Google.

  4. 4. Choose your category

    Search for your business category, choose it, and click Next.

  5. 5. Say whether customers can visit you

    Google asks whether you have a location customers can visit. For a service-area business, click No.

  6. 6. Enter your service areas

    Enter the cities, postal codes or other areas you serve. You can add up to 20. Google recommends keeping your overall area within about 2 hours' driving time of where your business is based, though some businesses may need a larger area.

  7. 7. Enter your phone number and website

    Enter your business phone number and your website address, and click Next. Google recommends the business's own number rather than a remote call centre.

  8. 8. Click Finish

    Click Finish.

  9. 9. Choose how to verify

    Google offers a verification option. Google recommends reviewing your information before you request verification. - To verify now, find the red banner at the top and click Verify now, then follow the on-screen steps. - To verify later, click Verify later.

    Depending on your business, the options can include a phone call or text, an email, a live video call, a video recording or a postcard. Google's verification help says reviews take up to 5 business days after you complete the steps, and most postcard codes arrive within 14 days. This guide ends here, at the wait.

If something looks different

  • If you already have a profile that shows your street address and you don't receive customers there, Google says you must hide the address so the profile shows only your service area.
  • If you'd like to change your service areas later, they're under Edit profile, then Location, then Service area.
  • The options at step 9 depend on your business. Not every business sees every method.
  • If you choose a postcard, Google asks you not to edit your business details while you wait for the code.

Related guides

Sources

Alongrail isn't affiliated with Google.