How to list your business on Google
A Google Business Profile is free and it is what shows when people find you on Google Search and Maps. Here is how to add or claim one and get it verified, from Google’s own help pages.
By the Free Local Business Directory team · Checked
Before you start
- A Google Account. Google says it can use a Gmail address or any email address, and a company email is easiest to manage.
- Your business must be eligible for a Business Profile, and its address must meet Google’s address guidelines.
- Search Google Maps for your business name and city first: it may already have a profile you can claim.
If your business isn’t on Google yet
- 1
Go to business.google.com/add
Sign in with the Google Account you’ll manage the profile from. - 2
Click Add your business to Google
Then follow the on-screen steps to add your business details. - 3
Pick a verification option
Google shows the options your business can use; follow its steps.
If it’s already on Google
- 1
Open it in Google Maps
Search your business’s name and city, or find it on the map, and select it. - 2
Choose Claim this business, then Manage now
On the Google Maps app it’s under About. If it’s a different business, choose I own or manage another business. - 3
Verify
Pick a verification option and follow the steps. If someone else already verified the profile, request ownership from them instead.
Getting verified
Google decides which options you get, from your business type, public information, region and hours: phone or text, email, a live video call, or mail. It recommends video where it’s offered. After you finish, Google reviews it, which takes up to 5 business days, and you get a confirmation email. Verifying your website in Google Search Console can make it instant.
After you’re verified
- Keep hours, phone and website current, including holiday hours.
- Reviews show next to your profile in Maps and Search. Google lets you ask customers for them with a link or QR code, and suggests replying to reviews.
- List the same details elsewhere too: Bing Places, Apple Maps and directories reach customers who don’t search on Google.
Sources: Add or claim your Business Profile, Verify your business on Google, Tips to get more reviews (Google Business Profile Help).
Questions
Does it cost anything to list my business on Google?
No. Google says you can add or claim your Business Profile at no charge.
How long does Google verification take?
Google says verification reviews take up to 5 business days, rarely longer. Some profiles are verified instantly, for example when you have verified your website in Google Search Console.
Can I choose how Google verifies my business?
No. Google picks the options from your business type, public information, region and hours: phone or text, email, a live video call or mail. Some businesses need more than one.
My business is already on Google but I didn’t add it. What do I do?
If the profile is unverified, open it in Google Maps, choose Claim this business, then Manage now, and verify. If someone else has verified it, request ownership from the current owner through Google.