How to verify your business on Google Business Profile step by step

Without a verified profile, Google will not rank you in the Local Pack, no matter how good your website is or how many reviews you have elsewhere. Verification is the first mandatory step, and also the easiest one to leave half done.

Before you start

You need three things before claiming your profile:

• A Google account (personal or business).
• The exact name of your business, the same as on your signage and legal documents.
• An eligible physical address, with visible signage if you serve customers there.

Step by step

Go to business.google.com and sign in. Search for your business: if an unclaimed listing already exists, take it; if it does not exist, create it from scratch with your business's exact details.

Fill in name, category, address, phone and website. Google will offer you a verification method depending on your type of business: postal (a letter with a code sent to your address), phone, email, or instant if Google already trusts your domain.

Enter the code you received in the verification panel. From that moment your profile is active and you can carry on completing it with photos, hours and a description.

Addresses Google rejects

Virtual offices, coworking spaces with no exclusive presence, or a private home with no signage do not meet the requirements if you serve customers in person. If your business operates by service area only, with no visible premises, you can hide the address and declare the area you cover.

What to do if someone else already manages your listing

If searching for your business shows that it already has an owner, you can request access from the listing itself. Google notifies the current owner and, if they do not respond within a reasonable period, lets you claim it.

After verifying

Verifying is the start, not the finish. A verified but empty profile still does not compete. The next step is completing every field and uploading your first photos before the week is out.