How to Create Your Google Business Profile in 2025?

If you run a local business, you definitely need to read this article. Just to give you an idea, local SEO studies show that 87% of people check Google reviews when researching businesses in their area. This means that when your business appears on the Google map, a series of opportunities and benefits are activated—ones you surely want to take advantage of.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through a detailed step-by-step process to create your own Google Business Profile. Depending on your market and business type, following the steps outlined below could save you thousands of dollars in consulting fees. The goal is to connect directly with potential customers who find you via Google Search and Google Maps—and it’s well within your reach.

What is the Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile (GBP) is a free tool developed by Google to help business owners manage their online presence. This platform allows you to control how your business appears on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping. With it, you can provide essential information such as contact details, address, business hours, and allow customers to leave reviews about your services or products.

It’s important to note that a Google Business Profile does not replace your website. In fact, the best local SEO strategies combine the website and the profile as complementary tools. This approach enhances your company’s online visibility and helps potential customers easily access updated information about your business.

Who Can Create a Google Business Profile?

Any business that interacts with customers can create a profile, even if it doesn’t have a physical storefront. This makes sense when you consider that many services are performed directly at the client’s location. For example, professionals like plumbers are useful precisely where the customer is—at home.

Businesses Not Eligible for a Google Business Profile

Not every business qualifies to create a Google Business Profile. For instance, properties for rent or sale—such as vacation homes, model homes, or unoccupied apartments—are not eligible. This is especially important for those working in the real estate industry.

Also ineligible are services, classes, or meetings held at locations not owned or officially represented by the business. Lead generation companies or individuals offering only referral services cannot register as valid businesses.

Likewise, brands, organizations, artists, and other online-only operations without a physical presence are not eligible. Businesses offering age-restricted products or services—such as alcohol, cannabis, or firearms—must have a physical store. Those operating solely as service-area businesses do not qualify.

Lastly, businesses using P.O. boxes or remote mailboxes as addresses cannot be registered. This makes sense, as the proximity factor means few people would ever find such a location useful.

Benefits of having a Google Business Profile

Maintaining a Google Business Profile offers multiple advantages for your business:

Increased visibility on Google

When users perform local searches or use terms like “near me,” Google displays a map and a list of businesses at the top of the results—known as the “local pack.” An optimized profile increases your chances of appearing in these top results, significantly boosting visibility.

Credibility through reviews

Customer reviews on your profile act as a powerful form of social proof, building trust with potential clients. A high star rating and positive feedback can be decisive in helping someone choose your business over a competitor’s.

Control over your business information

The profile allows you to keep all essential business information up to date—such as hours, location, contact details, products, and services. This ensures that customers always have access to accurate data, reducing confusion and improving their experience.

Direct interaction with customers

The platform makes it easy to engage directly with your customers through questions, posts, and review responses, helping you build stronger relationships. It also allows potential clients to message or call you directly from the profile at any time.

Step-by-Step Process to Create a Google Business Profile

Creating your Google Business Profile is a straightforward process you can complete by following these detailed steps:

Step 1: Check if your business already exists on Google

Before creating a new profile, check if your business is already listed:

1. Search your business name on Google Search or Google Maps.
2. If a snippet appears on the right-hand side with your business info, all you need to do is claim it.
3. If your business doesn’t appear, you’ll need to create a new profile from scratch.

Step 2: Access the Google Business Profile Manager

To start the process:

1. Go to business.google.com/add
2. Sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create a Gmail account.
3. Click “Sign in” or “Manage now” to access your profile dashboard.

Step 3: Add your business

Once logged in:

1. Click the blue “Add business” button and then select “Add single business.”
2. Enter your business name and choose the category that best describes your business activity. This category is critical, as it helps Google understand what kind of business you operate and show it in relevant searches.

Step 4: Enter your location and contact information

In the next steps:

1. Choose whether your business has a physical location that customers can visit or if it’s a service-area business.
2. If you have a physical location, enter the full address.
3. If you offer services at customer locations, define your service area.
4. Provide your phone number and optionally, your website URL.

Step 5: Verify your profile

Verification is a crucial step to confirm that you’re the legitimate business owner. Google offers several verification methods:

1. Phone verification: Google sends a call or SMS with a verification code.
2. Email verification: You’ll receive an email with a code.
3. Postcard verification: Google mails a physical postcard with a code (may take up to 14 days).
4. Video recording verification: You record a video showing your business location.
5. Live video call: A Google representative verifies your location via a live video call.

The available verification method will depend on your business type and the information you provided.

Step 6: Complete and optimize your profile

Once your profile is verified, it’s time to fill in the remaining information:

1. Add a detailed description: Explain what your business does, the products or services you offer, and what makes you stand out.
2. Upload quality photos: Include images of your storefront, interior, team, and products.
3. Set business hours: Don’t forget to include special hours for holidays or seasonal changes.
4. Add products or services: Provide a list of offerings, including prices if applicable.
   Opt in to updates and suggestions: Google can send tips to help optimize your profile.

Managing and Optimizing Your Google Business Profile

To get meaningful results from your Google Business Profile, it’s not enough to simply set it up. It’s important to maintain it regularly and take advantage of the extra features available to certain business types. Here’s what that looks like:

Ongoing profile maintenance

For your business to stand out on Google, you must keep your profile updated. That includes checking your contact info, hours, and services frequently to ensure they remain accurate.

It’s also important to engage with users. Respond to reviews—both positive and negative—with professionalism. Use the posts section to share updates, promotions, or events that keep your profile fresh and draw more interest.

Additional features by business type

Google Business Profile includes industry-specific features. For example, restaurants can show menus, enable online orders, and accept reservations directly from the profile.

Retail stores can list available products, helping customers know what’s in stock before they visit. Professional service providers can list their offerings in detail and allow users to request quotes online.

Insights and metrics

One of the biggest advantages of Google Business is the data it provides on how users interact with your business. You can see which keywords people use to find you, how many calls or bookings you’ve received, and which posts got the most attention.

This data is vital for fine-tuning your digital strategy. By better understanding how customers search for and contact you, you can improve your online presence, optimize your profile, and make smarter decisions to attract new users.

Ready to Create Your Google Business Profile?

Creating and optimizing a Google Business Profile is an essential strategy for any business looking to increase online visibility and attract new customers. The tool is completely free and offers numerous benefits, as you’ve already seen above.

The best part is that the setup process is relatively simple and can be completed in just a few steps. However, the real value lies in ongoing maintenance and constant optimization. To unlock that value, nothing beats a strong local SEO strategy that combines efforts across multiple channels for lead generation and visibility. If you’d like more details or want personalized consulting for your business, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to show you what I can do for you and your company.