Getting found on Google
Google Business Profile Checklist: 20 Minutes to a Complete Profile
A field-by-field checklist for setting up or cleaning up a Google Business Profile, with what Google allows and what gets profiles suspended.
Before you start
Have these ready: your exact legal or trading name, the phone number customers should call, your website address, your hours, a list of services written the way customers say them, and 10 real photos. If you serve customers at their address and do not want your home shown, you will set a service area instead of a public address (Google: service-area businesses).
The checklist
- Claimed and verified. Search your business name on Google; if the profile shows "Own this business?", claim it. Verification steps vary by business (Google: verify your business).
- Real business name only. No added keywords, cities or slogans (guidelines).
- Most specific primary category, plus secondary categories only for work you really do.
- Address or service area set correctly; a service area should match where you actually go.
- Phone number that is answered during business hours.
- Website link to the most relevant page, not a social profile.
- Regular hours and holiday hours.
- Services list, one entry per service, each with a one-line description.
- Business description that says what you do, for whom and where, in plain words. No links or promotions.
- Opening date.
- 10+ real photos: exterior, team, vehicles, finished work. No stock.
- Review link saved on your phone, ready to text to customers.
- Messages / booking turned on only if someone will answer them.
Free Google listing check
Conqueror Capital will look at your Google Business Profile and website and tell you, in plain English, what is holding you back on the map. No cost, no contract.
What gets profiles suspended
From Google's guidelines (Google Business Profile guidelines):
| Mistake | Why it is a problem |
|---|---|
| Keywords or city added to the name | Not allowed unless part of the real name |
| Virtual office or mailbox as the address | Address must be where the business is staffed, or use a service area |
| Several profiles for one business | Usually one profile per real location |
| Paid, incentivised or filtered reviews | Prohibited (Google) |
Keep it alive
A complete profile is a starting point. Set a weekly 10-minute habit: reply to new reviews, add one or two photos, check hours before holidays, and answer any questions on the profile.
Go deeper
Already past the basics? Conqueror Capital's Google Business Profile optimization guide goes field by field through what Google ranks on, with a full optimization table.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a Google Business Profile without a shop address?
Yes. Businesses that serve customers at their location can hide the address and list a service area instead.
How many categories should I choose?
One primary category that matches your main work, plus secondary categories only for services you actually offer. Extra unrelated categories do not help.
Can I edit my profile after it is verified?
Yes. Some edits, such as name or address changes, may be reviewed by Google before they show.