Google Business Profile · Guide

How Do I Add My
Business to Google?

How to add your business to Google from scratch, the step by step of creating a free Google Business Profile, entering your details, choosing a category and verifying it so you appear in local search.

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Updated: June 2026
Written by: Andrew Odgers, Managing Director
Reading time: 6 minutes
The short answer

To add your business to Google, create a free Google Business Profile: go to Google, search for your business to check it does not already exist, then add it by entering your name, category, location and contact details.

Once the details are in, you verify the business, usually by post, phone, email or video, which proves to Google that the business is yours and real.

After verification your profile can appear on Google Search and Maps, so the whole process is free and mostly a case of entering accurate information and completing the verification step Google requires.

The detailed answer

Adding your business, step by step

Getting your business onto Google is the first step to being found by local customers and it is free and fairly quick. The process is mostly about entering accurate details and verifying you own the business. Here is how to add your business to Google, step by step.

Check it is not already listed

Before adding your business, search for it on Google and Maps, because a listing may already exist, created automatically or by someone else. If it does, you claim it rather than add a duplicate, since duplicates cause problems, so this quick check saves trouble later.

Avoid creating a duplicate. Claiming an existing one is covered in How to Claim Your Google Business Profile

Start a new Google Business Profile

If no listing exists, create one by going to the Google Business Profile setup, signing in with a Google account and choosing to add your business. You will be prompted to enter your business name to begin, which starts the process of building your free listing from scratch.

A Google account is all you need to start. The full setup is covered in How to Set Up a Google Business Profile for a New Business

Enter your business name and category

Add your exact business name as customers know it, then choose a primary category that best describes what you do. The category is important, since it tells Google which searches you belong in, so pick the most accurate one rather than a vague or overly broad option.

Your category shapes what you rank for. Choosing it is covered in How to Choose the Right Business Category in Google Business Profile

Add your location and service area

Tell Google where you are. If you have premises customers visit, add the address; if you go to customers, set a service area instead. Getting this right matters for the map and proximity, so be accurate about where you are based and where you serve.

Location drives local ranking. Proximity is explained in What Is Proximity in Local Search and How Does It Affect Rankings?

Add your contact details

Enter your phone number and website so customers can reach you and Google can confirm your details. Make sure these match what appears elsewhere online, because consistent name, address and phone details across the web help Google trust and rank your listing.

Consistency builds trust. Optimising the listing is covered in How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO

Verify your business

Google then asks you to verify the business to prove it is yours and real. Verification is usually by post, phone, email or video, depending on the business and until it is done your listing will not fully appear, so this step is essential rather than optional.

Verification unlocks your listing. The methods are covered in How to Verify Your Google Business Profile

Complete the rest of your profile

Once verified, fill in the rest: hours, photos, services, attributes and a description. A complete profile both ranks better and converts more customers, so do not stop at the minimum, since the fuller your listing, the more Google and customers have to go on.

A full profile works harder. Adding photos is covered in How to Add Photos to Google Business Profile for Better Rankings

You are on Google

Once added and verified, your business can appear on Google Search and Maps for relevant local searches. From there it is about keeping the profile current and building reviews but the hard part, getting on Google in the first place, is done and it cost you nothing.

Now keep it active. The whole guide is gathered in the Google Business Profile Guide

In short, to add your business to Google you create a free Google Business Profile, check it is not already listed, enter your name, category, location and contact details, then verify it. Once verified you appear on Search and Maps, so it is free and mostly about accuracy.

This guide is part of our complete Google Business Profile Guide. The hub brings together every question a business asks about Google Business Profile, from setting up and verifying through to optimisation, reviews, insights and ranking in the map, each written in plain UK English.

Part of the guide Google Business Profile Guide View all guides →
Keep reading

More from the Google Business Profile guide

Adding your business? Claim an existing listing with How to Claim Your Google Business Profile, verify it via How to Verify Your Google Business Profile, then set it up fully with How to Set Up a Google Business Profile for a New Business

GBP Guide

How to Claim Your Google Business Profile

Read article → GBP Guide

How to Verify Your Google Business Profile

Read article → GBP Guide

How to Set Up a Google Business Profile for a New Business

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Frequently asked

Adding your business to Google

How do I add my business to Google?
Create a free Google Business Profile: go to Google, search for your business to check it does not already exist, then add it by entering your name, category, location and contact details. Once the details are in, you verify the business, usually by post, phone, email or video, which proves to Google that the business is yours and real. After verification your profile can appear on Google Search and Maps, so the whole process is free.
Is it free to add my business to Google?
Yes, completely free. Creating and verifying a Google Business Profile costs nothing, only a little time, so adding your business to Google is one of the most valuable free things you can do for local visibility. There is no charge to list, verify or manage your profile, which is why every local business should have one set up and kept current.
What do I need to add my business?
A Google account, your accurate business details and a way to verify ownership. You enter your business name, a primary category, your location or service area and your contact details, then complete verification, usually by post, phone, email or video. That is all it takes, so the main thing is having accurate information ready and being able to receive the verification.
Should I check if my business is already on Google?
Yes, always check first. A listing may already exist, created automatically or by someone else, so search for your business on Google and Maps before adding it. If one exists, you claim it rather than create a duplicate, since duplicate listings cause ranking and trust problems and this quick check at the start saves you having to resolve duplicates later.
Do I have to verify my business?
Yes. Google asks you to verify the business to prove it is yours and real, usually by post, phone, email or video depending on the business. Until verification is done your listing will not fully appear in search or on the map, so this step is essential rather than optional and it is what unlocks the full visibility of your profile.
What details do I need to add?
Your business name, a primary category, your location or service area and your contact details such as phone and website. After verification you should also add hours, photos, services, attributes and a description, because a complete profile both ranks better and converts more customers, so it is worth filling in everything rather than stopping at the bare minimum.
What happens after I add my business?
Once added and verified, your business can appear on Google Search and Maps for relevant local searches. From there it is about keeping the profile current and building reviews to improve your ranking but the key step of getting onto Google is complete. Maintaining an active, complete profile is what turns that listing into steady local visibility over time.