- Claiming a business on Google from a computer
- Claiming your Google Business Profile in the Maps app
- When your business isn't on Google yet
- Verification options when you claim a Google business listing
- What to do if another person already owns the Google listing
- After you claim your business on Google: first tidy-ups
- If you can't claim your business on Google
- Frequently asked questions
To claim a business on Google, search for it on Google Maps, select Claim this business, then Manage now, and choose a verification option. Google says claiming is at no charge and that it decides which verification methods you see, so you can't pick one yourself.
If you run a shop, a salon, a clinic or a one-person service, there's a good chance Google already shows your business on Maps whether you asked for it or not. Until you claim that listing, somebody else's guess about your opening hours and phone number is what customers see. I'd treat claiming it as one of the first jobs for any local business.
Below is the route Google's own help pages describe, on a computer and in the Maps app, followed by the part that trips most owners up: verification. I've also included what to do when someone else already holds the listing.
Claiming a business on Google from a computer
This is for a listing that already exists on Maps but has no verified owner. Google's help lists these steps:
- Open Google Maps in your browser.
- Search for your business name and city, or find it on the map and select it.
- Select Claim this business, then Manage now. If the wrong business came up, select I own or manage another business.
- Select a verification option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Google states that you can add or claim your business at no charge, and that only businesses eligible for a Business Profile can do it. So treat anyone who tells you otherwise with suspicion.
Claiming your Google Business Profile in the Maps app
The phone route is almost the same, just with different button names:
- Open the Google Maps app and search for the business name.
- Pick the correct business from the results.
- Tap About, then Claim this business, then Manage now. Tap I own or manage another business if you need to switch.
- Choose a verification option and follow the on-screen steps.
Menus vary a little between app versions, so if a label doesn't match, look for the nearest wording to Claim or Manage.
When your business isn't on Google yet
Sometimes a search turns up nothing at all. In that case you're creating a new profile rather than claiming one, and Google's route starts on its business site:
- Go to business.google.com/add.
- Click Add your business to Google.
- Enter your business details by following the on-screen instructions.
- Select a verification option and complete the steps.
Check your address before you submit. Google says it has to be accurate and meet its address guidelines, and a wrong address is the commonest reason owners get stuck later.
Verification options when you claim a Google business listing
Verification is how Google confirms you're allowed to manage the listing. The options you see depend on your business, and Google chooses them automatically. Its help says the methods can't be changed. The ones it describes are:
- Phone or text: you choose Get verified, then Phone or SMS, and enter the code. Automated phone systems can't receive the code, so a person has to answer or read the text.
- Email: you choose Email and follow the steps in the message. Make sure you can open that mailbox.
- Live video call: a support representative guides you through showing your location and proof that you run the business. Google says these calls are only available within the business hours of your location.
- Postcard: a code is mailed to your business address. Google asks you not to change your business name, address or category while you wait, and not to request a new code. Codes expire after 30 days.
Google also recommends video verification where your business is eligible. Reviews usually take up to 5 business days. If none of the options on screen work for you, the help page says to contact Google support.
| Situation | What Google's help points you to |
|---|---|
| Listing exists, nobody has claimed it | Claim this business, then Manage now |
| Nothing on Maps at all | Add your business from business.google.com/add |
| Someone else already verified it | Request ownership from the current owner |
| No verification option works | Contact Google support |
What to do if another person already owns the Google listing
It's common for a former web designer, a previous owner or an ex-colleague to be the verified owner. Google's help says that if a verified profile exists and you're authorised to manage the business, you can request ownership from the current owner. Have your business details to hand and be ready for the current owner to respond. Don't try to open a second profile for the same place, because that creates duplicates, which cause more confusion for customers.
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After you claim your business on Google: first tidy-ups
Once the listing is yours, spend ten minutes on the basics before you chase anything fancy:
- Check the business name, address and phone number match what's on your website and shopfront.
- Set your main opening hours so customers aren't guessing.
- Add a few clear photos of the premises, your team or your products.
- Reply politely to any reviews already waiting for you.
I've put the wider list in my Google Business Profile optimisation checklist, and if you want the bigger picture of why local visibility is worth the effort, read why local SEO still works for small businesses.
If you can't claim your business on Google
A few usual suspects explain a stuck claim:
- The business doesn't meet Google's eligibility rules, such as a missing address that customers can visit or a service area set-up. Google only lets eligible businesses claim a location.
- The postcard hasn't arrived. Wait, and avoid requesting another one, as Google's help advises.
- You're signed in to the wrong Google account. Check which account you're using before you start.
- The listing is verified by someone else, which means you need to ask for ownership rather than claim.
When it still won't move, Google points people to its Business Profile community and support options, and that's where I'd go next. For a longer reading list on turning a claimed profile into customer calls, my local SEO checklist for service businesses is a good next stop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I claim a business on Google?
Search for your business on Google Maps, select Claim this business, then Manage now, choose a verification option and follow the on-screen steps. If nothing appears, add the business from business.google.com/add instead.
Is there a charge to claim a business on Google?
Google's help says you can add or claim your business at no charge. Only businesses eligible for a Business Profile can claim a location.
How long does Google verification take?
Google's help says reviews usually take up to 5 business days. Postcard codes expire after 30 days, so enter yours promptly.
Why can't I choose my verification method?
Google decides which methods to offer based on your business type, public information, region and business hours. The help page says the options can't be changed. If none work, contact Google support.
What if someone else already claimed my business?
If a verified profile exists and you're authorised to manage the business, request ownership from the current owner using Google's ownership request process.
