How to Create Google My Business Account (Business Profile)?

An average local business gets 1,260 views each month on Google My Business. Google My Business allows you to interact with potential customers, display your products or services, and give correct information about your business right on Google Search and Maps. A new study revealed that 56% of actions on Google My Business listings are visits to websites.

5 Important Notes on Google My Business Account in 2025

• Google My Business has been renamed Business Profile since late 2021.
• Creating Google My Business (now called Business Profile) is free. 
• You can manage your Business Profile directly on Google. 
• The chat feature is no longer part of your Business Profile. 
• Google's AI now helps you update your Business Profile. Restaurant owners can snap a picture of their menu, and Google's AI turns it into a full menu listing.

What is Google My Business (now called Business Profile)?

Google My Business (now called Business Profile) is a free tool from Google that lets businesses manage their online presence in Google Search and Google Maps. This tool gives you control over your business's Google presence helping you to draw in and engage with customers more.

You own a cafe. By setting up a Business Profile on Google, your cafe's details, like location, operating hours, and contact number, will show up when folks look for it on Google or use Google Maps. If someone looks for "best cafe near me," your place might pop up in the search results.

Why Should You Create a Google Business Account?

These days more people look for businesses online. A Business Profile on Google is one of the best ways to build your strong online presence and connect with possible customers.

Maintain Accurate Business Information

A Google Business Profile gives you a chance to share information about your company, like operating hours, location, phone number, and website. Even without a website, your profile can serve as a digital storefront, helping people learn about your business.

Engage With Customers

• Show Off Your Business: Add photos and videos of what you sell, do, or host to give customers a peek at what you have to offer. 
• Respond to Reviews: Reply to feedback - good or bad - proves you care about your customers and want to address their issues.
• Get Insights: Google offers useful data, like how people found your business and where they're from. You can check things such as how many calls came straight from your profile, which can help you improve your marketing plans.

Attract New Customers

A Google Business Profile makes it easier for people to find your business, encouraging new clients to find you. You can showcase information like parking availability or brands you stock; or give out deals or vouchers to tempt first-time buyers.

Boost Visibility on Google Search and Maps

A Google Business Profile lets you control how your local business appears across Google products, including Maps and Search. With countless searches happening every day, showing up in local search results boosts your chances of getting noticed. Your Google Business Profile improves your local SEO making it easier for nearby people to find your business when they look for related products or services.

Free and Easy to Set Up and Manage

Setting up a Google Business Profile costs nothing and is simple. If you run a business, you know the basics. You can add extras like photos and descriptions if you have them ready, or come back to add them later.

How to Create Google My Business (Business Profile) 

Step 1: Go to Google Business

• Go to Google Business site. 
• Sign in to your Google Account. If you don’t have one, create a new one with your business email domain. 

Step 2: Create a Profile

• Enter the name of your business.
• If your business appears in the suggested list as you type, select it.
• If someone else has already verified the business, request ownership.

Choose a business name that's the same as what customers see on your storefront, website, or ads. This builds trust.

Step 3: Search for Your Business Category

• ​​Search for and select the category that best describes your business.

Then, click Next. 

Step 4: Choose Whether You Have a Location Customers Can Visit

Decide if your business has a physical storefront or is service-based:

• Yes: Type in your business address and put a marker on the map.
• No: Make it clear that you don't have a physical place customers can visit.

For storefronts, make sure the address is the same as what's on your sign and website. For service-based businesses, include correct service areas so you don't mislead customers.

Step 5: Fill in Your Business's Service Area

• You can set your service area based on the cities, zip codes, or other areas you serve. You can add up to 20 service areas.

Tip: Keep your service area within a reasonable distance, like a two-hour drive, to avoid stretching yourself too thin.

Step 6: Enter a Phone Number and Website URL

• Add your business phone number and website URL.
• If you haven't got a website, you can create one based on your information.

It's better to use a local phone number instead of one for a call center. This helps customers trust you more.

Step 7: Select a Verification Option

Choose how you want to verify:

• Verify Now: Follow the steps in the red banner to finish the verification.
• Verify Later: Click "Verify Later" and keep updating your profile.

Make sure you check all your information, like your company name, location, and contact number, before you ask for verification. This way, you won't have to wait longer than needed. 

Information Required for Google My Business (Business Profile) 

To create and manage a Business Profile on Google, several things are needed: 

• Business Name: Make sure your business name matches how it shows up in real life, like on signs, letterhead, and other branding stuff. If you change your business name after asking for verification, you'll need to verify it again.
• Category: Pick a main category that fits your business best and is as specific as you can make it. You can also choose up to 9 other categories, but the main one matters most.
• Address and Pin Location: Put in the exact address of your business. If customers don't come to your physical location, leave the address box empty. If you change your address after asking for a verification letter, you'll have to verify it again.
• Service Area: Enter the areas you serve customers in. Base this on cities, zip codes, or other regions.
• Business Hours: Make sure your hours are up to date. Set special hours for holidays or short-term changes. You can also add extra hours for specific services.
• Phone Number: Enter your main business phone number, plus up to two more. These should be cell or landline numbers, not fax lines.
• Social Media Links: You can add links to your social accounts on your Google Business Profile if your area allows it. Right now, you can connect to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
• Website: Check that your business website is easy to access, and Google's search bot can crawl it. Also, you can include specific links for services such as online orders or bookings, based on what your business offers.
• Photos: Adding and managing pictures helps customers get a better idea of your business. It's crucial to keep your images up-to-date and relevant.
• Business Description: Write a description of your business showing what you sell, what makes you unique, and any other information customers should know.
• Menu/Services: If you run a restaurant or offer services, use the Menu or Services Editor to keep your offerings up to date. This includes updating prices.

How to Verify Google Business Profile?

When you verify, Google knows you're the rightful owner. This gives you total control over how people see your business on Google Search and Maps. Here's what you need to do to verify:

Step 1: Find Your Business

Before verifying, you need to find your business on Google. Here are a few ways to locate your Business Profile:

• Sign in to your Google account and type “my business” into Google Search.
• On Google Search or Maps, enter your business name and city.
• Open the Google Maps app, and tap Business at the bottom right corner.

What to Do If Google Doesn't Show Your Business:

• Add your business on Google: Use the “Add Business” option in Google Business Profile Manager and fill in the necessary details.
• Claim your business: If your business appears on Google but isn’t claimed, claim ownership.
• Check your address: Make sure your business address follows Google's rules. If it doesn't, you might have trouble verifying.

Step 2: Verify Your Business

Google has several ways to verify your business depending on your profile’s eligibility. These include video recording, phone or text, email, live video calls, and mail. Sometimes, you might need to use more than one way to prove your business exists. The methods you'll use depend on things like your business category, public info, region, or business hours. You can't pick which ways to verify - Google's systems figure out what works best for your business and show you those options.

Step 3: Wait for Verification

Once you've done all the steps to verify, Google reviews the information you gave them. This could take up to five business days.

You can use Google Search Console to verify your website as this may instantly verify your profile. For businesses with multiple locations, use the bulk verification choice to verify 10 or more locations at once.

Step 4: Receive Verification Confirmation

After verification, you'll get a confirmation email from Google. This means you now have full control over your profile and can update details, answer reviews, and interact with customers. If someone else helps you manage your profile, you can add them to your profile after you're verified.

How to Edit Google My Business (Business Profile) 

To ensure your business information on Google stays accurate, you can edit and update information to your Business Profile on Google once it's been verified.

(Note: You need to verify your business before you can change information about it).

You can now update your Business Profile on Google Search and Maps. To make changes to your Business Profile on Google Search and Maps follow these steps:

• Go to your Business Profile.
• In Google Search, click “Edit profile.” In Google Maps, select “Edit profile.”
• Make the necessary changes, such as updating your name, category, address, hours, phone number, or website.
• After each change, click “Save” to make sure your updates are applied.

After your changes are reviewed and approved, users will see these updates on Google Search and Maps, helping you maintain an accurate online presence.

How to Manage Your Google My Business (Business Profile) 

You can add or remove users from your Google Business Profile or location group to manage your business presence. To add or remove users, you'll need their email addresses and must give each member a role such as Owner or Manager.

If you're handing over ownership, make sure you give primary ownership to the new owner, as the primary owner can do this. This handover helps keep the profile's history, including reviews. New owners or managers must wait 7 days before they can control all features of the Business Profile.

Google has made changes to its management system, so you can no longer add new site managers, and all previous site managers have been upgraded to managers.

Final Thoughts!

Google My Business, or Business Profile, has an impact on growing your business and building customer relationships. After setting up your account, maintain it up-to-date, reply to customer reviews, and often share updates to maximize its effectiveness.