1 Creating Your Google Business Profile
If you don't have a Google Business Profile yet, follow these steps to create one. It's free and takes about 10 minutes.
Skip to Grant Access to learn how to add us as a manager.
Business Types
🏪 Storefront
Customers come to your location (salon, restaurant, retail store). Your address is displayed publicly.
🚚 Service Area
You travel to customers (plumber, roofer, cleaner). Your address is hidden, but service areas are shown.
🛠 Hybrid
Both - customers visit you AND you travel to them. Address shown plus service areas.
If you don't have a physical storefront with signage that customers visit, choose "Service Area Business." PO boxes and virtual offices are not allowed.
Step-by-Step Setup
Go to Google Business Profile
Visit business.google.com and click "Manage now" or "Get started." Sign in with your Google account (or create one).
Enter your business name
Type your exact business name. If it appears in the dropdown, a profile already exists - you'll need to claim it instead. If not, click "Create a business with this name."
Choose your business type
Select whether you're a storefront, service area business, or hybrid (see above). For most contractors, choose "Service Area Business."
Select your business category
Start typing your trade (e.g., "Plumber", "Electrician", "Painter"). Choose the most specific category that matches your primary service. You can add more categories later.
Add your service areas
Enter the cities, ZIP codes, or regions you serve. Be honest - Google may ask you to verify you actually service these areas.
Enter contact information
Add your business phone number and website (if you have one). This is what customers will use to reach you.
Verify your business
Google needs to confirm you're a real business. See the Verification section for detailed instructions on each method.
Complete your profile by adding photos, business hours, services, and a description. The more complete your profile, the better you'll rank in local searches.
2026 Features to Set Up
🤖 AI Q&A
Google now auto-generates answers to common questions using your business info. Keep your profile complete so the AI has accurate data.
📅 Post Scheduling
New in 2026: Schedule posts in advance. Post at least twice weekly - engagement is now a top ranking factor.
You can now add WhatsApp as a contact method for direct customer messaging.
2 Grant Us Access to Your Profile
To manage your Google Business Profile and connect it to your website, we need "Manager" access. This lets us respond to reviews and update your info, but you remain the owner.
As a Manager, we can update info and respond to reviews. We cannot delete your profile or remove you as owner. You can revoke access anytime.
From Desktop (Recommended)
Search for your business on Google
Go to google.com and search for your exact business name. Make sure you're signed into your Google account that owns the profile.
Click on your Business Profile
You should see your business panel on the right side of the search results. Look for buttons like "Edit profile" or "Manage" - this confirms you're the owner.
Open Business Profile Settings
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the upper-right corner of your business panel, then select "Business Profile settings."
Go to People and Access
In the settings menu, click "People and access" (it may also be called "Managers").
Add a new manager
Click the "Add" button, then enter our email address:
hello@slatesystems.io
Select "Manager" access level
Choose "Manager" (not Owner). This gives us the access we need while you retain full control.
Send the invitation
Click "Invite" to send. We'll receive an email and accept the invitation within 24 hours.
From Mobile (Google Maps App)
Open Google Maps
Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or Android. Make sure you're signed into the Google account that owns your business profile.
Tap your business profile
Tap your profile picture in the top-right, then tap "Your Business Profile." Or search for your business and tap the "Manage" button.
Go to Settings
Scroll through the options at the top and tap "More" (...), then tap "Business Profile settings."
Add manager
Tap "Managers" or "People and access," then tap the "+" or "Add" button. Enter hello@slatesystems.io and select "Manager" access.
Check that you entered the email correctly. The invitation expires after 7 days. If needed, revoke and resend.
3 Verification Methods
Google needs to verify that your business is real and that you're authorized to manage it. The method depends on your business type, category, and location.
If you change your business name, address, or category while waiting for verification, your code will be invalidated and you'll have to start over.
Google now requires video verification for 95% of new profiles. They use a "zero-trust" AI system that treats every new profile as potentially fraudulent. Suspensions have increased 80% since 2023. Be thorough with your documentation.
Video Verification (Required for Most Businesses)
Video verification is now the default method. You'll record a short video proving your business exists and you have authority over it.
🎥 What to show in your video
For Service Area Businesses:
- Your service vehicle with business name/logo
- Business cards, uniforms, or equipment with your business name
- Invoice books or work orders
- Your face (you're the business owner)
For Storefront/Hybrid:
- Street signs showing your address
- Your storefront and signage
- Inside your business showing it's operational
- Business license or permit on the wall
Record during business hours in good lighting. Keep the camera steady (use a tripod if possible). Enable location services on your phone so GPS data supports your location. Don't include other people's faces or voices.
Phone or SMS Verification
If available, Google will call or text a verification code to your business phone number.
- Make sure you can answer the phone directly (not voicemail or IVR)
- The code expires in a few minutes - enter it immediately
- Don't use a personal phone - it should be your business line
Postcard Verification
Google mails a postcard with a 5-digit code to your business address. This typically takes 5-14 days.
- The postcard says "Google" on it - watch your mail carefully
- Don't request a new code while waiting (it invalidates the first one)
- Enter the code exactly as shown (case-sensitive)
Live Video Call
In some cases, Google offers a live video call with a support representative. You'll show your business in real-time via video chat.
- Only available during Google's business hours
- Have your business documents ready to show
- Higher success rate than recorded video
4 Troubleshooting
This happens when a previous owner, employee, or marketing agency created the profile.
Request access
Search for your business on Google, click "Own this business?" and then "Request access." Enter your email and explain why you're the rightful owner.
Wait 3 days
The current owner has 3 days to respond. If they don't respond or reject your request, you'll get the option to verify ownership yourself.
Verify ownership
After 3-7 days with no response, Google may let you claim the profile through postcard or video verification.
If a former employee or agency has access, try contacting them directly to transfer ownership. It's faster than the formal process.
Common rejection reasons:
- Missing location proof: Street signs, building numbers, or recognizable landmarks weren't visible
- No business signage: For storefronts, permanent signage with your business name is required
- Poor video quality: Shaky, dark, or rushed footage - Google can't see details clearly
- GPS mismatch: Location services were off, so GPS data didn't match your stated address
- People visible: Other people's faces or voices in the video (privacy concern)
- Ineligible address: PO boxes, virtual offices, or co-working spaces can't be verified
How to fix: Check your Google Business Profile for a "Review issues" warning. It will tell you why your video was rejected. Address the specific issue and resubmit.
If you don't have a physical sign, switch your business type to "Service Area Business" instead of storefront. SABs have different verification requirements.
Postcards typically arrive within 5-14 days. If it's been longer:
- Check your spam/junk mail - it may have been sorted incorrectly
- Verify your address is entered correctly in your profile
- Make sure you haven't edited your profile since requesting (this invalidates the code)
If you still haven't received it after 14 days, you can request a new postcard. But note: this invalidates any postcard already in the mail.
- Make sure your phone can receive calls/texts (not blocked or on Do Not Disturb)
- Google won't leave voicemails - you must answer directly
- Automated phone systems (IVR) won't receive the code
- VoIP numbers sometimes have issues - try a regular cell phone
- Wait 24 hours before requesting another code
Common suspension reasons:
- Using a virtual office or PO box as your address
- Keyword stuffing in your business name (e.g., "Best Plumber Tampa Cheap 24/7")
- Mismatched info across platforms (your name/address/phone differs from other listings)
- Frequent profile edits that triggered spam detection
- Operating in a high-spam category (home services, law, etc.)
To appeal:
Gather documentation
Collect your business license, utility bills, tax documents (EIN confirmation), and photos of your storefront or vehicle.
Submit a reinstatement request
Go to your Google Business Profile and follow the prompts to appeal. Upload your documentation. You have 60 minutes to complete the form once started.
Wait for review
Appeals typically take 1-3 weeks. You only get 2 appeal attempts, so make sure your first submission is thorough.
In 2026, Google uses an AI system called the "Merchant Graph" that cross-references your business against multiple data sources. New profiles can get stuck in processing if:
- Your business info doesn't match other sources (Yelp, Yellow Pages, state records)
- Your address has been used for spam/fraud before
- Your business category is high-risk (home services, legal, medical)
- Google can't verify you exist through independent data
To fix:
- Ensure your business name/address/phone matches exactly across all platforms
- Get listed on other directories first (Yelp, BBB, industry sites)
- Contact Google support with your business documentation
- Request a live video call verification
- Make sure you're signed into the Google account that owns the profile
- The profile must be verified before you can add managers
- Try on desktop - the mobile app sometimes has limited options
- Clear your browser cache and try again
- If you have multiple Google accounts, try signing out of all and signing into just one
Contact Google Business Profile support directly: Go to support.google.com/business/gethelp and follow the prompts to reach a human. You can also request a live video call verification through support.
? Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, creating and managing a Google Business Profile is completely free. Google makes money from ads, not from business listings.
| Action | Owner | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Edit business info | ✓ | ✓ |
| Respond to reviews | ✓ | ✓ |
| Post updates & photos | ✓ | ✓ |
| View insights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Add/remove managers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Delete the profile | ✓ | ✗ |
| Transfer ownership | ✓ | ✗ |
Yes. If you have multiple physical locations, each one gets its own Google Business Profile. You can manage them all from one Google account. For service area businesses, you typically only need one profile that covers all the areas you serve.
- Phone/SMS: Instant (if available)
- Video: Usually 1-3 business days
- Postcard: 5-14 days for delivery, then instant once you enter the code
- Live video call: Same day if you can schedule one
For service area businesses, yes - but your address will be hidden. Google needs a real address for verification purposes, but only your service areas will be shown publicly.
For storefront businesses, only if customers actually visit your home for services. If you just work out of your home but travel to customers, choose "Service Area Business" instead.
A website is optional for Google Business Profile. However, having one significantly improves your credibility and search rankings. That's where we come in - we'll build you a professional website that connects to your Google Business Profile.
We'll help you set up automated review requests. After completing a job, your customers will receive a friendly text or email asking for a review - with a direct link to your Google profile. It's simple, non-pushy, and highly effective.
🚀 Ready to Get Started?
Once you've granted us access, we'll connect your Google Business Profile to your new website and set up automated review requests.
Add us as a manager: hello@slatesystems.io