How to actually get your business on Google Maps in 2026 (step-by-step for complete beginners)

A client rang me last week. She runs a lovely little gift shop in Didsbury, been trading for three years, gets loads of foot traffic. But she’d noticed something odd: when she searched for gift shops in her area on Google Maps, her shop wasn’t there. Her competitors were. She wasn’t.

“I assumed it would just… happen,” she said. “I’ve got a shop. Google knows everything. Why doesn’t it know about me?”

Fair question, honestly.

The thing Google doesn’t tell you

Here’s what most people don’t realise: Google Maps doesn’t automatically list every business. It needs you to tell it you exist, prove you’re legitimate, and keep your information up to date.

The good news? Setting this up is genuinely straightforward. The bad news? Google has buried the process under so many menus and options that most people give up halfway through.

So let me walk you through it. No jargon, no fluff, just the steps.

Step 1: Check if you’re already listed (you might be)

Before creating anything, search for your business name on Google Maps. Sometimes Google creates a basic listing from other sources – directories, your website, even customer photos.

If you find something that looks like your business but you didn’t create it, you’ll want to “claim” it rather than create a duplicate. I’ll show you how in a moment.

If nothing comes up, you’re starting fresh. Either way, you need a Google Business Profile.

Step 2: Go to Google Business Profile

Head to business.google.com. If you’re not signed into a Google account, you’ll need to be – ideally one you’ll have access to long-term (so maybe not your personal Gmail if you have staff who might need to manage this later).

Click “Manage now” or “Get started”. Google will ask for your business name.

Type it in exactly as you want it to appear. For most businesses, that’s just your trading name – “Jane’s Gift Shop” not “Jane’s Gift Shop Ltd Trading As Jane’s Gifts Manchester Limited”.

Step 3: Choose your business category

This is more important than it looks.

Google uses categories to decide when to show your business in search results. Pick the wrong one and you’ll miss relevant searches. Pick too many and you dilute your relevance.

Start typing what you do – “gift shop”, “plumber”, “accountant” – and Google will suggest official categories. Choose the one that most precisely describes your main activity.

You can add secondary categories later, but your primary category should be your core business. If you’re a café that also sells books, you’re probably a café first.

Step 4: Add your location (or not)

Google will ask if you want to add a location customers can visit. This is where it gets a bit nuanced.

If you have a shop, office, or premises customers visit: Add the full address. This gets you on the map with a pin, which is what most people want.

If you go to customers (plumbers, cleaners, mobile hairdressers): You can choose “I deliver goods and services to my customers” instead. You’ll set a service area rather than showing your home address publicly.

If you work from home and don’t want your address visible: Be careful here. You can hide your address while still setting a service area, but Google’s rules about this have changed multiple times. The safest approach for home businesses is the service-area option.

Step 5: Add your contact details

Phone number and website. Straightforward, but a few things:

Use a phone number you’ll actually answer. A mobile is fine for small businesses – it’s better than a landline that rings out.

For your website, use your main site URL. If you don’t have a website, Google will offer to create a basic free one for you. It’s… fine. Not great, but better than nothing while you’re getting started. (Though if you’re reading this and thinking you should probably sort out a proper website at some point, that’s something I can help with.)

Step 6: Verification

This is the bit that trips people up.

Google needs to confirm you’re actually connected to this business. They typically offer a few options:

Postcard: They send a postcard with a verification code to your business address. Takes about a week. Old-school but reliable.

Phone: For some businesses, they’ll call or text a code to your listed number.

Email: Less common, but sometimes available if your email matches your website domain.

Video verification: Increasingly common in 2026. You record a short video showing your premises, signage, or business materials. Google reviews it within a few days.

The postcard method is slowest but works for everyone. Video is fastest when available. Pick whatever Google offers you.

Step 7: Fill in your profile properly

Once verified, you’ll have access to your full Google Business Profile. This is where most people stop – verified and done.

Don’t stop here. A half-completed profile ranks worse than a thorough one.

Business hours: Add them, even if they’re not fixed. “By appointment” is an option. Nothing frustrates customers more than turning up when you’re closed because your hours weren’t listed.

Description: Write a short paragraph about what you do. Not marketing speak – just explain your business like you would to someone at a party who asked what you do.

Photos: Add real photos. Your shopfront, your workspace, your products, you at work. Businesses with photos get significantly more clicks than those without.

Services/Products: If you offer specific services or sell specific products, add them. This helps Google understand what searches to show you for.

The ongoing bit

Here’s what my client didn’t know: Google Business Profile isn’t set-and-forget. It works better when you use it.

Post updates occasionally. Google lets you share news, offers, and events. You don’t need to do this constantly – once a month is fine – but businesses that post seem to rank better in local searches.

Respond to reviews. When customers leave reviews (and you should gently encourage them to), respond. Thank people for positive reviews. Address negative ones professionally. Google notices engagement.

Keep information current. Changed your hours for a bank holiday? Update it. Got a new phone number? Update it. Moved premises? Definitely update it.

What happens next

After verification – assuming you’ve filled everything in properly – you should start appearing in Google Maps searches within a few days to a couple of weeks.

My client? She verified on Thursday, spent twenty minutes filling in her profile properly on Friday, and was showing up in “gift shops Didsbury” searches by the following Wednesday. She texted me a screenshot, quite pleased with herself.

It’s not magic. It’s just the process Google wants you to follow, laid out in plain English.

If you’ve followed these steps and things aren’t working – or if you’ve got an existing listing that’s somehow gone wrong – feel free to drop me a message. Sometimes there are quirks with specific situations that need a bit of troubleshooting. Happy to take a quick look.