Why isn't my business on Google Maps? A 10-minute checklist

Why isn't my business showing on Google Maps?

Google's help pages describe five reasons a profile may not show: there is no verified profile, the profile is a duplicate of another, it was suspended for breaking guidelines, it is marked closed, or a recent edit is still under review. Google also says rankings for a new business can take up to a month to appear.

1. 01Search your business name and city while signed in to the right Google Account.
2. 02If nothing comes up, add the profile; if an unverified one exists, claim it.
3. 03Finish verification and wait for the review.
4. 04Look for a second profile for the same business.
5. 05Check that Google account for a suspension notice.
6. 06Confirm the street address, map pin or service area.
7. 07Choose the most specific primary category.
8. 08Set regular hours and special hours for holidays.
9. 09Make sure the profile isn't marked closed.
10. 10Check whether a recent edit is still pending.

How do I check whether my business has a profile?

Sign in to the Google Account linked to the business, then search your business name and city, or "my business", on Google Search or Maps. If nothing appears, add the business at business.google.com/add. If an unverified profile already exists, claim it. Google says adding or claiming a profile costs nothing.

To claim an unverified profile, open Google Maps, search for the business name and city, select it, and choose Claim this business, then Manage now. If someone else already verified it and you're authorized to manage the business, Google's page explains how to request ownership from the current owner (Add or claim your Business Profile, Find your business on Google).

Is my profile verified?

Google says only verified businesses can show their information on Maps and Search. Google picks the verification methods for you based on business type, public information, region and hours; options include phone or text, email, a live video call and mail. After you finish, Google's review takes up to 5 business days.

On rare occasions the review takes longer, and some businesses need more than one method. When the review is done you'll get a confirmation email. Google verifies some profiles instantly, for example when you've already verified your website in Search Console (Verify your business on Google).

Could a duplicate profile be hiding mine?

Yes. Google allows one profile per business, and a profile treated as a duplicate won't show on Search or Maps. Google lists three causes: a verified profile already exists for the same business, several profiles share an address, or separate profiles were made for different services. Don't create another profile to fix it.

Google's duplicates page covers each case, including a business that moved, two eligible businesses at one address, and lost login details for the account that verified the original (Resolve duplicate profiles and ownership issues). A salon that once made a separate profile for its nail bar, or a gym with one profile per class type, is the pattern to look for.

Has my profile been suspended?

Google suspends or disables profiles that break its guidelines, and a suspended profile won't show to other users until the issue is resolved. You'll get a notification in the Google Account that manages it. You can appeal once, through Google's appeals tool, with optional evidence such as a business registration, license or utility bill.

Google asks that the name and address on every document match the profile, and says not to create a new profile for the same business while appealing. If a request is denied, you may be able to ask for an additional review with evidence you didn't send the first time (Fix suspended or disabled profiles). The rules a profile must follow are on Google's guidelines page: represent the business as it appears in the real world, keep the address or service area precise, and use the fewest categories that describe the core business.

Is my address or service area set up correctly?

A storefront needs a complete street address Google can find, including suite or unit numbers, or a pin placed on the map. A business that visits customers, like a plumber or cleaner, should hide its address and list up to 20 service areas by city or postal code, within about 2 hours' drive.

Your profile address is public, so a trades business run from home should turn off Show business address to customers and rely on the service area (Manage your business address). Google no longer accepts a radius around your base; service areas are set by city, postal code or another named area, and approved changes can take up to 48 hours to show. A hybrid business, such as a restaurant that also delivers, can show both its storefront address and a service area (Manage your service areas).

Are my category, hours and details complete?

Google says businesses with complete, accurate information are more likely to show up in local results. Choose the most specific primary category Google offers, such as "Nail salon" rather than "Salon". Add your hours, special hours for holidays, and attributes. Changing a category can trigger a new verification, so check before editing.

Categories affect local ranking: Google's example is a business with the primary category "Pizza restaurant" showing up for searches like restaurants, Italian restaurants and pizza. You can't create your own category; if the specific one doesn't exist, pick a general one (Manage your business category). For holidays, set special hours rather than changing regular hours, and Google suggests confirming holiday hours even when they're the same as usual (How to set special hours). A bakery that closes early on Christmas Eve should show that before the day, not after.

Is my business marked closed?

A profile can show "Temporarily closed" or "Permanently closed" on Maps and Search. Google says to use Temporarily closed for closures of more than 7 days, the off-season, or an unknown period, and special hours for shorter ones. For broad searches, temporarily closed businesses can rank after open ones.

If your business was marked closed by mistake, or you've reopened, Google's page explains how to mark it reopened (Mark your business as closed). Seasonal businesses are the ones most likely to forget: a gym's outdoor boot camp that pauses for winter, or a holiday pop-up bakery, should switch back the week it reopens.

Did I just change something?

Google reviews every edit before it goes live. Most reviews take up to 10 minutes, but some take up to 30 days. Your edit shows as Accepted, Not approved or Pending. After an edit is accepted, Google says search results can take up to 3 days to change, and service area edits up to 48 hours.

If an edit is rejected, Google says it may not have been able to confirm the change, and you may be able to appeal it. Google can also update a profile itself when it receives reports that information is wrong; you'll get a notification and an alert in Edit profile (Understand what happens to your Business Profile edits).

My profile is live, so why don't I show up for nearby searches?

Google ranks local results mainly on relevance, distance and prominence, and says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. Complete details help relevance. Prominence draws on how well known you are, including links from other websites and how many reviews you have. Replying to reviews and adding photos also help.

Distance is the one you can't change: a customer searching from across town may see closer businesses first. What you can change is everything Google lists on its local ranking page: verify, keep information current, reply to reviews, add photos and videos, and, for retail shops in eligible regions, list in-store products.