How to Create a Google Business Profile (2026 Guide)

By EODIGO Editorial · Updated October 1, 2026

Short answer: To create a Google Business Profile, sign in to a Google Account, go to Google's create-a-profile page, enter your business name and category, choose whether customers visit your location, add your address or service area, add your phone and website, then verify. Google says customers can find your profile only after verification.

In this guide

What is a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)?
Checklist: what you need before you start
How to create a Google Business Profile in 7 steps
Google Business Profile verification methods
How to optimize your Google Business Profile
Common problems and how to fix them
Google Business Profile plus EODIGO: reaching every visitor

What is a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)?

Google Business Profile is Google's free tool for adding your business to Google Search and Google Maps. It used to be called Google My Business, so you will still see that name in older articles. When someone searches for your business or for something like "spa near me," your profile can show your hours, phone number, photos, reviews, and directions.

Google's own page says creating a Business Profile and listing your business on Google is free. You do not need to pay anyone to set it up, and Google states there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking.

Checklist: what you need before you start

A Google Account (Google recommends one that uses your business email domain, if you have one)
Your exact business name, as customers see it on your sign and receipts
Your main business category (for example, "Korean restaurant" or "Day spa")
Your street address, if customers visit you, or the areas you serve, if you go to customers
A business phone number and your website, if you have one
Your regular opening hours
Clear photos: your storefront, inside, products or dishes, and team
A way to receive verification (phone, email, or the ability to record or join a short video, depending on what Google offers you)

How to create a Google Business Profile in 7 steps

These steps follow Google's help page "Create a Business Profile on Google" for computers. Google sometimes changes screens, so labels may look slightly different. The flow below was checked against the official page in 2026.

1. Sign in to your Google AccountSign in, or create a new Google Account. Use an account you will keep long-term, not a staff member's personal account. Then go to Google's create-a-profile page (business.google.com/create).
2. Enter your business nameType your business name. If Google suggests a matching business, it may already have a profile. In that case you can claim it instead of making a new one. Do not add extra words like city names or slogans; Google's guidelines say to use your real-world name.
3. Choose your business categorySearch for and pick the category that best describes your core business. You can add more categories later. Google advises using as few categories as possible.
4. Tell Google if customers visit your locationChoose Yes if customers come to a storefront or office, then enter your address. Choose No if you only travel to customers, like a mobile massage therapist or a tour guide who picks up at hotels.
5. Add your service area (if you have one)If you serve customers at their location, enter the areas you serve. Google allows up to 20 service areas and recommends not going farther than about two hours' driving time from your base.
6. Add your phone number and websiteEnter a phone number customers can call and your website URL. If you do not have a website, you can skip it. Click Next, then Finish.
7. Choose a verification optionGoogle will show you the verification methods available for your business. You can verify now or later. Google recommends reviewing your information before you request verification, because your profile only appears to customers after you are verified.

Google Business Profile verification methods

Verification is how Google confirms you really run the business. Google says the options you see depend on your business type, public information, region, and business hours. You cannot always choose. According to Google's verification help page, methods can include:

Phone or text: you receive a code by call or SMS.
Email: you receive verification instructions by email.
Video recording: you record a short video showing your business. Google says that if your business is eligible for video verification, it recommends this option.
Live video call: you connect with a Google support representative and show your business.
Mail: Google sends a postcard with a code. Google says most codes arrive within 14 days and codes expire after 30 days.

Item	What Google's help pages say
Verification review time	Reviews take up to 5 business days
Postcard delivery	Most codes arrive within 14 days
Postcard code expiry	Codes expire after 30 days
Bulk verification	For 10 or more locations of the same business (not for service-area businesses)

How to optimize your Google Business Profile

Creating the profile is step one. Keeping it complete and current is what helps customers choose you. Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance, and prominence, and lists complete information, reviews, and photos among its tips. No one can guarantee a ranking, but these steps make your profile more useful.

Pick the right primary categoryYour main category should describe what your business is, not everything it has. A hotel with a restaurant is still a hotel. Add a second category only if it is a real core part of the business.
Add good photos and keep adding themUpload a logo, a cover photo, the storefront so people recognize it, the inside, and your best products or dishes. Add new photos regularly. Use real photos, not stock images.
Set accurate hours, including holidaysKeep regular hours correct and add special hours for holidays. Wrong hours are one of the fastest ways to get a bad review.
Add your menu, products, or servicesRestaurants can add a menu. Salons, spas, tours, and rentals can list services with descriptions and prices. This helps people decide before they visit.
Use posts for news and offersGoogle offers post types for updates, offers, and events. Google notes that posts older than 6 months are archived unless a date range is set, so post fresh content regularly.
Choose your attributesAttributes are details like wheelchair accessible entrance, Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, or payment options. Select the ones that are true for your business.
Reply to reviewsThank people for positive reviews and respond calmly to negative ones. Google lists responding to reviews as a tip. If a review breaks Google's policies, use Google's official reporting process. Never offer to pay for reviews. More in local SEO and reviews.
Write a clear descriptionSay what you offer, who it is for, and what makes you different, in plain words. Do not add links or promotional claims that break Google's guidelines.

Common problems and how to fix them

Most problems have an official fix in Google's help center. Start there before paying anyone who promises to "fix" your listing.

Problem	What to do (per Google's help)
Verification fails or the "Get verified" button comes back	Check that your name, address, and category match your real business and signage. Follow Google's verification troubleshooting steps and give any extra info requested.
Profile suspended or disabled	Review Google's guidelines, fix what breaks them, then submit an appeal through Google's appeals tool. You can attach proof like a business license or utility bill. Do not create a new profile while the appeal is under review.
Duplicate profiles	Google allows only one profile per business. If you made a duplicate by mistake, remove it. If duplicates exist on Maps, you can report them for review.
Someone else owns your profile	Request ownership from Google. The current owner has three days to respond. If they do not respond, you may get the option to claim it.

Google Business Profile plus EODIGO: reaching every visitor

Your Google profile is the foundation for everyone who searches on Google. But many Korean travelers also search in Korean on Korean apps and directories. EODIGO is a free directory Korean travelers use to find local businesses. The Standard listing is free, we write the Korean description for you, and there is no commission. Pro ($30/mo) and Premium ($200/mo) plans are coming soon.

Keep your Google profile for everyone, and add EODIGO for Korean visitors. List your business for free. To see how Google compares with other sites, read Yelp vs Google vs Yellow Pages, and see more free business listing sites.

FAQ

Is a Google Business Profile free?

Yes. Google states that creating a Business Profile and listing your business on Google is free. Google also says there is no way to pay for a better local ranking. Be careful with anyone who charges to "guarantee" a top spot.

Why is my verification taking so long?

Google says verification reviews can take up to 5 business days, and most postcards arrive within 14 days. Make sure your details match your real business and signage. If it takes longer, check Google's verification help page for next steps.

Can I create a profile if I don't have a storefront?

Yes. Service-area businesses, like mobile services or tour guides, can create a profile. Choose that customers do not visit your location, hide your address, and list the areas you serve. Google allows up to 20 service areas.

How do I add multiple locations?

Each location with its own staffed storefront can have its own profile. If you have 10 or more locations of the same business, Google offers bulk verification. Service-area businesses cannot use bulk verification.

Is Google My Business the same as Google Business Profile?

Yes. Google My Business is the old name. The product is now called Google Business Profile, and you manage it from Google Search and Maps.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Features and prices of other services change; check each official page.

How to Create a Google Business Profile (Step by Step, 2026)